MANGAZETTE

DEAR READER

This week, we’re dragging you back to hell – but don’t worry, you’ll like it, we promise! It’s action in the otherworld in the latest volume of Bleach!

HOT TIMES IN THE OLD TOWN

Can it be? Is Rukia Kuchiki, seasoned soul reaper and closest ally to Ichigo Kurosaki really dead? That’s how it looks at the start of the newest instalment of the fan-favourite ghost-busting action saga, Bleach! Ichigo won’t have time to mourn though, as he faces the distressingly powerful Ulquiorra, who reveals his part in luring the now-captive Orihime Inoue to the hellish world of Hueco Mundo. While he’s dragged into a violent battle, the rest of Ichigo’s friends push on in order to rescue Orihime, who finds herself on the defensive against Loly and Menoly – a tag team of Arrancar jealous of

arch-villain Sousuke Aizen’s interest in the girl. The pressure mounts on the good guys and the chance of successfully escaping seems all but impossible in the face of the increasingly powerful enemies they face. Find out if Rukia is the only fatality in this devilishly good collection!

BLEACH SERIES 8, PART 2, OUT NOW ON UK DVD (£24.99)

SPOD FACT: IT'S NOT OVER TILL IT'S OVER

You may have heard that Bleach is coming to an end in Japan – and it’s true. Worry not though; production on the anime has gone on hold but creator Tite Kubo continues apace on the manga. Given the serial’s popularity, we’re sure it won’t be gone for long!

FIX @ NETFLIX

Our own Matt Kamen writes for That Fancy Wired about legal streaming in the UK, and the effect it's having on anime, revealing in the process that Netflix are now offering 17 Manga Entertainment titles, as well as several anime not previously available in the UK. So now you can get your anime fix at Netflix, check it out.

GOOD EVANS!

We don't normally push non-anime titles on this newsletter, but we're making an exception for the pulse-pounding The Raid, out this week in UK cinemas.

Directed by Welshman Gareth Evans and highlighting the Indonesian martial art of Pencak Silat, it has to be seen to be believed. Real Manga in Motion!

RAIDING ANIME

Director Gareth Evans talks to Andrew Osmond about a mania for manga

VANISHING POINT?

Andrew Osmond asks if it really is the end for Ghost in the Shell

A PIRATE'S LIFE

Know Your Anime lives the leecher dream...

SCOOBY-WHO?

Jonathan Clements reviews Iwao Takamoto’s memoirs

OUR FEATURE PRESENTATION

Matt Kamen is on the casting couch for Bleach the Movie