Bleach’s Most Hated Arc is its Version of Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure

The Fullbringer arc of Tite Kubo’s Bleach is often derided, as it represented a major shift from what the series had been until then. However, when examined as a stand-alone story arc, it actually seems more like Kubo’s take on another legendary shonen series: Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure.

The Fullbringer arc was the last element of the Bleach manga to be adapted to anime, and is set immediately after a timeskip when Ichigo has lost all trace of his Soul Reaper abilities. The timeskip changed some of the premise elements substantially, and Ichigo’s inability to interact with many of the established Soul Reaper characters led to the introduction of a new cast of characters (the eponymous Fullbringers) and a new set of powers for Ichigo. Admittedly, the arc does feel like a divergence from what the series had been, and while it all comes back around to tie into established lore at the end, many fans were annoyed or disappointed by what they felt to be a shift in focus to something less interesting.

If viewed as more of a sequel than a new chapter of the same story, the arc makes more sense. The structure of the arc is actually a lot more like Jojo storylines typically are: a human with extraordinary spiritual powers develops a unique ability which he must learn how to use properly from more experienced wielders of this power. Fullbringer abilities differ with each person, with complex rules just like Stand abilities, and their names are quite reminiscent of the music-inspired names of Stands, such as Yukio’s “Invaders Must Die.” Most of them also receive upgrades after being struck by a special weapon, just like the Stand Arrow. Both the initial villain Tsukishima and the true antagonist of the arc, Ginjo, exhibit traits common among Jojo villains, like a sense of superiority, the ability to manipulate time and/or space, and the ability to enhance or bring out these powers in others. The Fullbring power also operates on the idea that everything has a soul, a belief known as animism, which is similarly reflected in Jojo by animals, objects, and even locations possessing Stand abilities.

While Bleach tends to rely much more heavily on training arcs than Jojo ever has, it’s still not too hard to imagine a Jojo in Ichigo’s place throughout this storyline. The characters in Xcution make up a gang similar to the friends and allies that Jojos typically build-up, and similar to Diamond is Unbreakable in particular, all of the characters with this power live in a narrow geographic area together. When the Soul Reapers finally do return towards the end of the arc, it sets up their traditional Zanpakuto-based powers against the Fullbringers’ Stand-like abilities, posing a “who would win” scenario right there in the canon.

Kubo actually drew a piece for Jojo‘s 25th anniversary in 2012, providing his own take on a minor villain from Golden Wind, so he’s known to hold some admiration for the series. 2012 also happened to be right when the Fullbringer arc was finishing up, as if acknowledging the influence. Perhaps most telling is the fact that Kubo, like Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure‘s Hirohiko Araki, likes to match his characters in Bleachwith pop and rock songs–for the record, Ginjo’s was Bon Jovi’s “Last Man Standing.”

About The Author

Carlyle Edmundson
(232 Articles Published)

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Carlyle Edmundson is a news and features writer with an affinity for science fiction and fantasy. He graduated from the University of North Carolina Wilmington with a BS in Film Studies and is glad that it’s relevant to his work. A lifelong fan of anime and manga, he has attended dozens of conventions over the years and may or may not have cosplayed at them. He is also the author of the Dystopian Detective series, available from most places ebooks are sold.

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