BCC Round 3 Special Valentine's Preview ~ Nalu vs. Ichihime (featuring new collaboration w/MIKandIK3)

VS.

It's been quite some time since Fight Night posts have been around, hasn't it? Over a month ago, BCC 2 was up ~ pitting the world of Videogames & Anime together. However, starting in March 2015, BCC will return. However, to tip off Valentine's Day, new collaborator & good friend MIKandIK3 will be pitting the best known couples of Bleach & Fairy Tail ~ Ichihime (Ichigo & Orihime) vs. Nalu (Natsu & Lucy). It's no coincidence that these two Anime(s) are full of very VERY sexy women. In March, MIK & Stillmattic will be pitting 11 FT & Bleach chicks together to bring you ~ BCC Round 3 (BVFT). Since it's MIK's first time, take it easy on him ladies and gentlemen. So without further ado, let's get this show on the road. For this Valentine's post, I will be giving the verdict. Deciding factors, as always, include Storyline, Personality, & Appeal. 

Storyline (Nalu)

The story how these two met was in the very beginning of the series. Our main heroin Lucy Hreatfilia and Natsu Dragnell, along with his companion Happy, meet and after some taking down the evil wizard Bora, using awesome magic and burning down half the town. Natsu then invites Lucy to join her dream wizard gild “Fariy Tail.” As the story progresses Lucy joins Natsu, Gray and Erza on many exciting adventures with many heartwarming developments. Though the two are great friends and trust one another, they are not technically a couple in the actual story. Not once in the over 400 chapters in the Manga dose Natsu show any interest in Lucy. He seems to exploit Lucy’s sex appeal rather than be attracted to it. However, there is one chapter that Natsu dose ask Lucy to come meet him by the big tree at night, and what’s more he tells her, “It’s important that it’s her.” Lucy getting confused ends up actual thing and fantasizing about Natsu! When she finally arrives she finds that Natsu only wanted her to come for her to call her celestial spirit Virgo to help dig for buried treasure under the tree. It ends with Lucy socking him and running away saying “I’m such a fool!” That’s the closest they have come to actually being a couple. Though they may not have a bond that the two share love for one another. Natsu and Lucy have a bond of friendship and trust in each other as partners. 

Story (Ichihime)

When first introduced to these characters, it was pretty clear the direction of where'll their friendship will go. These two lovebirds attend the same High School, but both are polar opposites in every way. Ichigo often gets himself involved as a target for thugs and the lowlife whereas Orihime is weird, eccentric, and often considered naive. However, Ichigo's meeting with Rukia soon would change the course of their time together. What initially started off as classmates soon turned into teammates ~ Orihime herself garnered powers due to Ichigo's profound influence on his friends & family. It wouldn't be long before Team Ichigo (Ichigo, Orihime, Uryu, & Chad) would go toe-to-toe against the strongest of villains ~ Aizen Sousuke, Jin Kariya (Filler), & the main antagonist, Yhwach. Orihime's growth as a character stems from her maturity in dealing with the supernatural whereas Ichigo already has a feel of the supernatural due to his unknown knowledge of his parents' backstories. It wouldn't be long before Orihime herself develops romantic feelings for Ichigo ~ seeing him in trouble, fighting for everyone he cares for, and risking his own life if necessary ~ all these attributed to Orihime's grown attachment to Ichigo. As the story progresses unfortunately, no developments of the two have been noted. Throughout the Hueco Mundo/Fake Karakura Town Arc, Ichigo did everything in his power to save Orihime, but no hint of feelings were noticed. In the 4th Bleach movie, we see Orihime embrace Ichigo from behind; Ichigo understands that the mantle of responsibility he has to endure doesn't always have to be burdened alone. That "hug" moment is what got me thinking ~ These two need each other and despite one showing affection towards the other, they are inseparable as friends, allies, & protectors. 

Personalities (Nalu)

Natsu Dragneel is carefree and reckless in nature, and, despite his consistent brawls with the other members of Fairy Tail, he is a fiercely loyal and protective friend. He is willing to go down fighting for his friends, regardless of how futile it might seem. Natsu has a straightforward mind, and often tackles issues with a "hands on" approach. His solution to problems often involve violence. Even when disrespected or faced with obvious hostility, Natsu rarely ever reciprocates the feelings, and often forgoes grudge-holding. 

Lucy takes exceptional pride in her appearance and is very confident in her sex appeal, often exuding a certain amount of vanity. Despite this superficial attitude, she is a clever, kind, and genuinely caring person. Lucy is passionate for literature and is in the process of writing her own novel about her adventures with Fairy Tail although she does not like telling anyone about it. Aside from her interest in writing and reading prose, she also likes shopping, cooking and assertive men.

Personalities (Ichihime)

Much like I explicated in the Story aspect of Ichihime, these two couldn't be any different. Ichigo was often targeted by thugs and lowlifes, but he was able to manage on his own because of his enhanced strength, agility, and durability. His orange hair alone was seen as a prejudice amongst everyone because Ichigo was always being harassed or attacked because of the color of his hair. That didn't stop Ichigo from kicking @SS & taking names of course. Orihime on the other hand, like I said, is weird, eccentric, and naive. She's a klutz, humorous, friendly, and kind. These are the aspects that define Orihime, but after her time with Ichigo ~ she matured. She grew stronger, grew more courageous, more hopeful, and is able to read emotions as if it were drawn on their faces. Orihime's maturity and independence are what make her such a interesting character ~ she's going outside of her norm and adapted to the changes happening around her so easily. Ichigo already has a feel of the supernatural, but, much like Orihime, he too matured ~ creating a web of strength in order to protect those he cares for. In the end, their personalities are much like the water ~ pure, divine, and rich in nature. 

Appeal (Nalu)

Though Natsu and Lucy aren’t an official couple, the fans have took the initiative and created, (as Still Mattic calls it), NaLu. I understand why, the rough and tough hero and the incredibly sexy heroin getting together is what most people like to see. Though Natsu can act like an immature child at times he has good points too. He has a deep love for the guild and all its members that he accepts and his family. Lucy the blond lovely goddess that has such and radiant smile and a sexy body that men admire, and heart that is big enough to hold love for everyone in Fairy Tail. 

Appeal (Ichihime)

Ichigo's a Hunk, isn't he? I mean his bulging muscles should be a hint that fighting various enemies will give guys six-packs. And Orihime got BIG BEEWBZ! Holy Crap they big jiggling when she jumping and carrying watermelons. Ichigo is lucky that such a hot cutie with bulging assets has a thing for him. I mean, I adore Ichihime being together not just because of their looks, but because of their time spent together defined who they are and has made them stronger. Although not an official couple, Ichihime often is speculated as being the #1 couple of Bleach. I know people are going for Ichiruki, but hey ~ more power to them. To me, this is my favorite Bleach couple & is up there on my Top 10 Favorite Anime Couples. Damn Ichigo, make a move on Orihime. Her jiggly puffs are just waiting to be jiggled. 

Verdict (By Stillmattic)

And the winner is…

This was a very tough decision to make considering I'm a HUGE fan of both these couples. NaLu seems to be the pivotal Fairy Tail Fan-couple much like Ichihime in Bleach, However, boiling it down to "Whose the better couple?" and "What makes them a powerhouse?" ~ I had to go with NaLu. For one, NaLu has been more built up and hyped than Ichihime in Bleach. Lucy's attachment to Natsu not only stems from having been a part of Fairy Tail, but their teamwork has made them a lot more closer. In comparison to FT, Orihime's attachment stems from Ichigo's courageous acts as a Shinigami, but have you ever noticed that their teamwork is very different to NaLu? Hear me out on this one ~ NaLu's teamwork is equal ~ both have powers and have hair their fair share of battles & helping out one another. Ichihime on the other hand is ~ Ichigo is the brawns & Orihime is the emotional support. I wished Orihime's role was utilized more because, like I've said many MANY times, Orihime has been sidelined. You would never EVER see that with NaLu ~ both are equally important because we grew up with them. Their time together made them stronger because of their adventures whereas with Ichigo & Orihime, Orihime grew attached because Ichigo saved her (Damsel in Distress Cliche). Lucy can be seen as a damsel, but she was able to manage her own in combat. With Orihime, nope. Orihime may have God-like abilities, but she always had to rely on somebody else to help save her in the end. Ichigo & Natsu are equally powerful in their own right, but at the end of the day ~ NaLU has more gravitas to the Fairy Tail storyline than Ichihime does in Bleach. 

So who do you think is the better couple? NaLu from Fairy Tail or Ichihime from Bleach? Comment below and let us know. Thank you so much for reading BCC Round 3 ~ Bleach vs. Fairy Special Preview featuring new collaborator MIKandIK3. BCC Round 3 will officially start sometime in March and will run for 11 battles. Until then, you all stay classy & Happy Valentine's Day to everyone and anyone. Stay classy!

WBCR - World Crumbles (Grade: C)

So….this week's chapter once again was a very VERY short read. It can be summed up in two sentences. Ichigo's Quincy blood drove him to unintentionally slay the Soul King. With the Soul King's Death, the Human, Arrancar, & Spirit World begin to crumble as a result. That sums up the chapter in all honesty. I said before that the anticipation of a chapter is long gone, but how much longer until something, I don't know, exciting happens? We see Karin & Yuzu being affected by the Earthquake whereas Kisuke, who was confident that everyone was going to according to plan, goes a complete 360 and says that it's too late. The Soul King's death is the balance of all 3 worlds and, due to Yhwach's influence on the Quincy blood, inadvertently controlled Ichigo into delivering the final blow. The only thing that interests me is what 13th division Captain Jushiro Ukitake is thinking. What is he contemplating? Is there some sort of way to reverse all this? Will the Manga pick up or will it drag on much like DBZ? Who knows! Overall, I give it a a C ~ it's more set-up (even if it's slow af). I don't hate Bleach, but I want something to happen other than the cliche of "All hope is lost."

So what did you think of this week's Chapter? Good? Bad? Somewhere in between? Comment below and let me know. As always, look forward to WBCRs whenever chapter's out AND when I have the time to post. Until then and as always, you all stay classy now. Throwback post is below.

Throwback #75 - Fanservice II!!

Remember this cover page? It was the first time we see our two heroines, Orihime & Rukia, actually covering their naked bodies while in the hot spring. That is FREAKING awesome. Orihime has big BEEWBS and just by looking at how the towel is wrapping around her, it looks as if it was about to fall. That smile of her + her hairstyle ~ all too cute and good to be true. And then there's Rukia, who, despite not possessing big melons, is pretty cute herself. When she got her haircut, I fell in love with her even more ~ I don't know, something about cute-haired girls man. Upon feasting my eyes on this cover page, I knew that Tite Kubo couldn't escape the fan service. People who often are fans of something try to find the service as a fan. In this case, seeing a partially naked Orihime & Rukia covered in a bath towel ~ it was so sexy. We don't usually see Rukia strip down. It was refreshing to see our two heroines who've come to know and love almost bear their BEEWBS & @SS in this cover page. I don't know what else to say other than ~ DAYUM!

I hope you enjoyed this week's Throwback. Look forward to Throwback posts on Fridays. Until then, you all stay classy now.

Legacy #21 - Teen Titans

Although not really an Anime, Teen Titans incorporated had a lot of heavy Anime influence (notably faces & gestures). It was, at the time, my favorite show on Cartoon Network and for a lot of good reasons. Mixing in comedy, action, & Superheroes ~ what possibly could go wrong? We have our brave leader, the female love interest from another world, a badass half-man half robot, a shapeshifting being, and a secluded female who learns to open up to her friends. Together, they are the Teen Titans. Encountering various enemies from Slade, the H.I.V.E Academy, Trigon, & The Brotherhood of Evil (led by the Brain) ~ Teen Titans was quite the watch. When combining action & comedy, sometimes that chemistry doesn't work all the time. For TT, it worked out well ~ plenty of awesome scenes while still maintaining its charm and charisma. The Teen Titans opening was also sang by J-pop Artists PuffyAmiYumi and, from time to time, it was either sung in English or in Japanese. Overall, Teen Titans is a phenomenon for its time and spawned 4-5 seasons. Of course we'd like to see it thrive and continue, but alas it wasn't picked up to continue. Teen Titans Go! is its successor and, for now, I'll leave it at that (I have a long rant on that for next week's Legacy post).

I hope you enjoyed this week's Legacy post. Look forward to Legacy post on Thursdays. Until then, you all stay classy now. WBCR & Throwback will be up tomorrow. 

Affinity #76 - Cifer Impasse (Part 5)

Welcome back to another installment of the Cife Impasse Affinity posts where, from Affinities #72-77, I detail a particular relationship with one singular character and his/her interactions with other characters in the story. In parts 1-4, I detailed Ulquiorra's relationships with Yammy, Ichigo, Grimmjow, & Ulquiorra. Today, I detail Ulquiorra's affinity with none other than his Leader, Aizen Sousuke. Ulquiorra, much to the dismay of the other Espada, is obedient every single way. He follows orders and never questions authority. One thing that was never addressed was how Aizen met Ulquiorra. The only interaction we know of is how Aizen got to meet Starrk, Baraggan, & Harribel. With Ulquiorra, nothing. Well, the same can also be said with Espada #0, 5-9. However, I do know Aizen used his power, manipulation, and nature in allying with the Arrancar. Ulquiorra, much to Grimmjow's disappointment, followed orders as he, alongside Yammy, encountered a orange haired boy cloaked in black (Ichigo Kurosaki). Ulquiorra deemed he was of no threat to Lord Aizen, but Grimmjow saw it differently ~ a chance that was slipped away due to Ulquiorra's "negligence" of the matter. However, Aizen only praised Ulquiorra for following orders and Ulquiorra, honored to have received a compliment, bowed in his favor. To me, Ulquiorra is Aizen's perfect soldier ~ obedient, dutiful, and never having any unwavering emotions/feelings otherwise. Aizen even went out of his way to assign Ulquiorra to guard Hueco Mundo while he goes to Fake Karakura Town. He wouldn't assign anyone with that task unless it was Ulquiorra. It's pretty much an affinity of Leader & Soldier.

I hope you enjoyed Part 5/6 of the Cifer Impasse Affinities. Next week is the Cifer Impasse  Finale detailing a very important interaction ~ Ulquiorra & Orihime. Look forward to Affinity posts on Tuesdays. Until then, you all stay classy.

WBCR - Dat sword though (Grade: C)

Preparations are nearly complete as Kisule Urahara prepares a gateway into the Royal Palace. He is going to need all the help he can get, but at the same time feels doubt that the plan for survival may be minuscule. Of course, the Captains are taken back by this (Sui-Feng & Kenpachi notably), but they do not care because in this situation ~ it's a life/death battle ~ aka a War. Hiyori & the rest of Visored are suiting up as well ~ it's time for old grudges to be forgotten as they all prepare for what's coming to them. Meanwhile, Ichigo, Ganju, Orihime, Chad, & Yoruichi confront Yhwach who, with most evil villains, have foreseen that he is to do battle with the main protagonist. However, Ichigo bodies reacts to the sword that impaled the Soul King. The supposed "Quincy" blood inside him unsheathe the blade and supposedly dealt the final blow on the Soul King. In other words ~ Ichigo's Quincy Half brought upon the destruction of the Soul Society. Yhwach knew of this whereas his friends are all like "WTF?" And that pretty much sums the chapter. I am curious to know why all of a sudden Ichigo's "Quincy" blood now manipulates him and also, why Yhwach waited for Ichigo to deal the final blow? I think perhaps it had to do with the whole: "He did it" scenario in which Yhwach merely is a collaborator on the Soul King's demise. I wonder if the War will ever pick up and whether or not, again, certain characters will come back (*cough* Arrancars & Xcution). For now, it's merely more set-up and more monologues. I give this week's Grade a: C. Not great, but it's set-up so it's passable.

So what did you think of this week's Chapter? Good? Bad? Somewhere in between? Comment below and let me know. As always, look forward to WBCRs whenever chapter's out AND when I have the time to post. Until then and as always, you all stay classy now. Throwback post is below.

Throwback #74 - Fanservice!

Remember that time when Tite Kubo made all of our dreams come true when he drew the Fanservice picture of the Bleach women at the Beach? I think we all did as it was featured in Bleach Artbooks for the World to see. Notable standouts of course include Orihime, Rangiku, Yoruichi, Rukia, & surprisingly Isane. Orihime, Rangiku, & Yoruichi are the Big 3 in terms of possessing a huge rack, but it came to a surprise that Isan'e isn't all that bad. Her swimsuit I think is the most revealing out of all of them in the picture. Rangiku is flashing her little @SS, but hey ~ ain't nothing wrong with that. Other women in this picture include Sui-Feng (holding the watermelons), Tatsuki, Hinamori, Yachiru, Kiyone (Isane's younger sister). Unohana (WAY in the back), Kukaku (also WAY in the Back), and Nanao (Way WAY in the Back). This comes to show that most Anime(s) cannot escape the Fanservice Hype and as the title suggests, it gave us, the fans, service. Personally I'd want Tite Kubo to make more fan service pictures, but of course only a man can dream.

I hope you enjoyed this week's Throwback. Look forward to Throwback posts on Fridays. Until then, you all stay classy now. WBCR will be up soon.

Legacy #20 - Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai

Haven't you wished that you can make friends and make that into a club? Colorful characters that end up becoming the best of friends soon realize that their camaraderie is what defines their club & their ongoing pursuit to unraveling the secrets/gimmicks of friendship. Of course initially perceived as an Harem Anime, I found this Anime to be categorized as a slice-of-life comedy. Growing up, I had 2 very close friends (whom I'm still friends with today). Unfortunately, it was the 3 of us against the World as, with most schools, it was a divide between popularity & unpopular kids. However, as soon as I enrolled into High School ~ I started conversing more with people, being more open, and creating more opportunities to get closer to my peers. It wouldn't be long before I had a group of friends to call my own as I, with the help of my best friend MechG, restarted up the Anime Club. Through this, we forged friendships, made memories, played games, and essentially realized that doing stuff as a group was more fun than being alone. That is essentially what this Anime is about ~ outsiders/outcasts who find themselves coincidentally meeting as if fate were smiling upon them. Started off as a bumpy road, this Anime learned to make me laugh, appreciate the value of friendship, and be open with the togetherness we share as a whole. Sure it has Romance elements, but hey ~ it's school. A part of life is a journey towards finding our own path ~ creating friendships and finding that one special person are essentials. To me, this Anime embodies the meaning of friendship alongside its perks and its definition. Spawning 2 seasons (24 episodes + Season 3 hopefully coming up), this Anime is full of mischief, hilarity, and overall displaying the affection of friends that come from different places.

I hope you enjoyed this week's Legacy post. Look forward to Legacy posts on Thursdays. Until then, you all stay classy now. WBCR & Throwback will be up sometime tomorrow. 

Affinity #75 - Cifer Impasse (Part 4)

Welcome back to another installment of the Cife Impasse Affinity posts where, from Affinities #72-77, I detail a particular relationship with one singular character and his/her interactions with other characters in the story. In parts 1-3, I detailed Ulquiorra's relationships with Yammy, Ichigo, & Grimmjow. In Part 4, I detail a very minor interaction ~ Ulquiorra & Nnoitra. This was shown in one scene in both the Anime/Manga where Nnoitra takes a little interest in Aizen & Ulquiorra's handling of Orihime's imprisonment. Nnoitra, much like Grimmjow, is hard-headed, impatient, and isn't as calculative as Ulquiorra. Ulquiorra, much like Aizen, takes precautions and is always 3 steps ahead of the game. This is why their is a rift between certain Espada ~ power, rank, and egos clash. Grimmjow despises Ulquiorra whereas Baraggan, the 2nd Espada, thinks he's powerful than all of the Espada combined. Nnoitra teases Ulquiorra in this scene, telling him not to be a sore loser and just tell him of their intentions on Orihime/Aizen's plan. Overall, this scene depicts that Nnoitra, despite being weaker than Ulquiorra, isn't intimidated by him whatsoever. Ulquiorra could just as easily mop the floor with him in his final form.

I hope you enjoyed Part 4/6 of the Cifer Impasse Affinities. Look forward to Affinity posts on Tuesdays. Until then, you all stay classy.

Throwback #73 - #BeastMode

Remember that time when Ururu almost beat the living sh*t out of Grimmjow's Fraccion, Yylfordt Granz? She went into Beast/Hulk Mode and went ballistic all over his candy @$$. Not only did I find this entertaining, but man ~ nobody should F with Ururu. As we all know, Ururu isn't what you'd call  a normal being. One of the questions that still boggles my mind is ~ How did Jinta & Ururu come to know of Kisuke Urahara? Are they experiments? How can they see spirits/hollows? This needs an explanation. Ururu reacted differently to the Arrancar's reiatsu and simply went, according to Bleachwiki, "slaughter mode." She even grabbed him by the neck and he was bleeding ~ Yylfordt got beat up by a little girl pretty much. Although not much is explained behind Jinta & Ururu, it was the first time seeing Ururu kick all kinds of @$$ and though brief, it was cool to see someone other than a Shinigami kick an Arrancar's behind. However, this was short-lived as Yylfordt released his final form and simply retaliated against the kids. This truly is a shocking moment in Bleach, wonder if she'll be an asset in the war between the Shinigami & Quincy.

I hope you enjoyed this week's Throwback. I do apologize for posting not a  Throwback post last week ~ was out all day and unable to get to a computer til past midnight. Until then, you all stay classy now.

Legacy #19 - Zombie Powder (Tite Kubo's first serialized work!)

Does anybody recall Tite Kubo's first published Manga series: Zombie Powder? For what it was, it wasn't all that bad. It's been awhile since I've read it and I'm not going to dive into too many details, but for getting myself into Manga ~ Zombie Powder was a pretty enjoyable read. Unfortunately many will disagree with me on this one because it was underdeveloped, uninteresting, and lacked substance. To top it all off, it is left incomplete with a cliffhanger ending. Personally I was into the characters ~ Gamma, John, C.T. Smith, & the Big-BEEWBED Wolfina. Zombie Powder, from what I'd recall, is a substance that imbues people with limitless life force. So…..it's like drugs right? Zombie Powder also was pretty violent ~ body parts flying, cut open torsos, and lotta blood. When I first read it, it was pretty graphic. A lot of the characters unfortunately are shrouded in mystery and we'll never know what'll happen to them or where they came from or how they came to be that way. I just find it hilarious that if you look at the cover for the 1st ZP Manga, looks VERY similar to the cover of the 24th Bleach Manga ~ comparing and contrasting Gamma (protagonist) and Grimmjow. Same open glove hands, cool hairstyle, and wearing white robes. Grimmjow is an inspiration from Gamma I believe…..what else more do you need? Despite it spawning 4 Manga(s), I still found it enjoyable and tolerated it more than most people. If it continued, I definitely would've picked it up and invest my time in it. Alas, one can only dream.

I hope you enjoyed this week's Legacy post. Would you agree/disagree that Zombie Powder should resume if it had the chance? Comment below and let me know. Look forward to Legacy Posts on Thursdays. Until then, you all stay classy now. WBCR is posted below. 

WBCR - Where's Yachiru? (Grade: C)

Last week's return chapter was a disappointment because the anticipation died out long ago. The thrills, as I said previously, no longer are there. Investing our time into the story became inconsistent because, to many, the author himself is becoming inconsistent. Now I'm glad the author is back from the hospital, but unfortunately ~ Bleach fans come and go. I'm still going to wrap up Bleach, but the anticipation of a chapter, to me,  is gone. As soon as I read this week's chapter, it was exactly how I expected it. Kisuke is trying to rally up the remaining Gotei 13 so as to prepare for the upcoming war against Yhwach & his forces. Meanwhile. Ichigo's squad shows up to fight Yhwach and…..that concludes the chapter. It was nice seeing Ukitake being active ~ he's usually sick & frail, but with how things are ~ they're going to need all the help they can get. I'm still mad that Hyosube Ichibei pulled a 180 on having faith in Ichigo…that was BS to me when I first read that. Ichigo, as we all know, has gotten a lot stronger. You don't go anticipating that things cannot be changed when you haven't seen how mature Ichigo has gotten since his first encounter with Byakuya & Renji in the Human world. It was also awesome to see Kenpachi and guess what ~ Where the F*ck is Yachiru? I love his eagerness to look for her, but Kisuke & Nanao advise that they leave it up to Zaraki's squad to look for her. I personally am a fan of Yachiru's open, childish, and bubbly personality ~ it'd be a shame if anything happened to her. I think her abilities are unique too and I don't personally think she got axed off. IF by any means she is…then WTF Kubo? This chapter is a set-up for Ichigo vs. Yhwach while Kisuke rallies up the remainder of the Gotei 13 to help aid in Ichigo. It's not as bad as last week's chapter ~ I'm giving it a solid C.

So what did you think of this week's chapter? Good? Bad? Somewhere in the middle? Comment below and let me know. As always, look forward to WBCRS whenever chapter's available AND when I have the time to post it. Until then, you all stay classy now. Legacy post will be up momentarily. 

Affinity #74 - Cifer Impasse (Part 3)

Welcome back to another installment of the Cife Impasse Affinity posts where, from Affinities #72-77, I detail a particular relationship with one singular character and his/her interactions with other characters in the story. Last week, it began with Ulquiorra's interactions with our main hero, Ichigo Kurosaki, and his teammate, Yammy Llargo. In Part 3, I detail Ulquiorra's interaction with his polar opposite in personality, duty, and rank ~ Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez. These two never got along by any means and why is that? Ulquiorra is calculative, patient, and obedient in following orders. Grimmjow, however, is the complete opposite ~ he is brash, impatient, and unwilling to accept any what-ifs in a battle between the Shinigami & the Arrancar. During Ulquiorra's interaction with Ichigo, he decided he wasn't worth killing and simply let him go. However, Grimmjow calls that a risky/bad move since it gives the enemy enough time to mobilize/get stronger. The two personalities often clash and it lead to a what I'd like to call a "Kenpachi-Byakuya Scenario." As you are all aware, those two Captains are opposites and hate each other's guts. The same is said with these two Espada, but the boiling point came down to when Grimmjow took Orihime Inoue so as to lure out Ichigo. This was all meant to duke it out with Ichigo much to Ulquiorra's rejection of this notion. Grimmjow holds a specific hatred for Ulquiorra because he is too patient, too loyal, and unwilling to take any risks. Grimmjow's risk-taking is both his benefactor and his downfall ~ creating a rivalry with Ichigo (thus improving Ichigo's growth), but at the same time led to his defeat (quickly interrupt by Nnoitra). Grimmjow is my second favorite Espada (1st is Haribel), but I will admit he acted out of order…a bad boy whose merciless in every way and loves creating mischief whenever he possibly can. It wouldn't be long before the two duked it out, but Grimmjow entrapped Ulquiorra briefly so as to in better words: "Starts what needs to be finished." Through polar opposites, the two clash often and, despite their difference in ranks, Grimmjow was able to (briefly) outsmart Ulquiorra.

I hope you enjoyed Part 3/6 of the Cifer Impasse Affinities. Look forward to Affinity posts on Tuesdays. Until then, you all stay classy.

WBCR - Where's the thrills anymore? (Grade: D)

Bleach hasn't had much action lately and since December, we haven't really seen a Bleach chapter. After Kubo was hospitalized, many speculated that the progression of Bleach may/may not live up to the fans expectations. Perhaps the recovery from his sickness/illness would liven him up and he'd get back to delivering some more badassery in Bleach. However, after the release of this week's chapter ~ both faith and hope have been lost. We stumble across what I'd like to call a "set-up chapter," where nothing really is answered or questioned. Many are angry on Hyosube Ichibei's change towards the events surrounding Yhwach's invasion. He went from "Ichigo, it's up to you to stop Yhwach" to "No one can stop Yhwach." WTF Kubo? I know Yhwach is a big threat, but going back on your own word ~ how hypocritical. I was greatly disappointed because I'd think their would be progression. So far Captains/Vices are missing, are critically injured, or nowhere to be seen. Also, it's noted that I believed Yoruichi had a little sister ~ turns out it's a dude and Sui-feng….fell for him? Everyone was under the assumption Sui-Feng perhaps could be a lesbian due to her obsession/glorifying of Yoruichi Shihoin. After this, we can assume she has a hard-on for the Shihoin Siblings. Ichigo still is on his way and Yhwach already delivered the "final blow" on the Soul King. I think fans are upset because the thrill of a Bleach chapter is long gone. The same happened with Naruto ~ it just ended and now is starting up a sequel. To be honest, when Naruto ended ~ I was happy. IT got to a point where enough is enough and it looked as if the author was pulling a "DBZ," expanding it as much as possible to continue its legacy. With Bleach, I haven't really lost hope because I think it'll get better since we have yet to see Ichigo vs. Yhwach. THAT I'm excited to see, but the set-up is taking far too long and although the author is recovering, it still doesn't change the fact that perhaps Bleach has lost its edge. I like Bleach, but unfortunately it's not even remotely close to the level of "Love" I had for it in the past. The thrill is no longer there and fans, whether dedicated or not, want closure. I will do my best to see where this goes, but the anticipation of a chapter is very little. I give this week's set-up/no progression chapter a Grade: D.

So what did you think of this week's chapter? Good? Bad? Somewhere in between? Comment below and let me know. As always, look forward to WBCRs when chapter's available AND when I have the time to post it. Until then, you all stay classy now.

Legacy #18 - True Tears

Back in high school, this was one of my favorite Romance/Drama Anime to watch. The name of this Anime is called True Tears ~ a Slice of life, Drama, Romance themed Anime that tackles love, hardships, secrets, and feelings. This is a brief 13-episode series that spawned in 2008, but nonetheless has, with most not-as-well-known Anime, created a cult following. You could theoretically categorize this as a Harem, but there's not much emphasis on it. The main character lives with his mom, dad, and a high school friend. Guess what? It seems as if the main character has a crush on his childhood high school friend, but she constantly ignores him at home whereas at school, she's little miss popular in sports and her studies. It's a strain on their relationship, but it wouldn't be long before the main character stumbles across this interesting and odd character and the two soon develop an affinity for one another. However, the main character's feelings for his high school friend never went away despite having developed a relationship with the odd girl. To make matters even worse, the main character's best friend's girlfriend has a thing for the main character himself, but of course he can't respond to her feelings. Throughout the entirety of these series, it's the process of opening up doors and breaking down walls. Their is a reason why the high school friend ignores the main character. Their is a reason why the main character fell for the odd girl briefly. Their is a reason why the odd girl is...well odd. Their is a reason why the main character's parents (the mom in general) has something against the high school friend. It's a real simply concept of romance, drama, and slice in life because, at the end of the day, the heart is a questionable personification of our desires and feelings. Of course if you'd expect, you should theorize the ending of True Tears. I haven't seen it in 4 years, but I still remember that I was in love with the characters, setting, theme, and the soundtrack. The soundtrack is just beautiful to look at. Something with Japanese Animation is being able to emphasize more on character, story, and music. In comparison to today's American cartoons, it doesn't have that same vibe. Anime is an art form whereas Cartoons are played more as entertainment ~ that pretty much sums it up. True Tears is no exception as it an art in its own right ~ conveying emotion and though through the visualization of characters & music.

I hope you enjoyed this week's Legacy post. Look forward to Legacy post on Thursdays. Until then, you all stay classy now. WBCR will be up momentarily. 

Affinity #72-73 ~ Cifer Impasse (Parts 1 & 2)

I'd like to apologize for not being able to post yesterday's Double Affinity Post. Even though I said I would try and be timely on my posts, it still doesn't change the fact that school comes first over everything else. Trying to balance out both is difficult enough, but that doesn't mean I've neglected the blog. This just means I'll have to put forth 110% on balancing out schoolwork & blog posts. It's a work in progress, but please understand if their are any delays. Monday-Thursday, I come home late from school and thus I'm limited on time in posting. On Tuesdays & Thursdays, I get home roughly around 7:30 PM ~ this gives me until midnight to post whatever needs to be posted. However, Mondays & Wednesdays I get home around 9:30 PM, giving me only 2 1/2 hours to post. Remember, when arriving from home, I do the following: Eat dinner, chores, and shower. So let me reiterate once again ~ If I am late in posting, then it's because of time constraints from school AND work (I also am a part-time worker in Retail). This doesn't mean I've neglected posting, but it'll definitely be posted between Monday-Friday. So far Fight Night Mondays are on hiatus til sometime next month-March w/Bleach Vs. Fairy Tail being the next BCC (new collaboration with M.V. Heartz). Their haven't been any WBCRs due to the author just recuperating from sickness/illness. However, I digress. From Affinity #72-77, I'd like to call this the Cifer Impasse. This means that each of these affinities are associated with Ulquiorra Cifer, the 4th Espada under Aizen's tutelage, and a character he has interacted with. So without further ado, let me introduce parts 1 & 2 of the Cifer Impasse Affinity Posts (Affinities #72-77).

Affinity #72 ~ Bittersweet End (Ulquiorra and Ichigo)

The most notable of the Ulquiorra's interactions is with none other than our protagonist himself, Ichigo Kurosaki. Though initially seeing Ichigo as weak due to his earlier loss to Yammy, Ichigo suddenly becomes a thorn in Ulquiorra's world that must be extinguished. His growth and durability aren't to be underestimated as Ulquiorra was too quick to judge Ichigo. Ichigo's motivation is to rescue Orihime Inoue, but throughout the entire time Orihime's been captures, the concept of "Heart" boggles Ulquiorra's mind. What does the heart want? Why do humans possess a Heart? Ulquiorra, in battling Ichigo, unveils his true colors ~ wanting to truly understand where Ichigo's power lies and how he is able to endure so much despite having a hole shot through his chest. The heart concept, as I said, is the very motivation behind Ulquiorra's actions in thwarting Ichigo's attempts in rescuing Orihime. He doesn't understand human emotion and simply relies on order & loyalty to get things done for Aizen. To Ulquiorra, the concept of "Human," doesn't befit him as he angrily beats the crap out of Ichigo in order to try and find the thread connecting "Human" and "Heart." In the end, however, Ulquiorra's end was met with a bittersweet taste in Ichigo's mouth. Ulquiorra understands, in my opinion, Ichigo & Orihime's world a little better due having interacted with them. He experienced something and got something out of that experience and, despite not being able to thwart Ichigo, his end was due to the limitations of his own endurance and durability. He underestimate our hero, but in the end garnered the meaning and significance behind Human connection.

Affinity #73 ~ The Silent & Roar (Ulquiorra and Yammy)

One of the most oddest interactions with Ulquiorra is his partnership with the 0 Espada, Yammy Llargo. Yammy and Ulquiorra couldn't be any more different. Ulquiorra is calculative, quiet, and seems to never put out his cards on the table whereas with Yammy, he is brash, loud, and immediately puts everything down on the table. Of course Ulquiorra himself is unaware that Yammy theoretically is stronger than him, but throughout the start of the Arrancar Arc, it seemes as if Yammy played fiddle to Ulquiorra. Ulquiorra punched Yammy back in failing to comprehend Ichigo, Kisuke, & Yoruichi. Yammy's brashness cost him his arm, but the damage was done and Ulquiorra was rather disappointed in Yammy's inability to think before acting. The saying "opposites attract" is a common saying, but in this case ~ I don't see it. Ulquiorra and Yammy were only following orders from Aizen, but I don't see a legitimate friendship between the two. It's strictly business-related, but if he had to ~ Yammy would probably mop the floor with Ulquiorra. However, the debate on who'd win is a debatable since are strong, but it's a battle of Final Forms vs. Size Proportion.

I hope you enjoyed this delayed Double Affinity Post. I'll try to post on Tuesdays, but if not, just remember what I said above. Look forward to next week's continuation of the Cifer Impasse Affinity posts (#72-77). Until then, you all stay classy now.

Throwback #72 - Hearing of your End (The Fall of the 1st Kenpachi)

Although Isane isn't a pivotal character in Bleach, she is best known as the lieutenant of then-Captain Yachiru Unohana (or Retsu Unohana). Unbeknown to her, Yachiru Unohana, Isane's Captain, is revealed to be the very first Kenpachi. Seen as gentle, nurturing, and intimidating, Retsu Unohana never once unveiled her true colors until she fought against 11th division Captain, Kenpachi Zaraki. So when the duel between the two Kenpachi(s) took place, both Isane and Yachiru were informed that one will stand and the other will fall. This brings tears to Isane because she looked up to her Captain as a model. Retsu was a powerful Captain, but her friends & enemies feared her for what she is capable of doing to them. I feel legimately bad for Isane because this leaves a whole in her heart ~ who'll she look up to now? Was her joining of the 4th division the same as Momo Hinamori's joining of the 5th division ~ admiration & awe of their former Captain figures? Regardless of what tempted her to join the 4th division, I'm sorry for what has happened to Isane. Now she has to take up the mantle of responsibility, but in her perspective ~ It'll be hard to bounce back up after this defeat. I will give Isane credit for one important thing (which is irrelevant to this), but Isane has nice BEEWBZ! Just putting it out there.

I hope you enjoyed this week's Throwback. Look forward to Throwbacks on Fridays. Until then, you all stay classy now and I'll see you all next Tuesday on Back-to-Back Affinity posts.

Legacy #17 - Hanaukyo Maid Team

Not many people talk about this Anime and it boggles my mind on so many levels. Yeah, it came out 14 years ago, spawned 2 series, and their are plenty of other Anime that are 10x better than this one. However, why so little on this Anime in comparison to others? When I was first introduced to this series, I was completely invested in the main character's world. A rich rid who lives with hot maid babes ~ who wouldn't want this kind of fantasy life? I will admit the animation, in comparison to today's standards, is below par, but at it's time ~ I thought it was beautiful to look at. Each of the maids (primary) are given such unique personalities ~ A gentle maid who is the girl of the main character's dreams, a glasses maid who is the wannabe Einstein, a silent maid who is in actuality a genius, a samurai maid who protects her master at all costs, and finally three triplet maids who are seductive in nature towards their master. That right there is the kind of Harem I'd like to live in, wouldn't you? Now I will admit it isn't talked about as much because it isn't a mainstream Anime. It's what I'd like to categorize as "Underground," a hidden gem that not many people nowadays are aware of. Even the 2004 remake of the series was still holding true to the original + more ATD (Attention-To-Detail). Hanaukyo Maid Team is one of my favorite Harem and I wish it was brought up more in conversations. This is one Anime that Harem fans should check out and although there's no clear ending (in the original at least), it sums up why I love Harem ~ the main character accepting that he's part of that world and loving/liking everyone equally.

I hope you enjoyed this week's Legacy post. Look forward to Legacy posts on Thursdays. Until then, you all stay classy now. Since I was unable to post an Affinity post this week due to school & other obligations, next Tuesday there'll be TWO affinity posts. There is no WBCR this week due to the Author recovering from the hospital. 

Throwback #71 ~ Unmasking the Beast

A pivotal moment for one of the characters is Bleach was the 7th division Captain. Always masked, we never saw his face. Giant in size, was he a large human or an unknown creature. When he was unmasked by Kenpachi Zaraki, it is revealed that he was a creature ~ a wolf. He feared what others would think of him, but later realized that there was nothing to fear. He was hiding for so long that he didn't take into consideration perhaps no one would think differently of him. When Kenpachi saw this, he was thrilled at the chance to fight a beast with a beastlike mentality. Unfortunately the fight was shortlived as Captain Yamamoto was preparing for Rukia's Execution. Seeing Komamura, I kind of knew that he wasn't normal. Abnormal size and masked appearance, what is it that he's hiding? Now is Komamura one of my favorite characters in Bleach? No and to be honest he is, in my opinion, one of the weaker ones. His Bankai abilities are interesting, but he's always the one who gets beat up first while the real heroes do the real work. Sorry Komamura fans, but he doesn't cut it for me. His reveal, however, did catch my eye as I was curious to know his appearance.

I hope you enjoyed this week's Throwback. Look forward to Throwbacks on Fridays. Until then, you all stay classy now

Legacy #16 - Samurai Champloo

When I first was introduced to Samurai Champloo, I instantly knew that it was going to be hit for two big names ~ Shinichiro Watanabe and Nujabes. For those of you who aren't made aware, Shinichiro Watanabe is the brilliant film director, screenwriter, and producer of the renowned Anime phenomenon ~ Cowboy Bebop. A timeless director, Shinichiro truly delivers when it comes to engaging characters, interesting storytelling, dark settings, unexpected humor, and a world that is unforgettable. Nujabes (may he R.I.P.) is the brilliant DJ/music producer behind Samurai Champloo and is, without question, my favorite DJ of all time. He combines melodies of Hip-Hop, Jazz, & Funk ~ something that works and is a breath of fresh air to listen to. Although Nujabes no longer is with us, his music still lives on in our hearts. When you combine those two legends, you get none other than Samurai Champloo. What's the story? It's a story of our heroes: Jin, Mugen, & Fuu who are in search for "a samurai who smells of sunflowers." Spawning 26 episodes from 2004-2005, Samurai Champloo, in my opinion, is known for its unique and distinct take on a period genre, utilizing Hip-Hop & Jazz elements, and, like Cowboy Bebop, is also critically acclaimed. This is Watababe's 2nd major work after Cowboy Bebop and, like Bebop, doesn't initially follow a linear storyline. It plots out in multiple directions and that works for Anime ~ not all shows have to follow a linear beginning-to-end story. I will, however, say that unlike Bebop ~ Champloo had some elements that I wasn't a big fan of. Although I'm a big BIG fan of Watababe's work, it's no question Bebop is his masterpiece. Champloo isn't a masterpiece for the following reasons:

1) Though the story is a driving point, I felt as if it had no clear ending to the characters AND felt like the meeting of the "samurai who smells of flowers" was rushed.

2) Bebop was an engaging series for its characters, storyline, and atmosphere, but Champloo, to some, came off as boring in comparison. When it diverts the audience's attention, that could be a problem.

3) Mugen & Jin were and always will be the mascots for Samurai Champloo, but what of Fuu? Fuu's the reason why they're looking for the "samurai who smells of sunflowers," but what's the drive behind Fuu finding this person? Fuu feels sidelined and for goodness sake, she's the protagonist who brought all 3 together ~ her role is small in comparison to Jin & Mugen.

With a great soundtrack, badass samurais, and a retelling of the samurai genre ~ Samurai Champloo is one of my favorite Anime(s) of all time, but I will go on the record it isn't a masterpiece like Cowboy Bebop. Watababe, in my opinion, is like director Quentin Tarantino. Always full of ideas that stray away from the norm of movies/series ~ the two seem to, in my opinion, combine genres, utilize different elements, and retell a setting/character in their own distinct way. Both are brilliant directors in their own craft and I can't wait to see more.

I hope you enjoyed this week's Legacy post. Look forward to Legacy posts on Thursdays. Until then, you all stay classy now.

Affinity #70-71 (Hitsugaya X Hiyori AND Baraggan and his Fraccion)

Affinity #70 ~ Who you calling Tiny?

As I said before, this week there'll be TWO Affinities since I was unable to post last week. Fight Night Mondays will return sometime next month w/collaboration Bleach v. Fairy Tail featuring newcomer M.V. Heartfilia. Without further ado, let's end Tuesday on a good note. Hiyori and Hitsugaya first met when the coinciding forces of the Visored & The Gotei 13 were up against Aizen Sousuke & his Espada. Of course Hiyori suspects Hitsugaya is too young to be Captain-level, but Hitsugaya tries to reassure her that he is. However, the two began bickering like children as they kept calling each other Baldy & Midget. When Hiyori finally called Hitsugaya a Midget, he finally snapped and got provoked into bickering against her. I found this comic relief moment hilarious because, if you think about it, Hitsugaya Toshiro is a kid. Rangiku, Hitsugaya's lieutenant, is older than her own Captain, but the two get along and respect one another as Captain & Lieutenant. Hiyori is in complete denial of this fact because, in her time, there weren't any young Captains. If you look at the Captain's sleeves ~ Hitsugaya, Sui-Feng, Komamura, Kenpachi, & Byakuya are more recent than the other Captains. Hiyori and Hitsugaya eventually do end up fighting alongside one another, but the two's first meeting is beyond peaceful. Like bickering siblings, they got past their feud because of a common foe they face ~ Aizen Sousuke.

Affinity #71 ~ A King & his Knights

A King is just as powerful as his pawns. However, a King is nothing without his Knights ~ his shield of protectors is what gives his title such gravitas. The King, however, doesn't think highly of his Knights. He sees them as a means to protect himself from lifting a finger against his foe. He sees them as weaklings who were lucky to have had been beside the King's mantle. He sees them as simpletons who know nothing of victory. Above all else, the King sees his pawns as disposable. As much as I love the King, his cruelty and harshness only drove him mad because, like I said, he is nothing without his Knights. The Knights fought valiantly, but the Gods of Death ended up getting the best of them. In anger, the King crushes his Skull Throne, ascends, and begins his rampant attempts to fight off the very foe that his Knights failed to takedown. The King's symbolism of Death is that of Age/Time ~ perhaps he himself is afraid of Aging/Time of the essence. At that moment, time eclipsed him and he longer was able to face the undeniably truth that his reign will come to an end. Despite being all powerful, the King was just a pawn for a God ~ something a King doesn't take kindly too. In the end, The King & his Knights were merely a big shield for the God cloaked in white. 

I hope you enjoyed this week's double Affinity. Look forward to regularly scheduled Affinity posts on Tuesdays. Until then, you all stay classy! 

Throwback #70 - Understanding the enemy

Remember the Bount Arc in Bleach? As I've said before, it's my least favorite arc because I didn't find it interesting, lacked the fight scenes, and wasn't a big fan of the enemies. However, a chemistry between Uryu & the creator of the Bounts is what caught my eye. Uryu was close to Ran'Tao's clone,  Yoshino Soma. The only time you see Uryu get attached to the opposite sex just happens to be when he's faced against an enemy.  Yoshino showed sympathy when she saved Uryu and went so far as to tell him her life story. I think at the time Uryu genuinely cared/started to like Yoshino. Understanding an enemy is something heroes don't usually think about, but at this moment ~ Uryu was divided ~ help out the very enemy that he came to loathe (Shinigami) or help out the very enemy that he knows little about (Bount). Ran'Tao's resemblance to Yoshino only shows how far Uryu is willing to go for Yoshino/Ran'Tao. Uryu is the smartest of Team Kurosaki and knows that Ran'Tao's creations aren't 100% bad, but their motivations are. Uryu's predicament with Yhwach questions fans on whether he's following him on his own accord or to later defect in order to aid Ichigo against the Wandenreich. Whatever the case may be, Uryu understanding the enemy & attachment to Yoshino/Ran'Tao are, to me, the highlights of the Bount Arc.

I hope you enjoyed this week's Throwback. Look forward to Throwbacks on Fridays. Until then, you all stay classy now

Legacy #15 - Kirby ~ HAPPY 2015!!!

Welcome to a Brand new year ladies and gentlemen. I'm very fortunate to have had the opportunity to mostly keep a Monday-Friday posting schedule. However, with the start of a new year ~ I will do my best to deliver the best content considering Bleach is ending soon. There are 100 Affinities & Throwbacks that I have to post (69/100 Affinities and 69/100 Throwbacks). The Legacy Segment just started and I can already see it'll most likely span up to 100 posts. Fight Night Collaborations with MechG and newcomer Mikey V will also return. However, I digress. With new opportunities and a newfound dedication to delivering on-time, I will do my upmost to post daily (excluding weekends). The 1st 2015 and 15th Legacy post is Masahiro Sakurai's renowned cute little pink ball of adorableness ~ Kirby. Kirby began his reign of cuteness in 1992 on the Nintendo Gaming System. Much like Mario, Zelda, & Sonic ~ Kirby became a well-known name in the 90s and everyone was invested in merchandising the franchise beyond videogames. Kirby hit the Anime scene in 2001-2003, spawning 100 episodes of over-the-top adorableness for kids to enjoy. Now am I a fan of the show? Well, I only heard about there being a Kirby Anime a couple years back and I will honestly say ~ it is corny as f*ck. Yeah Kirby is cute and whatnot, but the english dialogue, plot, and overall scenarios just come out as corny, predictable, and cliche. Well it is a kid's cartoon so it gets a pass, but when you're watching it as an adult ~ you can't help but laugh at the all the Non-subtleties that Kirby has to offer. I will, however, be open that whoever made Kirby's sound effects was, if I'm saying it right, KAWAII! I mean WOW ~ I thought Pokemon saying their names was cute and all, but with Kirby, it's over 9000x cuter than that. The Kirby Anime introduced two non-Kirby related characters so as to give Kirby a plot, friends, and overall a scenario where he & his friends can pull off as many shenanigans as they can. Overall it's pretty funny and entertaining to watch, but you can't honestly take it seriously. It's not going to win any award anytime soon, but for it's watchability ~ I'd give it a pass.

I hope you enjoyed this week's Legacy post. Look forward to Legacy posts on Thursdays. Until then, you all stay classy now and Have a great 2015 ladies and gentlemen. There'll be two Affinity posts next Tuesday since I was unable to post this week.