Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Proves Kenpachi Is as Scary as Ever

Bleach has always had a lion’s share of characters that make up the shonen franchise, both good and evil alike, but there remains one Soul Reaper who is able to stand above his cohorts in Kenpachi. With the latest episode continuing to raise the stakes for the Soul Reapers, Kenpachi hit the scene by hauling three dead Sternritters and showing anime fans why he remains one of the greatest supporting characters in the Shonen series that spawned from the mind of Tite Kubo.

Kenpachi arrived on the scene in episode five of Bleach’s new season showing his strength by holding three bodies of the Sternritter above his head, presenting anime viewers with a flashback that showed him brutally striking down each of them in his own unique fashion. The first Wandenreich had the ability to transform into a “giant ape” and was slashed in two by Kenpachi, with the second antagonist having his throat horrifically ripped out when the Shinigami grew tired of his threats. Finally, the third villain had the ability to transform into Kenpachi himself, creating a brief challenge for the Soul Reaper, until Kenpachi got serious that is. 

Bleach: Kenpachi’s Blood War

The swagger that Kenpachi has, along with his desire to only fight in battles that might result in his own death, is shockingly one of the most fun parts of Bleach overall, with his glee becoming infectious for fans who have been following the series since the start. What’s amazing about Kenpachi’s strength is that he has yet to truly unleash his Bankai in the Shonen series, not because he can’t mind you, but because in a way, he believes it beneath him. The Soul Reaper’s flippant attitude and brutal “blink and you’ll miss it” kill strikes help him to stand out from some of the other stalwart Shinigami.

Of course, Kenpachi’s resolve isn’t enough for him to immediately take down the leader of this new threat in Yhwach, but the fact that he was able to make much headway and take down opponents that his fellow Soul Reapers struggled with, helps confirm that this Shonen brawler remains the “GOAT” of the series.

Is Kenpachi your favorite Soul Reaper? Feel free to let us know in the comments or hit me up directly on Twitter @EVComedy to talk all things comics, anime, and the world of the Soul Society.