User blog comment:Xilinoc/Ch. 553 - Frozen Cross/@comment-2211792-20131016143500/@comment-11051098-20131016163830

I would say that you're right, it kinda looks like its materialized spirit. It looks rather cool in its party hollowfied state.

BG9's shield, it could be a reishi-shield he can create to protect his back while focused on what happens in front of him.

As for the problem you bring up - it could be as simple as Cang Du being overwhelmed and caught off-guard by the sudden power from Daiguren Hyôrinmaru back at Hitsugaya's hands. But I do agree that the Bankai completely returning and the attacks Hitsugaya and Sui-Fêng made against their opponents, looks a bit overdone - or the option of Cang Du and BG9 suddenly being weaker compared to before Urahara arrived with the pills.

But I too want to see Komamura again. I'm curious about the battle between him and his grandfather, and if he's still there in that cave. I would think that whatever he's doing and wherever he is, he's already rushed back to the Wandenreich-replaced Seireitei to join the battle. And I wonder if he's already got the pill Urahara sent to his location.

But he does have a disadvantage with his Bankai from the start, since he takes the same damage as his Bankai. Unless the hollowfication effect somehow changes that.