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Bleach Manga in Order

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While Ken Kaneki is transformed into a half-ghoul in Tokyo Ghoul, teenager Ichigo Kurosaki obtained the powers of a Soul Reaper in Bleach. Ichigo Kurosaki wasn’t your ordinary student to begin with. He was born with the ability to see ghosts, though this particular gift didn’t affect his life the same way as his encounter with Rukia Kuchiki, a Soul Reaper and member of the mysterious Soul Society. 

When his family is attacked by a Hollow—a malevolent spirit—Rukia transfers her Soul Powers to the young man who then becomes a Soul Reaper! That wasn’t the goal, but now, Ichigo must learn to navigate this new world, protect the innocent from Hollows, and help the spirits themselves find peace.

Created by mangaka Tite Kube, Bleach debuted in 2001 in Weekly Shounen Jump alongside Naruto and One Piece. Together, those manga became known as the “Big Three” because of their massive success. Naturally, Bleach expanded and became a franchise with the first animated series, released between 2004 and 2012. Several animated films, video games, light novels, trading cards, musicals and several artbooks were released during the following years.

The manga came to an end after 15 years, 74 volumes, and 686 chapters, but the Bleach Franchise has continued to expand, with a spin-off manga Burn The Witch and the ongoing Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War, a sequel to the animated series adaptation the final arc of the manga.

Following is a guide to navigating the manga world of Bleach, with the spin-off, a few omakes, and some short stories and light novels!

Bleach Manga Universe

Bleach by Story Arcs

Bleach consists of five arcs and the following is a list of each arc in the manga series:

  • Agent of the Shinigami Arc – Volumes 1-8 (Chapters 001-070)
  • Soul Society arc – Volumes 9-21 (Chapters 071-182)
    • Soul Society Part 1: Invasion (Chapters 71 – 118)
    • Soul SocietyPart 2: Rescue (Chapters 119 – 182)
  • Arrancar arc – Volumes 22-46 (Chapters 183-423)
    • Arrancar Invasion Arc (Chapters 183 – 240)
    • Hueco Mundo Arc (Chapters 241 – 315)
    • Turn Back the Pendulum Arc (Chapters -108 – -97)
    • Fake Karakura Town Arc (Chapters 316 – 398)
    • Deicide Sub-Arc (Chapters 399 – 423)
  • Lost Agent of the Soul Reapers arc – Volumes 49-54 (Chapters 424 – 479)
  • Thousand Year Blood War arc – Volumes 55-74 (Chapters 480-686)
    • Part 1: The First Invasion (Chapters 480 – 542)
    • Part 2: The Second Invasion (Chapters 543 – 596)
    • Part 3: Royal Palace Invasion (Chapters 597 – 626)
    • Part 4: Wahrwelt Invasion (Chapters 627 – 684)
    • Epilogue (Chapters 685 – 686)
Bleach Box Set 1, collecting Volumes 1-21

Burn the Witch, The Spin-Off Manga

Set in the world of Bleach, Burn the Witch is a short manga series following two witches working in Reverse London for the western branch of Soul Society.

  • Burn The Witch (2018, 2020) – One volume (5 Chapters)

Bleach Light Novels listing:

  • Letters From The Other Side (2004) – A novelization of the early chapters written by Makoto Matsubara.
  • The Honey Dish Rhapsody (2006) – Written by Makoto Matsubara. No Official English Translation. 
  • Spirits Are Forever With You (2012) – A two-book story written by Ryōgo Narita. No Official English Translation.
  • The Death Save The Strawberry (2012) – Written by Makoto Matsubara and illustrated by Tite Kubo. No Official English Translation.
  • Can’t Fear Your Own World (2017-2018) – A three-volume series written by  Ryōgo Narita with input from Tite Kubo focusing on Shūhei Hisagi.
  • WE DO knot ALWAYS LOVE YOU (2016) – Written by Makoto Matsubara. No Official English Translation.

Bonus Chapters/Omakes

Omakes Collected in Bleach: Official Character Book SOULs:

  • Bleach Pirate Team
  • Chapter 25.2: things like loneliness
  • Christmas in Carmine
  • Keigo and Tadanobu
  • Phone Crazy on Stage
  • When You Are The Punchline Omake
  • 0.side-A the sand (also included in Volume 23)
  • Bleach Pilot Chapter

No Official translation for the following Bonus manga chapter:

  • not be, but be ( included in Bleach: Official Character Book 3 UNMASKED)
  • imaginary number 01. the unforgivens (A promotional manga chapter for Bleach: The Hell Verse movie)

A special one-shot was also released for the 20th Anniversary of Bleach in 2021:

  • No Breathes From Hell (Chapter 687)

Bleach Short Stories

No BLeach Short Stories have been officially translated in English.

  • Nestle to Night (2011) – Short story written by Makoto Matsubara included in Bleach: Official Character Book 3 UNMASKED
  • Two Lonely Souls’ Wild Drunken Night (2011) – Short Story/Conversation also published in Bleach: Official Character Book 3 UNMASKED
  • Beginning of the Revive of Tomorrow (2015) – short story written by Ryōgo Narita released in 13 BLADEs, a special commemorative databook

Bleach, Other Collections

Before exploring in more detail the Bleach universe, the following is the 3-in-1 Edition released by Viz, an Omnibus Edition with each volume containing three volumes from the previous collection.

The classic volumes of Bleach have also been collected in three box sets:

Bleach, The Complete Reading Guide in Order

Before Bleach, The Pilot Chapter

Bleach started with Tite Kubo drawing a girl in a high school uniform carrying “a nasty-looking sword with a huge blade.” He just knew “she was going to be a Soul Reaper.” This character would eventually become Rukia Kuchiki, but the story nearly failed to materialize after its initial rejection by Weekly Shōnen Jump. A letter of encouragement from manga artist Akira Toriyama (Dragon Ball) motivated Kubo to persevere. Not long after, Weekly Shōnen Jump finally accepted the story, and the rest is history.

For those interested in discovering the original story concept, the Bleach pilot chapter (also known as Chapter 00)—the first chapter that Tite Kubo submitted to Weekly Shōnen Jump’s editors—has been included in Bleach: Official Character Book SOULs.

Agent of the Shinigami Arc

The adventure starts here! Ichigo Kurosaki has always been able to see ghosts, but this ability doesn’t change his life nearly as much as his close encounter with Rukia Kuchiki, a Soul Reaper and member of the mysterious Soul Society…

Soul Society arc

Widely considered the best arc in the manga series, the Soul Society arc is also sometimes referred as the Ryoka Invasion. Ichigo Kurosaki and his friends are on a rescue mission that explores the structure and politics of Soul Society, introduces many new characters, delivers intense battles, deepens the series’ lore, and significant character development.

  • The Honey Dish Rhapsody is a light novel (with no official English translation) set after Chapter 173. This is a slice-of-life story focusing on Rukia as she attempts to cook something for Byakuya during his recovery.

Arrancar arc

The world of Bleach continues to expand with the introduction of a new group of enemies in the Arrancar Arc.

  • Not be, But be is a special manga chapter detailing Ulquoirra’s past that must be read at least after Chapter 241. It is featured in Bleach: Official Character Book 3 UNMASKED (No official English Translation).
  • Imaginary Number 01: The Unforgivens (no official english translation) was a promotional manga chapter released for the promotion of the movie Bleach: Hell Verse and can be read around here.

Lost Agent of the Soul Reapers arc

Also called the Fullbringer arc, the story deals with the aftermath of recent events for Ichigo Kurosaki, who finds himself struggling with his new situation.

After the events of the Arrancar arc, a few bonus stories, none officially transated in english, takes place:

  • Nestle to Night is a Short story set after Chapter 422 and focused on Tier Harribel (no official English translation).
  • Two Lonely Souls’ Wild Drunken Night is a Conversation between Rangiku Matsumoto and Izuru Kira set after Chapter 423 (no official English translation.)
  • Spirits Are Forever With You Book One & Two are also set after Chapter 423.
  • The Death Save The Strawberry is a Light Novel, taking place during during the “Lost Agent” arc (no official english translation). It is recommended to read that story after the conclusion of this arc.

Thousand Year Blood War arc

The final arc in the manga revolves around the long-standing conflict between the Soul Reapers and a powerful new enemy, the Quincy. Prepare yourself for more revelations, new characters, and epic battles leading to the series’ conclusion!

The Thousand Year Blood War arc came to an end with Chapter 684, as the last two chapters serves of epilogue to the manga. The following stories can be read after the conclusion of the arc:

  • Beginning Of The Revive Of Tomorrow is a short story mostly set during the “Thousand Year Blood War” arc, recommended to read after. 
  • Can’t Fear Your Own World – The three light novel series start is set 6 months after the “Thousand Year Blood War” arc
  • We Do knot Always Love You is a Light Novel that takes place set 2.5 years after Can’t Fear Your Own World

Finally, for the 20th anniversary of the manga, a special chapter was released, set 12 years after the Quincy Blood War. And naturally after the conclusion of Bleach.

Burn The Witch! Set in the wider world of Bleach, by Bleach author Tite Kubo, Burn The Witch was released two years after the end of the main manga. Behind the world you think you know lies a land of magic and fairy tales — but Reverse London isn’t the pretty picture that’s painted in children’s books. Fairy tales have teeth, and the dedicated agents of Wing Bind are the only thing standing between you and the real story. 

Did we forget an important issue? Did we make a mistake? Let us know in the comments!

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