User blog:TVthePunisher/418...Deicide...blah-blah 20. A serious review.

Yes, I blah-blah'd...and I may continue to do so until Deicide is finally over with. Judging by this chapter, maybe that will be sooner than I thought...I'm pinning 21 as the final Deicide chapter. I'm not betting money, you kidding me? Moment I do that Kubo WILL change the title chapter! He's reading my mind...because this week he made me happy.

I'll cut randomness aside and put this to an actual review. I'll break it down as such:

STORY PROGRESSION, TECHNIQUES AND ATTACKS, ARTWORK: CHARACTER DESIGN, EMOTIONAL TRAITS, ETC., AND OTHER TIDBITS

Story Progression - 9/10...we get somewhere with this one folks. We're IN the battle now, we're not sitting around talking about getting to the fight, though there's some of that in the first few pages...it quickly jumps into the fighting. I'm rating it highly because I've been desiring this fight as well as many others and just to see a character who has otherwise put himself on pedestal have it pushed over brings a grin to my otherwise already happy face. Nobody dies (really? This soon?  Psh-posh) but what did you expect for the first actual chapter about fighting between THESE two? On one corner we have Ichigo Kurosaki (or Kurosaki Ichigo if you REALLY like saying the last name first you sillybilly) and on the other corner Sosuke Aizen or, really he should just be Aizen now. One of them is an enigma, cold and concentrated...much like Byakuya with Zommari way back...days before the current events (if not in the same day). In fact, Aizen's acting much like Zommari to the degree of talking far more than his opponent...overanalyzing and giving some praise to Ichigo's abilities, yet instead of trying to be on at least equal footing he desires more to ridicule and use Ichigo as a "training ground" for his powers.

Well, as Aizen continues his speech at the start of the chapter he loses whatever concern he had when he was taken by "brute force" earlier and creates his own theory on Ichigo's reiatsu. Claims that Ichigo didn't just pass it up, but rather...threw it away all together to accelerate all other aspects into physical capabilities. Ichigo just kind of keeps his stance, letting Aizen chatteraway and demonstrate his use of his blade. Or at least...that's what Aizen thinks, believing that his powers are Godlike and that he "shifted the earth" with a single swipe of his blade. He doesn't ignore the possibility that Ichigo is capable of dodging a blow, though he deems it very unlikely there is still a possibility...good thinking Aizen, but you're becoming overconfident (something I predicted in several blogs and comments regarding where Aizen goes from here. PAY ME) and underestimating Ichigo. Though things start to get interesting as we see how CLEARLY overconfident Aizen is with his now "emotional" side (I'll elaborate in the next section). After Ichigo catches the blade with his hand, Aizen becomes shocked...but resorts to a different approach - Kido. Introducing a "perfected" Hadou #90 "Black Coffin" to demolish what he assumes to be a physical-only Kurosaki. I must say, Aizen puts a lot of emotion into this incantation... That is...until the spell is broken with a swipe of Ichigo's sword, which freaks (yes) Aizen out and Ichigo speaks up for the chapter, informing Aizen of his misinformation. Not only is he more powerful than Aizen, but he was the one who shaped the mountain earlier...and now, he's the one to cut through Aizen. And what a tasty cut it was. Interesting spot too...

Overall, a great progression...we don't sit around too long with speech and we see how arrogant Aizen has become (and his emotional side, amazing) so there's character development...on both sides even! Ichigo is calm, calmer than can be right now...and he's ready to end this.

Techniques and Attacks - 5/10. Why so low? Well, while I enjoyed the incantation and the swordswipes...I'm not a fan of a technique being shown only to be instantly busted. For story progression, I love it...it shows how much Ichigo surpassed Aizen's expectations...but as an overall move, the full extent of what it was capable of from Butterflaizen is barely hinted upon (aside from an upgrade to what happened to doggy). I'm sure it would have been devestating to any other character, but for Ichigo...it's like breaking through Grimmjow's Dessgarion...but faster and without any threat to Ichigo.

Artwork - 10/10. The characters look amazing, even if there's just two...Aizen is shown off in his "prime" and Ichigo is shown as a cold obstacle that Aizen can hardly remove. Ontop of just how great these characters were drawn, the overall background suits the situation perfectly. No over-thetop details as if it were in the city...just out there, in the wilderness. On an emotional note, first I'll do Ichigo. While he looks pretty much ruthless the entire time, it's perfect for him...his eyes are showing great resolve to finish off Aizen and his entire body language is that of someone who CAN defeat him once and for all. Then there's Aizen, who goes from recovering from a surprise...to overconfidence slowly brewing more and more. He grins a lot in this chapter, but nowhere near the level of Nnoitra, Grimmjow or Kenpachi (unless Aizen is extremely desperate and on the verge of death, I don't see that happening)...I'd say he's about Ichigo level (not Hollow Ichigo) in smirkness maximum. Then we get more of him being surprised (god I love these for his character) and then his incantation for Black Coffin was priceless...he closed it off just about two levels below SzayelApporo's crazyface then went to utter disbelief, followed by shock as Ichigo was about to cut him.

Other tidbits well...I can say that while many are kind of still frustrated with Deicide, I'm starting to get used to it...at this rate, I hope it means Aizen's death no matter how many diehards want him to be the final villain. Uh...no confusing "End" this week like last week, which was stupid for some communities to ASSUME pages 17 and 18 were in the wrong order (thanks again to Tinni and others who provided info saying otherwise). And uh...I'm hoping next week blows me away, really today has been great and...it's a great way to stay in shape.

Overall the chapter gets a 5/5, I'd certainly read it several times over just to see Aizen's character development from "cool individual" to "egotistical and arrogant Godwannabe".

Comments are glorious, I can't give you Achievements for them...and I must say my last blog went unloved. =/ then again, I did a very...odd approach, there was too much off-the-board antics and not enough review. This time I wanted to make it right.