Bleach, one of the big 3 and one of the best anime adaptations, is known for having exceptional manga art by its author, Kubo Tite. A character designer, Kubo Tite's art is known for its snappy cuts and dramatic angle changes between panels, especially in fight scenes, and having little to no incorporation of any background art. In this article, we will take a look at 15 of the best Bleach panels and what makes them so great.

15. Ichibe's Zanpakuto Release - Chapter 607

Paint it black, Ichimonji!

The Thousand-Year Blood War arc is without a doubt the best Bleach arc, and the panels within it say it all. One of the characters introduced in this arc was Ichibe Hyosube, the leader of the Zero Division, which resides at the Soul King Palace to protect the Soul King and the Royal Family. When Yhwach invaded the Soul Society and the Soul King Palace, the Zero Division was called into action.

Yhwach and his Royal Guard defeat the members of the Zero Division and finally encounter Ichibe, the strongest of them all. What makes this panel so great is the fact that we get to see Ichibe's power when he releases his Zanpakuto, Ichimonji, and proceeds to use his Bankai to crush Yhwach, albeit momentarily.

14. The Villain Appears - Chapter 561

Renji has never looked cooler than he did in this panel.

During the Wandenreich attack on Soul Society, Abarai Renji was among the many captains and lieutenants that were defeated by the Sternritters. After being saved by the 4th Division from his near-fatal injuries, he is taken to the Soul Palace by Tenjiro Kirinji, the First Officer of the Zero Division, where he is fully healed. He then later learns the true name of his Bankai after being deemed worthy to wield it by Ichibe Hyosube.

What makes this panel great is Renji's timely arrival in Soul Society to protect 3rd Division Captain Rojuro Otoribashi from Sternritter S-The Superstar. When the Sternritter asks him who he is, Renji introduces himself as a villain.

13. Welcome To My Soul Society - Chapter 682

It is not a Bleach fight until Aizen Sosuke appears.

Aizen Sosuke was one of the five people declared a Special War Power by Yhwach, and as such, Yhwach approached him to join his ranks, but Aizen rejected his offer. Later on, Aizen is released by the current Captain Commander, Kyoraku Shunsui, in a bid to have him help Soul Society defeat the invaders. What makes this panel great is when Yhwach returns to Soul Society, Aizen superciliously welcomes him by telling him: "Welcome to my Soul Society."

12. Unohana Reveal: The First Kenpachi - Chapter 520

It all made sense why Unohana never fought.

For a very long time, Bleach fans always wondered why the 4th Division Captain, Unohana Retsu, was so respected by the Captain Commander, Yamamoto Genryusaai. Even when Yamamoto went into battle against the Wadenreich, his last commands were to her.

Soon enough, it was made clear why when after Kyoraku Shunsui was appointed the next Captain Commander, his first orders were for Unohana to teach Zaraki Kenpachi the way of the sword, calling her by her real name, Unohana Yachiru, the first Kenpachi. This great reveal made this one of the best panels in the Bleach manga.

11. Oetsu Nimaiya vs Yhwach's Royal Guards - Chapter 600

No wonder Zanpakutos are so cool!

Oetsu Nimaiya, who holds the title of "God of the Sword", is a member of the Zero Division and the creator of the Zanpakuto. During the invasion, he took Renji and Ichigo to his domain and taught them about the souls of the Zanpakuto and why their Zanpakuto broke so easily when they fought the Sternritters.

After having them face a challenge successfully, he reforges their Zanpakuto. What makes this panel great is what happens after, when Yhwach and the Royal Guard invade the Soul King Palace and Nimaiya confronts them, proclaiming that he will be their opponent, and the real battle begins here.

10. Zaraki Kenpachi's Bankai - Chapter 669

A befitting Bankai for a monster.

11th Division Captain Zaraki Kenpachi always seemed to be more of a monster than a Shinigami who didn't need a Zanpakuto to fight any of his opponents. Therefore, when he fought the Sternritters, he learned that brute strength was not enough and he needed more than that to beat the Quincies.

After fighting against Unohana and successfully defeating her and claiming the Kenpachi title, he realized the power of his Zanpakuto. However, after fighting Sternritter M-The Miracle, he is overwhelmed easily, but Yachiru appears before him and finally reveals Kenpachi's Bankai power, making this one of the best panels in the manga.

9. I am the Captain Commander of the Gotei 13 - Chapter 645

Some Sternritters were just plain unlucky.

The former 8th Division Captain Shunsui Kyoraku is among the strongest characters in the series, and this is proven true after he is appointed the new Captain Commander following the death of Yamamoto Genryusaai at the hands of the Wadenreich's leader, Yhwach.

Later on, Shunsui encounters the Sternritter X-The X-Axis, who shoots him with his rifle but is shocked to find Shunsui is uninjured. When Shunsui reveals how he evaded his attack, he reveals his name and rank to the Sternritter, who is shocked to learn that he is fighting the Captain Commander, making this panel one of the best in the manga.

8. Urahara Kisuke's Bankai - Chapter 664

Kannonbiraki Benihime Aratame is such a broken Bankai.

Since Urahara Kisuke was introduced to the story, many fans have eagerly waited to see him fight seriously against an opponent worthy of his standing. During the fight against Aizen, Urahara seemed more focused on creating a trap for Aizen than fighting him directly.

However, after the Wadenreich laid havoc on Soul Society, Urahara was forced to fight seriously after facing one of Yhwach's Royal Guards, Sternritter D-The Deathdealing Askin Nakk Le Vaar. Soon enough, Urahara unleashed his Bankai, finally giving Bleach fans what they wanted most to see and making this one of the most memorable panels in the series.

7. Kyoraku Shunsui's Bankai - Chapter 647

Poor Lille Barro never stood a chance.

When Kyoraku Shunsui took up the role of the new 1st Division Captain and the Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13, Bleach fans knew that things were getting serious and, soon enough, we would get to see the playful Captain reveal his true power. 

Soon enough, Shunsui found himself facing Lille Barro, one of Yhwach's Royal Guards, and after being cornered by him and being left with no options, he finally activated his Bankai. Seeing the effects of his Bankai being felt by everyone in Soul Society made this one of the greatest panels in the manga.

6. Kuchiki Rukia's Bankai - Chapter 569

Rukia will be one of the most formidable captains of the Gotei 13.

Kuchiki Rukia is ranked highly on the list of favorite characters in Bleach despite not being among the more powerful characters. As a lieutenant, Rukia showed some signs of having great potential as a Shinigami and member of the Gotei 13.

During the Wandenreich's invasion of Soul Society, all members of the Gotei 13 that survived were forced to level up their power in readiness to face the Quincies a second time. Rukia's level up was definitely one of the best, as she finally activated her Bankai and defeated one of the Sternritters, making this one of the best panels.

5. Kurosaki Ichigo's True Form - Chapter 676

Just when you think you've seen the last evolution of Ichigo, he goes and does this.

Kurosaki Ichigo's evolution through the story is one of the best things that makes Bleach great. From acquiring Shinigami powers to revealing his Hollow powers, Ichigo has always been one of the characters whose powers are highly unpredictable. In the Thousand Year Blood War arc, Ichigo learned of his Quincy heritage from his mother.

When he finally faced Yhwach, he was able to draw out and awaken his Quincy abilities, revealing his new and true form as a merged Shinigami, Hollow, and Quincy being. His new form was one of the favorite moments in the arc and one of the best panels in the whole manga.

4. Zanka no Tachi: South - Chapter 508

Yamamoto Genryusaai is simply a fire God!

Yamomoto Shigekuni Genryusaai, the Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13, was without a doubt one of the strongest and most powerful characters in the entire story. However, like most of the other powerful characters, he rarely revealed his true power, but this all changed after his lieutenant, Chojiro Sasakibe, was killed by the Wandenreich.

Having fought Yhwach before and allowed him to escape a thousand years ago, Yamamoto decided not to make that mistake again, confronting the Wandenreich leader immediately and activating his Bankai, Zanka no Tachi. 

When he used Zanka no Tachi: South, it called forth an undead army of the skeletons of the people who had died from his sword. This is without a doubt one of the best panels in the manga.

3. Zanka no Tachi: North - Chapter 509

If only he fought the real Yhwach, the TYBW arc would be over in 2 volumes.

Having unleashed his wrath on Yhwach, Yamamoto's Bankai proved to be worthy of his title after Yhwach was forced to go on the defensive just to try and stay alive. With arguably the greatest panels in the manga, Yamamoto's Bankai seemed too powerful when he activated it, but using his trump card, Zanka no Tachi: South, Yamamoto showed its terrifying power by slashing and incinerating Yhwach in half.

2. Yamamoto Genryuusai's Bankai - Chapter 506

Every Bleach fan got literal chills reading this panel!

Although the panels where Yamomoto used the different forms of his Bankai were spectacular, the panel where he activates and unleashes his Bankai for the first time is a class above them. When Yamamoto activated Ryujin Jakka to fight Captains Ukitake and Kyoraku during Rukia's execution, how the latter responded to this was enough to build suspense for what would happen if the veteran commander activated his Bankai.

When he finally did, it lived up to the fans' expectations as we saw all of Shinigami and Quincies feel the effects of it. Isane remarks how her skin has suddenly become dry; Hitsugaya's Bankai starts to melt due to all the water disappearing in the atmosphere; and Unohana hopes Yamamoto ends the battle soon before he destroys Soul Society.

1. Protect Soul Society - Chapter 512

You know things are really bad when Soul Society needs Kurosaki Ichigo!

Yamamoto Genryusaai's Bankai panels are undoubtedly unforgettable, but the panels that take the first spot are when a fatally injured Kuchiki Byakuya asks Kurosaki Ichigo to protect Soul Society. From their first meeting, the 6th Division Captain showed disdain for Ichigo and treated him as a lowlife who didn't deserve the power he had.

However, throughout the course of the story, Ichigo proved himself to be a capable and reliable ally who rescued Byakuya's sister from execution and defeated the treacherous 5th Division Captain, Aizen Sosuke. 

Therefore, when Byakuya loses to the Quincies and Ichigo arrives at Soul Society, seeing the powerful Captain request Kurosaki Ichigo to protect Soul Society as his dying wish makes this panel truly the greatest panel in the manga.

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