Tite Kubo’s hit manga Bleach became one of the “big three” of its day. Looking back, it’s easy to see why. Bleach didn’t just have cool characters and an exciting combat system; Tite Kubo’s manga also featured some of the industry’s best artwork of all time, and today, Mr. Kubo’s art style is highly distinctive and well-respected.
Bleach‘s manga uses a handful of techniques to create some incredible panels, such as highly detailed characters and terrain, masterful use of close-ups and clever camera angles, sharply contrasting black and white images, and a strong sense of motion and energy, among other factors. Even though many of them are fantastic, some manga panels stand out more.
10 Sosuke Aizen Makes His Declaration
In the famed Soul Society story arc in Bleach‘s manga, Ichigo Kurosaki learned to his horror that his true enemy is not Captain Byakuya Kuchiki, but Captain Sosuke Aizen of Squad 5. Aizen and his allies cornered the heroes, stole the Hogyoku, then retreated to Hueco Mundo—but not before Aizen made his bold declaration.
This two-page panel isclassic Bleach, featuring a minimalistic but striking background and a single character drawn in astonishing detail. In this panel, Sosuke Aizen’s arrogant villainy is plain as day with his cold, stern expression and his new hairstyle.
9 Ichigo Kurosaki Releases His Bankai In Full Color
Before Aizen outed himself as the true villain, protagonist Ichigo Kurosaki was fixated on defeating Captain Kuchiki, so he could rescue his friend Rukia. Ichigo knew the odds were stacked against him, so he activated his bankai, Tensa Zangetsu, to even the odds.
The Bleach manga had a full-color spread for this great moment, complete with swirling dust for dramatic effect. A stern, brave Ichigo looked over his shoulder at an off-screen Byakuya while he held Tensa Zangetsu, an exciting way to usher in Ichigo’s best weapon yet.
8 Ulquiorra Schiffer Releases Murcielago
Late in the Hueco Mundo story arc, Ichigo faced his nemesis Ulquiorra Schiffer, the 4th Espada, to secure Orihime’s escape from Las Noches. Ichigo felt like he had the upper hand, only for Ulquiorra to relocate to Las Noches’ enormous roof and release his zanpakuto, Murcielago.
Ulquiorra’s much-anticipated release was a dramatic affair, with the manga’s camera zooming way out to provide a sense of scale. Also, the manga showed the winged Ulquiorra as a silhouette, teasing his full appearance while the crescent moon loomed behind him to create an eerie scene.
7 Ichigo Kurosaki Reveals His Vasto Lorde Form
Tragically, Ichigo Kurosaki was outright killed when facing Ulquiorra’s second state, and his friend Orihime Inoue was crying and panicking at the sight of Ichigo’s mangled body. Then, Ichigo somehow stood back up, his hair longer, a new Hollow mask on his face.
Ichigo was back in action, but he was like a twisted monster, and Orihime was terrified and not at all relieved to see this. The manga’s panel depicting this scene perfectly represents Ichigo returning as a nightmarish antihero, all drawn in astonishing detail with a blank background to emphasize the subject at hand.
6 Ichigo Attacks Byakuya Kuchiki From Behind
Ichigo fell behind in his fight against Byakuya in the Soul Society arc, and when Byakuya hit him with an electric kido spell, all seemed lost. Then, Ichigo’s inner Hollow took over, forming a partial Hollow mask and assuming control of Ichigo’s battle-worn body.
Bleach‘s manga treated readers to an outstanding panel of half-Hollow Ichigo making its introduction, and then the fight’s best panel arrived. Half-Hollow Ichigo leaped at Byakuya behind with glee, looking like a savage predator, while a shocked Byakuya looked over his shoulder just in time to see it.
5 Aaroniero Arurruerie Tries To Stab Rukia
By Bleach‘s own high standards, the panel showing Aaroniero trying to stab Rukia is only average on a technical level, but it still has some serious impact. In that scene, Aaroniero was disguised as Kaien Shiba and had Rukia fooled, then tried to skewer her head with his sword when Rukia and readers alike had their guard down.
This panel appeared when readers turned the page, making its sudden arrival that much more alarming and intense. There was no sign whatsoever that Aaronerio would do this, but in just one panel, he was suddenly attacking—a fine example of Bleach‘s ultra-sharp timing in its art.
4 Grimmjow Jaegerjaques Releases Pantera
Ichigo’s final battle against his aggressive rival Grimmjow featured a handful of outstanding panels, but one particularly stood out. When Bleach characters showcase a new weapon or ability, the manga will often have a double-page spread to show it, and Grimmjow got his turn, too.
Grimmjow finally released his zanpakuto, Pantera, and his double-page spread was remarkable. In that panel, Grimmjow was clearly depicted as a powerful predator, tensed and ready to spring, all drawn with incredible detail.
3 As Nodt Defeats Byakuya With Senbonzakura
In the Thousand-Year Blood War arc, the Sternritter, or elite Quincy, attacked the Soul Society without mercy. Sternritter F, As Nodt, personally stole Captain Kuchiki’s bankai and attacked him with it in a totally one-sided battle.
The manga showed a concerned Rukia looking over her shoulder and saying Byakuya’s name and the next panel showed Byakuya suffering a bloody defeat. This panel perfectly captured the violent horror of the moment, including Byakuya’s ragged hair and uniform, along with As Nodt making a dramatic flourish to show off.
2 Captain Yamamoto Is Defeated
Captain Yamamoto personally fought the Quincy king, Yhwach, in mortal combat to save the Soul Society. However, the first Yhwach was a decoy, and then Yamamoto badly lost to the real one. The real Yhwach stole Yamamoto’s bankai, then delivered a single sword slash to finish the fight.
The panel depicting Yamamoto’s defeat is shocking, sudden, and exquisitely drawn. There is no background so the manga could focus entirely on what’s happening, and Yamamoto’s intense but desperate facial expression—mostly in his eyes—speaks volumes about what is happening.
1 Ichigo Kurosaki Attacks Yhwach One Last Time
Ichigo Kurosaki powered up later in the TYBW story arc, complete with a new zanpakuto to fight Yhwach and the other elite Quincy. For a time, it seemed Ichigo was doomed to lose again, but then his tsundere friend Uryu Ishida gave him a brief opportunity to deal the finishing blow.
In a magnificent double-page spread, Bleach‘s manga depicted Ichigo swinging with his refreshed zanpakuto, and that final attack is what finished the fight for good. In this panel, Ichigo’s strength and determination are palpable, and the sense of motion is perfectly drawn.