Bleach - Kubo, Tite

For as long as he can remember, high school student Ichigo Kurosaki has been able to see the spirits of the dead, but that has not stopped him from leading an ordinary life. One day, Ichigo returns home to find an intruder in his room who introduces herself as Rukia Kuchiki, a Soul Reaper tasked with helping souls pass over. Suddenly, the two are jolted from their conversation when a Hollow—an evil spirit known for consuming souls—attacks. As Ichigo makes a brash attempt to stop the Hollow, Rukia steps in and shields him from a counterattack. Injured and unable to keep fighting, Rukia suggests a risky plan—transfer half of her Soul Reaper powers to Ichigo. He accepts and, to Rukia's surprise, ends up absorbing her powers entirely, allowing him to easily dispatch the Hollow.

Now a Soul Reaper himself, Ichigo must take up Rukia's duties of exterminating Hollows and protecting spirits, both living and dead. Along with his friends Orihime Inoue and Yasutora Sado—who later discover spiritual abilities of their own—Ichigo soon learns that the consequences of becoming a Soul Reaper and dealing with the world of spirits are far greater than he ever imagined.

[Written by Animeranku Rewrite]

Bleach has sold over 130 million copies worldwide as of 2022, making it one of the top 20 best selling manga series of all-time; North American sales have also been significant with 1.7 million copies sold in the region. In 2005, the series won the 50th Shogakukan Manga Award in the shounen demographic category. Many adaptations have also been made of the series, with a 2004 television anime series along with four feature length films, numerous video games, spin-off light novels, databooks, and even a musical.

The series has been published in English by VIZ Media under the Shonen Jump imprint since July 6, 2004 and in 3-in-1 omnibus edition since June 7, 2011; a hardcover collector's edition for volume one was released by VIZ Media on August 5, 2008, a box set of volumes 1-21 was released on September 16, 2008 as well as volumes 22-48 on July 7, 2015. It has also been published in Portuguese (Brazil) by Panini Comics and Planet Manga since July 2007, and in Spanish by Glénat/EDT since June 2006, publishing 51 volumes before the publisher went defunct, and later was republished by Panini Comics from February 2013 to November 2017.