User blog comment:Xilinoc/Ch. 592 - Marching Out the ZOMBIES 3/@comment-24113610-20140808065406

I think Kubo made the explanation of Toshiro's zombification purposely vague and confusing because he wasn't sure if he really the wanted to face the backlash of killing off another popular character, i.e Byakuya. If Giselle turned him BEFORE he died, wouldn't that mean he would have free will and conscience? He'd be like those 11th Division soldiers who she made kill themselves, no? They clearly had their consciences cause they screamed when they couldn't control their bodies. So I would say that he actually did die, except that the explanation about the fresh cells makes sense. But then again, if he died fresh, why was his body darkened like the dead Bambietta? Those are some confusing, contradicting aspects of The Zombie.

I've never really cared for Toshiro as a character so him being truly dead wouldn't bother me. If he is still alive, Mayuri may end up killing him while he's trying out his drugs on Toshiro. It's gonna be epic regardless.