So...barely a week or so after my video on whether Baraggan deserved to be the Primera Espada, Kubo drops this information on us. So, what do you think? How powerful really was Starrk's original form, and what does it mean for his present day iteration? Let me know - thanks everyone!
Your thumbnail is very disingenuous, Regarding power, ressurected starrk would be above base original form starrk which means he can't be close to aizens level at all. Original starrk split into two, if he halved his power then his original form would be maximum 2x greater than base current starrk (hogyoku amp) or starrk when he split (pre hogyoku amp), you could argue he gave more power to lilynette like say 90% making her stronger than starrk but that would make no sense as shes extemely weak and its also not likely a 50-50 split. So in no instance should aizen be below any form of starrk or fear him as original starrk at most in ressurection would only be abit stronger to 2x stronger(MAX) than split ressurected starrk. And ressurected starrk struggled with love and rose and then lost to shunsui. Aizen destroyed all the captains, so aizen should have no reason to fear him. It seems like kubo contradicted the question by saying he thinks it's because starrks charm is being hard to read as if thats why aizen didn't recruit starrk in his original form, not to do with power.
So if Kubo is saying that Starrk's power would be difficult to deal with, then he's either contradicting or retconning what he had Aizen say in ch.376 pg.1, where he states that his power exceeds all of the Espadas. If his power exceeds all of them then how is he finding it difficult to deal with Starrk?🤔🤯
I always liked the idea that Starrk is basically a Hallow mirror to Zaraki. Someone so overwhelmingly strong it isolated them from the rest of the world to the point they physically manifested their own companion. Both manifestations subconsciously took the form of a little sister/daughter to give them something to want to protect.
Og starrk: „it sounds like…someone wants to RECRUIT ME“ followed by silence and Aizen behind a rock with gin and tosen saying „See? I told you he was onto us!“
Aizen being wary of someone or something because of their power really says something. Starrk was definitely a powerful being but his personality was not up for it. Between just wanting friends and even morally opposing killing he was better suited to be with Ichigo and company.
I mean Aizen's spiritual pressure/energy specifically was stated to be about double or more of a normal Captain, and I know it's not necessarily a particularly "good" comparison but Stark was not even trying while fighting 3 captains at one point and they couldn't put a finger on him He was insanely strong, he was just literally too lazy to use it
Frankly Starrk being so unbelievably strong (despite his pacifism) actually is cool to hear. Not just because he's my favorite Espada, but it also makes sense. I mean, we know that Quincy (Lille and Askin and such) and Shinigami (Zaraki and Hitsugaya and Aizen and such) can produce prodigies that are *much* stronger and talented than their kind usually has any right to be, so why not Hollows as well? I always found it disappointing that Starrk died before we ever truly got to see him go all-out, nor that we never saw a Segunda Etapa from him.
While that's true the main issue is like you said Starrk is dead. Unlike Askin, Lillie, Zaraki or Histugaya we'll never get to see Starrk truly unleash this kind of power, so really what's the point?
@@thefanwithoutaface8105 The point is that, while Starrk was ultimately wasted potential, it's nice to know at least _how much_ potential we missed out on, if that makes sense.
@@jonathanlarge7647starrk shouldn't be in hell unless he committed some sin in his human life (assuming he had one), he'll just be purified and sent to the soul society. if he died in soul society and still had his super high reiatsu, then they might seal him in hell.
Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't lilynet still conscious when they fuse again? If so couldn't that imply they still haven't fully become one and that might limit their power from what it once was?
I feel like what could've made Starrk more of a threat (and Barragan too) to the reader is if Kubo made it so that when Starrk transformed, pretty much everyone on the battlefield had to focus on him and his army of wolves. Wolves that basically can't be cut down without some serious damage. It could then be a game of hide and seek. To where everyone has to run from the army of wolves while Shunsui and Ukitake try to take Starrk down.
Im glad fans still care abt Starrk enough to ask Kubo questions like this, thats why hes the goat and proof that he was deserving of number 1. Now someone just needs to ask kubo if Aizen truly did know abt SE Ulquiorra/Where SE Ulquiorra ranks among the other espada. Like does he surpass Harribel? Abive Barragan now? Otherwise the debate will go on forever lmao
not gona argue for stark or baragan..but harribel was weak..and kinda a letdown...i wish she was stronger and had more abilitys. she was the only current female espada and deserved better....it din't help that aizen got so bored he desided to try to finish her off himself...mind you she survived and was the only espada beside grimjow to live on....maybe we will see her on shark tank XD
I feel like Aizen may or may not still have been stronger than his original form. But aside from that, he has just always been a cool calm and collective type even when facing an opponent weaker than him
He definitey feared going up against Yamamoto without a trick up his sleeve. For Starrk, it was probably concern that the hollow wouldn't go along with him, since he's not easy to manipulate.
I agree me and my brother always said lord aizen preferred to fight /not fight certain people but he didn’t fear anyone not even yamma he just knew he couldn’t beat him hand to hand so he created wonderwiess but notice there is no fear in aizens soul
You're correct. Whoever says Aizen feared doesn't understand his character at all. The entire character of Aizen relies on him lacking two qualities, fear and despair. Aizen wouldn't be Aizen if he had any fear or despair.
Couldn't it just be that barragan, arguably the oldest Vasto Lorde hollow maybe the oldest hollow, just has better control of his reiatsu. Unless we think that stark is V2 hogyoku aizen level he most likely just lacked control. It wouldn't do much for barragan to kill his subjects. Aizen didn't have confidence that he could overpower barragan. It's why he immediately used kyoku suigetsu. I don't think barragan gained much power from aizen. Since ressurcion was literally his original form. Everyone else looked different he was exactly the same. He couldn't do a thing because of kyoka suigetsu. In combat even if we assume stark has just more reiatsu it won't be by much if he was on equal footing to ikomikidimoe whose death alone would've caused an imbalance in the universe. This was before his name was stripped away. Barragan also had experience fighting other Vasto Lorde. Harribel had come in contact with barragan and she almost died to a hollow buffed by aizen however I doubt barragan would've struggled at all Since the hollow didn't even attempt to overthrow barragan.
It makes sense tbh. Aizen needed to be cautious of a hollow with omnidirectional attacks and immense spiritual pressure, especially if he didnt have a firm idea of his intentions. Imagine a moment like Shinji vs Bambi Also if his reiatsu was killing hollows with its mere presence Aizen may have been hesitant to bring him to Las Noches where Starkk could potentially kill members of his army with his mere presence. Aizen is quite strong but an overlooked fact is that even with the hogyoku he was aware of certain threats
I‘m glad this Starrk vs Barragan debate is over. Even though it’s still a shame that Starrk had so little presence in the main story. As he is the most unlikely to return in the hell arc.
@@0eyesIf you don’t remember, so long as the spiritual pressure is high enough, they will always go to Hell when they die. That “high enough” is captain grade or higher, so he should technically be in Hell, it’s just a question of if we see him in the case that the Hell arc comes.
fans dismissing Starrk's status as the Primera Espada due to his "lackluster" looking abilities just plays, in a very meta way, into his aspect of death: solitude
I totally believe Starrk is more powerful. I like his character very much. But he was utilized and showcased terribly, and his powers...were unimaginative and unevocative, especially given his compelling backstory. Barragan was styled like a stereotypical Lich, and he was taken down by a character that most fans of the series wouldn't look twice at - Hachi. And yet that story and that fight were legendary. Hachi and Soi Fon were an unlikely but dynamic pair, the way Hachi and her defeated Barragan took ingenuity and the use of an understandable mechanic, and it all just worked. Meanwhile Starrk's and Lilynette's fight was hard to follow and ended anticlimatically, and was just dull. So of course Barragan is remembered more fondly, and Starrk remembered with reproach and disappointment.
Stark would be the one death I'd be cool with Kubo retconning honestly. Like revealing he survived and just went off on his own. For being the Primera, he went out in the lamest way.
Honesty, Starrk should have neen given the chance to go all out and make everyone in the battlefield a target. Let him make it rain Ceros as everyone of the Soul Reapers have to dodge or team up to survive it. Maybe only if Barragan and Harribel are down for drama, but make it where he is able to threaten everyone present by simply flexing.
16:30 I think Aizen was just changing his approach to best fit the Hollow he wanted to recruit. Aizen wasn’t scared of Stark. He even recruited him alone instead of bringing Gin and Kaname. Aizen is a master manipulator and will do what is necessary to get someone on his side.
I’m still curious if Starrk and Lilynette only have the one resurrección or if they had one where Lilynette was the base and Starrk was the power absorbed.
I still don't fully understand how lillynette was unalived. Like why did Bushogoma stop her/them but Rose's Izayoi Bara didn't? If Stark could divide near infinitely, why did Bushogoma work on the wolves?
Aizen being wary of Starrk just means he‘s high tier Captain level. He‘s on the same tier of power like Unohana, Kyoraku and Ukitake. Strong enough to be kept at arms length.
Remember the Question about Nnoitra in the Past his Scythe still has 1 curve and in the Present day he have 2 curve So in Stark case he also Evolve and Split into 2, maybe they became Weaker after splitting and should Merge again to became Stronger But why he still Lose? Because his Nature is Splitting and Not Merge...? Overwhelmed with his own reatsu? Or he Still Cannot Reach his Full Potential because he been Split from Lilinet for Long time now
Barragan honestly appeared weak to me. Sure, Respira is scary. But what did he actually achieve? He took Soifons arm. He failed to kill Omadea, like it was Tom and Jerry. He broke some Kido. He ate Soifons Bankai. Twice. He gave Hachi the tool to defeat him. Stark _barely_ lost a 3v1, taking out 2 captains. Barragan didn't even take out a vice captain. Whose name was Omaeda. Ichigo one-punched Omaeda!
let me inform yall being difficult doesnt mean adherently detrimental . 100 flies buzzing around your head does not mean you are a fundamental major problem . remember aizen literally said RENJI in the SS arc was a problem and difficult even going as far as making sure he joined another squad and STILL no diffed him with his bare hands
I feel like Aizen respected and felt a sort of connection with Starrk, maybe even as close as Aizen can get to genuinely liking someone. They're both individuals who were alone due to their sheer strength, they just dealt with it differently. Aizen developed a superiority complex and Starrk basically made another person who could survive his presence. It's definitely worth remembering that Aizen only turned on Harribel and declared the Espada failures after Starrk died, not after Barragan did.
Ppl forgot stark with his idc personality fought jushiro, 2 captains and a head captain almost making him using bankai. Stark was the strongest arrancar by far if he had grimmjow personality I really felt like he could’ve done more damage than the stern ritters did at that point. Maybe forcing yama to use his bankai to kill stark. Fighting 4 captains and only dying to a trick is a crazy feat.
Tom what do you think of the Ancient Hollow that was forced to become Ikomikidomoe was still around in Hueco Mundo. Not a Vasto Lorde, but a beyond powerful Adjuchas that respect Baraggan, but both agree to never both with each other business. Think Aizen would be care around or approaching Ikomikidomoe if he was still in the current story line?
As much as I love star can find this answer to be quite fascinating I do think some fans are kind of jumping the shark a little bit and saying things like starrk is more powerful than Aizen.
Of course they are. This fanbase has been making excuses for Starrk from the very beginning. Either unable to accept that he actually isn't the strongest Espada (Yammy), or not the most important (Ulquiorra meant to face "Vasto Lorde" Ichigo).
@@dunebuggy1292yammy is not the strongest espada, hes weaker than most of them and is unironically weaker than zomari. Feats go against him being the strongest.
The question of who was the offical Primera Espada after Harribel revealed her number (and all the small hints pepperd beforehand) was probably one of my top times reading Bleach weekly - there was just nothing quite like being on tetherhooks each week in the lead up, and then when the glove came off.. Hype doesnt quite cover it
I imagine aizen was monitoring his reiatsu periodically without actually approaching, sensing the risk. When stark split aizen sensed the dip in spiritual pressure and decided to approach. Maybe he could get an idea of his emotional state too through reiatsu.
One of starrks best feats r the fact the span between soul society arc and arrancar arc is mostly likely a few months. And if u assume aizen found starrk after ch 213, likely only a few weeks between when starrk was found by aizen and his fight in fkt. Yet he could go sword for sword with shunsui(using dual swords for at least 1000 years), while he was nerfed from shunsuis sneak attack. Starrk had no direct battle experience prior to aizens recruitment based his lore of nobody getting close to him.
To me, what made stark scary is that he has enough battle iq to set a fake pattern 3 weak Cero's from one gun and 1 strong from the other. Just to show that he did it just to force his opp to attack when he thought there was an opening. Hell, I'm sure he could've found counters to individual sternritters just by watching them fight seeing how he has one of the battle in battle perception and deduction skills in the verse. Second to maybe the scientist's perception and deduction skills
It almost seems like Aizen sees himself in the past when he approaches Starrk for the first time. Didn't Ichigo theorize Aizen has been so incredibly strong for as long as he knows, not being able to find an equal at all? And that this makes him feel incredibly lonely? Maybe he sees himself in Starrk from back then, viewing that time in his life as the dark days.
Azian, not bothering with starrk before the end of the Soul Society Arc, is pretty much matching his character... He doesn't take fights he isnt sure about or that are too much of a pain in the ass , he is incredibly careful , He did the same in fake arc with Zaraki and Yammato, and you can also see that with Urahara when he says to azian " the old you would have never touched me twice without thinking about it 100s of times "
Stark has always been one of my favorite characters in Bleach, my favorite Espada for sure. I wish we got to see his true form, and now after this reveal by Kubo I wish we saw it even more.
I think Kubo just makes cool designs, and then let's the fan community come up with the backstory. Then Kubo picks and uses theories he likes. That's why he's so hesitant to give more detailed info even a decade after the Espada have died off.
Aizen probably approached Starrk differently because he saw Starrk as a very relatable being. Both of them have no equals in terms of strength and were alone. Though this just opens more questions than answers lol. So was Starrk an ancient hollow like Barragan given his strength? Starrk doesn't look that old. Barragan could easily have been the most powerful but he seemed to have gotten relaxed and arrogant in his pursuit.
tbqh, Shinigamis already had incredibly delayed aging and we never had confirmation that hollows themselves aged. As far as we know they just look like they used to look when they were alive forever. And then there's the whole entire thing that Gillians actually become new beings with a brand new personality after they consume so many souls, and we don't know exactly how that one new face or personality is born..
Been day one on Stark and ill stand on that forever. The sexy bat man could never waiver my resolve. With my Coyote King i remain. I cannot glaze hard im already out of saliva folks.
Btw orginal Stark would be no different in power to ressurresion stark since that just reverts him back to the old him much like kenpachi . So no Yammy still has the most Riastsu regardless of if its original Stark or it isn't ,especially since stark is a natural arrancar.
No it doesn't because stark and lilynette are still separate. Yammy does not have the most reaitsu and is in fact not even top 5 espada, feats show that he's weaker than even zomari
This detail really feels kind of like a waste frankly. Even if this is true, what difference does it make. Starrk is dead and even when he and Lilinette united still didn't reveal the power that Kubo is claiming they used to have. Unless he's planning to either reveal Starrk is still alive or he will return in the Hell Arc with all his power restored, this feels like Too Little Too Late. Really they should've had Starrk show this power in the Fake Karakura Town Arc, likely with him also having a Segunda Etapa where his power becomes such that he truly lives up to his reputation.
Kubo should start giving more info about Gremmy and his power scaling. I think he just loves to dodge and ignore power scaling questions and loves seeing the world burn.
loved this deep dive in Stark my favorite bleach character...really wished Kisuke saved him ...Barragan is cool looking but Starks don't care attitude is what made him strong in my view
So is the clear implication here that Starrk is the only case where a hollow actually got WEAKER by becoming an arrancar? That they were significantly more powerful as a "mere hollow" than they were as an arrancar, even in resurreccion? That's so interesting. It definitely adds to the overall intrigue of the character.
I always thought that lilanet was the original form and was attacked by other hollows for being a woman. Stark was the offshoot and retained the original personality.
It might've been about waiting until Starrk's situation stabilized. They'd literally just wiped out a bunch of Hollows, so they were still too strong to be around others. I'm also gonna repeat my "Starrk = Yhwach" theory on the off chance it's true
Here's how I see it. If you look at cien granz and his power then starks original power must have been terrifying. After Szayelaporro split himself from his brother he went from the 0 espada to the 8th. While stark split himself and was still powerful enough to be the Primera espada. And it's even more impressive when considering he is a natural arrancar.
Starrk, forever the character requiring mental gymnastics of "not being serious" or whatever, amounting to relatively little even in his most powerful move.
This makes perfect sense considering what we know about Arrancar and Starrk as well. He is seemingly the only Hollow to transcend hollow powers to become an arrancar on his own. Shown by their human appearance and Lillinetes hollow mask when Aizen first meets them. I also think their initial split was a more extreme example of Starrks power. Despite them previously being rhe dame person they are clearly two separate entities upon splitting, which is different to what we see with Los Lobos as they are described as being both Lilinette and Starrk...so an extension of them as opposed to ripping yourself apart to the point you create an entirely new being with their own conscience. His mere presence was enough to kill everything around him so Aizen approaching him after this split and still being cautious makes sense. Assuming Starrk was the last to be recruited he was likely keeping tabs on him and I would guess Barragan was probably aware of his existence as well but just kept his distance.
Great video! My question, however, (which has been eating away at me since the Hell Chapter was released back in 2021) goes like this: While we likely won't see Starrk again, there's also no denying that he also would be 3 and up on the Rei scale, meaning his power couldn't just be left to fester and from my memory at least there's nothing suggesting that Starrk couldn't have gone to hell because he was cut down by Shunsui's zanpakuto. The reason why I'm highly doubtful we'll see Ulquiorra or Barragan again is really that they weren't killed by Zanpakuto at all & while it isn't like Starrk to be sent to Hell from what we've seen, we also don't know what his human past was. Depending on what it is, there may well be a good reason based on his human-self background. So, I think we shouldn't discount the possibility Starrk may have indeed gone to Hell if for no other reason than because 1) he was killed by a Zanpakuto and 2) his immense power as the primera Espada would be too dangerous--heck, we Kubo drawn Harribel, Grimmjow and Neliel earlier in their presumably Hell Arc designs, so... I'm just saying.
I'm sorry. I love Bleach, but every time Kubo answers these questions it just highlights how wasted the Espada were. Like why is all this depth and information coming out AFTER the fact?
Kubo lost the opportunity to make Ukitake use his bankai in the battle against Starrk, it surely would make the conflict against Starrk much more memorable and we would finally be able to see more about Ukitake.
One theory that I have that could probably clarify how Stark in his resurrection form differs from his original in power is his aspect of death. I think that the Segunda Etapa that Ulquiora showed us was that after he merged with his aspect of death and became the true embodiment of nothing/Nihilism of death. I think Starks original form was him embodying his aspect, and by splitting himself into two separate entities he was no longer as closely tied to that aspect. If he truly lost his other half during the fight then he could have returned to his original form through the Segunda etapa.
If you want to bring back Starrk you can say one of the wolf's that is part of him escape during the fight. He saw what Aizen did and just took off. So he's still around just incognito somewhere
Knowing Aizen, Imo he's just wary and cautious because someone that strong can be difficult to control like the original Starrk. So he approached Starrk when he's already split with Lilynette, the same way he's cautious with Kenpachi
