Vehement? Pft. You should have heard me circa vol 4-5 when everyone I knew who was reading it and was around vol 10-12 was telling me how interesting Anotsu was. It is possible that extremely unpleasant things were being plotted to be done to him. And hey, he didn't encourage it, he effectively ordered it(which, to me, is what makes him beyond redemption) But there's a lot in store for him that kinda changes your perception of him. Vols 6-7 starts it, but it's not until he gets a solo story, and then a road trip with Rin(yes, you read that right) that I started to understand what the big deal was about him, He is clearly a character who absolutely must die(actually, I figure only Rin with a side chance of Magatsu and Hyakurin-who you'll meet in 6 and 7-will make it out alive) but he's definately one of the most interesting. The Anotsu of now, though, is a very, very different person from who he was then, as is Magatsu(course, Magatsu wasn't anything resembling as bad as Anotsu)

Actually, Vols 6-7 are what took the book from something I really like to something I was psychotic about. The first 5 volumes are essentially Manji facing random Itto Ryu guys, usually because Rin went and got herself kidnapped. After this(likely when the series was solidified as sticking around for a good while) is when the real story kicks off.

Ditto on Bleach characters(well...except maybe Renji...but that's because he makes me think of a less screwed up and borderline suicidal Magatsu) I love it, but unlike some series, you won't see me go psycho over a character death or torture.