Bleach is one of the Big Three manga of the Shonen genre, and for good reason. Its widespread popularity is unrivaled except for a few other series, and Kubo is considered a huge icon for the next generation of mangakas. Yet, like every other author, he is pelted with negative comments from self-proclaimed critics.
But unlike many other authors, Tite Kubo does not let it get to him as he knows his worth as a mangaka, as well as how successful Bleach is. So rather than accepting everything at face value, Kubo chooses to let loose his inner savage, and honestly, fans love it.
That One Time Tite Kubo Let Loose His Inner Demon at Orihime Haters
While there are plenty of Bleach haters in the world, Orihime draws the ire of most of them. It is funny how the sweetest and most humane character in the entire franchise is villainized by some fake fans, but Tite Kubo had enough of it. As people kept tweeting horrible comments about Orihime and tagged Kubo in them, the author decided to take a stance.
In 2010, Tite Kubo posted a Twitter thread that was the equivalent of an Eminem diss track. In the tweet, Tite Kubo urged the haters to draw a manga like Bleach if they had the talent to become a mangaka. He further clarified that if their manga is good, then it would obviously become more popular than Bleach. And if they can’t draw, they could become an editor and advise mangakas.
Because if you don’t have the talent, nor have the effort, and yet you want to tell me that pathetic little complaint, you’re just some guy who is trying to hinder a person who’s actually working hard.
The author also clearly stated that readers don’t have the privilege of changing the story. Their privilege is whether they want to read a story or not. Thus, if someone doesn’t like a story, it’s better to stop reading it. But of course, you can’t miss the most precious comment from Kubo’s post:
Close your eyes and hide in your corner, open your mouth only to eat rain and dust, and maybe you’ll actually live somehow.
No, this poetry is not from old epics, but rather from the rant of an enraged mangaka who got too tired of being criticized despite being one of the most celebrated people in his field.
Why Do Bleach Fans Hate Orihime?
Orihime haters often compare her to Naruto‘s Sakura. They always consider her the weakest link of the team as she never defeats anyone in fights. What they forget is that she specializes in healing, and killing is against her nature. Shonen fans who only consider battle abilities the main assets forget that Orihime also majorly contributes to the team. She does get protected in her team, but that’s exactly what teams are for. Rather than slowing everyone down, she ensures that no one is left behind injured.
Bleach fans also criticize her due to her repeated cries for help from Ichigo. The imaginary love triangle between her, Ichigo, and Rukia also does not help her case. According to fans, Rukia deserves Ichigo because she is superior in combat, not once considering how sweet and caring Orihime actually is. It’s almost as if Ichigo is an asset who can be set up with anyone they like.
While one can definitely prefer a battle-hardened person like Rukia, that’s no reason to put down a gentle and sweet character like Orihime. The shipping between Ichigo and Rukia is purely non-canon, and even Tite Kubo is aware of the unnecessary hatred directed towards Orihime. His response? To increase her screentime every time people complain about her.
Bleach is available to read on Viz Media, and it is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.
