You can enjoy a straightforward and entertaining martial arts action story with plenty of nudity and violence set in a high school. Alternatively, you could dive into a more mature narrative, where characters face significant supernatural threats within a deepening plot full of twists. But blending these two approaches doesn't work. This is Tenjou Tenge's biggest flaw—an unworkable mix that just doesn't gel.
Many characters the story tricks you into caring about are eventually sidelined or reduced to mere spectators until the series hurriedly tries to wrap up their arcs near the end. As Tenjou Tenge clumsily attempts to expand beyond its simple high school setting, some characters end up serving almost no purpose, leaving readers to wonder why they were introduced at all.
A series aiming for an overarching plot should have its central elements established by the halfway point. Not so with Tenjou Tenge. New characters keep getting introduced to emphasize new ideas the creator fancied at the time. Flashbacks become a bad sign, indicating the story struggles to create any sense of continuity or logic behind character actions.
The manga isn't entirely without merit. The art style is pleasing, almost amazing. The humor can be hilariously self-aware and witty. Fight scenes offer great moments (one standout was Mitsuomi's brief encounter with Inue Shindayu). Some character drama is engaging, and I appreciate how Mitsuomi's and Maya's breakup serves as a central conflict early on. Many stories focus on love affairs, but few explore the aftermath of a failed one. Tenjou Tenge's tongue-in-cheek attitude adds fun, and its overall silliness kept me going even when the plot felt like it was falling apart.
I'd call Tenjou Tenge "a mixed bag." Its unique style makes it somewhat entertaining, but it's hard to argue that this blend of ideas actually works. The series tries to evolve beyond its humble beginnings but sadly fails in the attempt.
I initially got into the manga after watching the anime, which grabbed my attention with its impressive opening (though that's not always the best way to judge a series).
There were some enjoyable moments, but I struggled to stay focused on the plot due to the excessive fanservice and frequent flashbacks. I figured the anime might have misrepresented the story, so I decided to read the manga.
To my surprise, the manga had even more flashbacks. It kept jumping back and forth between different periods of the past while trying to bring readers back to the present, making the whole narrative extremely confusing. I assume this was a stylistic choice by the manga artist, but it didn't help in keeping the audience focused. It made it hard to determine who the main characters were or whether the present storyline was even worth following because of all the emphasis on past events.
The series didn't offer much beyond a few fight scenes, one of which was particularly well-executed in the anime. In my opinion, it would have been better to set the story in an earlier period and progress from there, rather than constantly revisiting the past.
Wanted to give a straightforward review for those on the fence about this series. If you're looking for delinquency, fighting, and comedy, look elsewhere. However, if action, ecchi content, and typical shounen-style moves are your thing, this might be right up your alley. Sadly, I fell into the former category. While the plot initially seemed promising with its school setting and characters striving to prove they were the strongest, it eventually devolved into an ancient martial arts narrative that significantly diminished my interest.
Story: 6/10
It starts as expected—a guy wants to be strong, loses to someone stronger, and inexplicably wins the main heroine's affection. The early battles against the primary antagonist were exciting, but the original group's importance faded in later chapters. The flashbacks to Shin's past were excellent, but overall, things felt quite average.
Art: 7/10
Character designs were pretty cool, though I'm not a fan of ecchi content, which was abundant here. At times, the art looked cluttered, but you get used to it.
Characters: 5/10
I appreciate depth in characters, but these lacked it. They went from aspiring to be strong to becoming either lustful tough guys or stoic ones. Not much diversity there.
Enjoyment: 5/10
There were numerous moments when I questioned whether I should continue reading. I decided that since I was already invested, I might as well finish it. It wasn't a great decision.
Overall: 6/10
For me, it wasn't the best but certainly not the worst. If you're after intense action and plenty of nudity, this manga is for you. But if you're hoping for thrilling street fights and friends overcoming adversity like I was, my review should help you realize that this series might be a waste of your time.
This is the first manga review I've ever written, and it's also the first manga I've read that has over a hundred chapters. I picked this up after finishing the anime, which had provided me with a satisfying conclusion. Initially, you might think it’s your typical shounen manga with some naughty elements thrown in. However, the plot twists keep coming, one after another. Just when you think you have the story figured out, the narrative takes a completely different turn. The story that made me love the anime is all here—and then some. At first, I thought it was just another rom-com, but again, there are plenty of twists! It will definitely keep you turning pages to see what happens next!
Be prepared for flashbacks too. There are quite a few of them. If you're not careful while reading, you might lose track of the storyline. Everything ties back into the main story, so try not to get bored by them, okay?
ART
Besides the story, what really appeals to me about this manga is the art. I love how each character is drawn with distinct qualities that make them unique. Just be mindful not to show it to your parents or guardians if you're underage, as they might think it's not "suitable" for your age. :)
CHARACTER
Most of the characters were given ample time to shine, including the supporting cast and those who play significant roles in the story's progression.
ENJOYMENT
I thoroughly enjoyed this manga. It evokes a wide range of emotions. You'll laugh, frown, smile, and at times, you might even cry.
OVERALL - 9
If you're looking for an action-packed manga filled with emotion, I highly recommend this one. While it may appeal more to male readers than female ones, it's still a fantastic manga overall!
[A/N: You might agree or disagree with everything I've written here, but these are my personal opinions. I'd love to hear yours as well. =) Please excuse any grammatical errors, etc., and thank you for reading! -black faerie, Yui]
I keep reading the manga primarily for its artwork, and this is an update to my previous review. Initially, readers are led to believe that the manga features a strong female lead in Maya. However, as the story progresses, the author gradually reveals that Maya, due to her gender, is depicted as weak, incapable of ruling or leading, and always in need of assistance. This culminates in a breakdown. Bob's training serves as a prime example; the training provided by Maya was insufficient for him to defeat Madoka. Mitsuomi had predicted this beforehand, claiming he could turn Bob into the sharpest blade.
Mitsuomi can inspire loyalty, whereas Jyuken members were merely a group of people hanging out together without cohesion. There is a plethora of fanfiction about these two, mostly written by girls, because they indeed form a shoujo comic couple. Mitsuomi embodies the type of lead that makes shoujo romance unrealistic: cool, rich, the strongest guy, and very adept at running his organization and everything else. Adding to this, Maya lives in a traditional Japanese house while Mitsuomi resides in a vast mansion. Let’s not forget the rich and haughty love rival, Emi.
The fighting scenes are brutal and entertaining, though it is regrettable that despite the brutality, there are only a few deaths. It’s quite strange that crying is enough to make everyone hold hands and become friends, forgetting their past animosity, even when someone has just murdered your entire family. It seems the author loved his characters too much to kill them off.
Special attention must be given to Shin. He is a popular character, but unfortunately, he is just a Sephiroth look-alike. No, he is Sephiroth; it’s not just physical resemblance—Shin uses a long sword just like Sephiroth did, starts as a nice person before going berserk and killing people, again just like Sephiroth.
The author appears indecisive and easily swayed. Souchiro might be the worst main character ever due to his cockiness, yet instead of salvaging his character by explaining his behavior through a bitter past, the author caved to Mastaka’s fanboys and fangirls’ demands, giving him more prominence in the story. There’s even a scene where girls accidentally service him.
In another instance, Tenjou Tenge Special depicts Maya and Mitsuomi becoming a couple again—an obvious attempt by the author to appease fans and salvage his comic. After the publication of Tenjou Tenge vol 22, the author searched online for comments and was shocked by remarks calling Tenjou Tenge the stupidest manga because the main character (Maya) died. By doing so, the author literally killed his own manga, as stated on the last page of volume 22.
There’s confusion regarding the microchip Kurei found in Kyushu, supposedly containing information about F and Mitsuomi’s relationship. But what is the significance of the chip? Maya could have simply asked Mitsuomi since they still kept in contact. Never mind, as the chip was never mentioned again.
If they are enemies and Mitsuomi intended to destroy Juken, why do they often work together? Masataka could easily defeat Mitsuomi’s bodyguards and is considered the second strongest fighter in Jyuken below Maya. So why didn’t they just beat the crap out of him?
Bob is actually an interesting character and a good fighter. Almost everyone voted Souchiro as the worst character ever, but they liked Bob. Why did he just fade away like that?
The story suffers from being sexist, racist, and indecisive. However, reading this mess is highly recommended purely for the ecchi content.
In short, while this manga started out with a bang, I feel that at some point Oh GREAT gave up on it. There are so many story arcs and questions that either went unfinished, were dropped mid-story, or just went nowhere. Additionally, there was too much time spent on historical flashbacks rather than focusing on the characters in the present.
I believe when the Tenjou Tenge anime didn't take off, Oh GREAT abandoned any ideas he might have had for the manga. To wrap up the series quickly, he turned to online comments from the anime and filled the story with things fanboys and fangirls wanted to see instead of sticking to his original ideas and storyline!
The fanboy/girl effect can be seen in the character Masataka Takayanagi, who is also said to be the one telling this story. Sorry, fanboys and fangirls, but I personally didn't get the Masataka craze. And what was Oh GREAT thinking when he made Nagi Soichiro the main character? Worst main character of the year! If anything, the main characters should have been the Natsumes—Shin, Maya, Aya—since most of the story focused on their past.
I feel this manga would have had a greater impact on me if Oh GREAT had teamed up Bunshichi Tawara and Bob Makihara, making them the friends arriving at the school to bring about change. Their combined personalities alone would have made this series one hundred times better!
Well, well... When was the last time I read a Tenjou Tenge chapter? I wonder...
Let's start with the story...
Story 6/10
Typical, turns a bit more interesting after several chapters but nothing groundbreaking. Every time it tries to be surprising, the mangaka devotes multiple volumes to the characters' pasts, making you lose track of the main narrative. As if that wasn't enough, there's another "surprise" waiting for us. You might all be wondering, or even have guessed it already... That's right... It's the historical reference thing. Yay! When Oh!Great wants to explain something in detail, he just inserts some historical event or figure into the story. People unfamiliar with Japan's history will probably give up on the manga, or if they decide to continue, it'll likely be due to the fanservice.
Art 9/10
One of Oh!Great's strongest points, if not his very best. He offers everything: cute faces, cool hairstyles, nice moves, and perfect girls. What more could you ask for? But since this is Tenjou Tenge, you may find the art quite disappointing at first. It seems sloppy and old-fashioned, with weird eyes. However, the improvement almost makes up for it.
Character 7/10
Good! They initially appear quite ordinary but develop well later on. You get to know them better, see how they feel, and understand their motivations. Despite that, they still follow the roles typical in shounen manga, nothing really impressive. All I can say is that they could be more original.
Enjoyment 8/10
Who said you can't enjoy a manga even if it isn't great? While this isn't exactly the case here, I had quite a good time with it, no wonder I kept going. You might be wondering what kept me engaged...
At first, it was the whole package, but then the story became less interesting. This is where the wonderful art comes in. To be honest, what kept me from giving up on this manga was its art and the creative character designs (appearance). Tenjou Tenge has quite a large number of characters.
Overall 7/10
I wouldn't really recommend this manga simply because it's hard to follow. You get lost after a few volumes. Of course, if you're a fan of fanservice, violence, and gore, then try it as long as you're not looking for quality in the story.
Since I forced myself to read many chapters while being uninterested in the story, perhaps I could force myself again. Maybe I've missed what makes TT so popular or what the mangaka is really trying to achieve with such a story.
Tenjo Tenge is likely one of the highest quality fighting manga that not many have had the chance to read.
Art: If you're familiar with Air Gear, then it won't be a shock when I say Tenjo Tenge's art is "freaking amazing." Both are from the same creator. There are dedicated scanlators for this series, but if you can get your hands on the physical copies, the art alone justifies it. It doesn't stop there; the art improves with each volume, reaching an impressive level of detail in the final ones that few can match.
Anime: Why skip? Well, partly because the anime adaptation didn't do justice to the source material. It only covers the high-school arc, which is relatively short and uneventful in the manga, missing out on what made the series special. Similar to Air Gear, the anime was mediocre and ended up being mostly filler, failing to capture the essence of the story.
Summary: Tenjo Tenge begins as a typical high school brawler, much like others you've seen. Like Air Gear, it has its fair share of fanservice upfront. After some flashbacks that delve into the deep past of the characters, the real action starts. The story evolves from simple fights to involving weapons, robots, and even gods, all depicted with an incredibly detailed and cool fighting style. There aren't many named techniques; instead, it's a barrage of over-the-top attacks one after another.
Popular Reviews
You can enjoy a straightforward and entertaining martial arts action story with plenty of nudity and violence set in a high school. Alternatively, you could dive into a more mature narrative, where characters face significant supernatural threats within a deepening plot full of twists. But blending these two approaches doesn't work. This is Tenjou Tenge's biggest flaw—an unworkable mix that just doesn't gel.
Many characters the story tricks you into caring about are eventually sidelined or reduced to mere spectators until the series hurriedly tries to wrap up their arcs near the end. As Tenjou Tenge clumsily attempts to expand beyond its simple high school setting, some characters end up serving almost no purpose, leaving readers to wonder why they were introduced at all.
A series aiming for an overarching plot should have its central elements established by the halfway point. Not so with Tenjou Tenge. New characters keep getting introduced to emphasize new ideas the creator fancied at the time. Flashbacks become a bad sign, indicating the story struggles to create any sense of continuity or logic behind character actions.
The manga isn't entirely without merit. The art style is pleasing, almost amazing. The humor can be hilariously self-aware and witty. Fight scenes offer great moments (one standout was Mitsuomi's brief encounter with Inue Shindayu). Some character drama is engaging, and I appreciate how Mitsuomi's and Maya's breakup serves as a central conflict early on. Many stories focus on love affairs, but few explore the aftermath of a failed one. Tenjou Tenge's tongue-in-cheek attitude adds fun, and its overall silliness kept me going even when the plot felt like it was falling apart.
I'd call Tenjou Tenge "a mixed bag." Its unique style makes it somewhat entertaining, but it's hard to argue that this blend of ideas actually works. The series tries to evolve beyond its humble beginnings but sadly fails in the attempt.
I initially got into the manga after watching the anime, which grabbed my attention with its impressive opening (though that's not always the best way to judge a series).
There were some enjoyable moments, but I struggled to stay focused on the plot due to the excessive fanservice and frequent flashbacks. I figured the anime might have misrepresented the story, so I decided to read the manga.
To my surprise, the manga had even more flashbacks. It kept jumping back and forth between different periods of the past while trying to bring readers back to the present, making the whole narrative extremely confusing. I assume this was a stylistic choice by the manga artist, but it didn't help in keeping the audience focused. It made it hard to determine who the main characters were or whether the present storyline was even worth following because of all the emphasis on past events.
The series didn't offer much beyond a few fight scenes, one of which was particularly well-executed in the anime. In my opinion, it would have been better to set the story in an earlier period and progress from there, rather than constantly revisiting the past.
Wanted to give a straightforward review for those on the fence about this series. If you're looking for delinquency, fighting, and comedy, look elsewhere. However, if action, ecchi content, and typical shounen-style moves are your thing, this might be right up your alley. Sadly, I fell into the former category. While the plot initially seemed promising with its school setting and characters striving to prove they were the strongest, it eventually devolved into an ancient martial arts narrative that significantly diminished my interest.
Story: 6/10
It starts as expected—a guy wants to be strong, loses to someone stronger, and inexplicably wins the main heroine's affection. The early battles against the primary antagonist were exciting, but the original group's importance faded in later chapters. The flashbacks to Shin's past were excellent, but overall, things felt quite average.
Art: 7/10
Character designs were pretty cool, though I'm not a fan of ecchi content, which was abundant here. At times, the art looked cluttered, but you get used to it.
Characters: 5/10
I appreciate depth in characters, but these lacked it. They went from aspiring to be strong to becoming either lustful tough guys or stoic ones. Not much diversity there.
Enjoyment: 5/10
There were numerous moments when I questioned whether I should continue reading. I decided that since I was already invested, I might as well finish it. It wasn't a great decision.
Overall: 6/10
For me, it wasn't the best but certainly not the worst. If you're after intense action and plenty of nudity, this manga is for you. But if you're hoping for thrilling street fights and friends overcoming adversity like I was, my review should help you realize that this series might be a waste of your time.
STORY
This is the first manga review I've ever written, and it's also the first manga I've read that has over a hundred chapters. I picked this up after finishing the anime, which had provided me with a satisfying conclusion. Initially, you might think it’s your typical shounen manga with some naughty elements thrown in. However, the plot twists keep coming, one after another. Just when you think you have the story figured out, the narrative takes a completely different turn. The story that made me love the anime is all here—and then some. At first, I thought it was just another rom-com, but again, there are plenty of twists! It will definitely keep you turning pages to see what happens next!
Be prepared for flashbacks too. There are quite a few of them. If you're not careful while reading, you might lose track of the storyline. Everything ties back into the main story, so try not to get bored by them, okay?
ART
Besides the story, what really appeals to me about this manga is the art. I love how each character is drawn with distinct qualities that make them unique. Just be mindful not to show it to your parents or guardians if you're underage, as they might think it's not "suitable" for your age. :)
CHARACTER
Most of the characters were given ample time to shine, including the supporting cast and those who play significant roles in the story's progression.
ENJOYMENT
I thoroughly enjoyed this manga. It evokes a wide range of emotions. You'll laugh, frown, smile, and at times, you might even cry.
OVERALL - 9
If you're looking for an action-packed manga filled with emotion, I highly recommend this one. While it may appeal more to male readers than female ones, it's still a fantastic manga overall!
[A/N: You might agree or disagree with everything I've written here, but these are my personal opinions. I'd love to hear yours as well. =) Please excuse any grammatical errors, etc., and thank you for reading! -black faerie, Yui]
I keep reading the manga primarily for its artwork, and this is an update to my previous review. Initially, readers are led to believe that the manga features a strong female lead in Maya. However, as the story progresses, the author gradually reveals that Maya, due to her gender, is depicted as weak, incapable of ruling or leading, and always in need of assistance. This culminates in a breakdown. Bob's training serves as a prime example; the training provided by Maya was insufficient for him to defeat Madoka. Mitsuomi had predicted this beforehand, claiming he could turn Bob into the sharpest blade.
Mitsuomi can inspire loyalty, whereas Jyuken members were merely a group of people hanging out together without cohesion. There is a plethora of fanfiction about these two, mostly written by girls, because they indeed form a shoujo comic couple. Mitsuomi embodies the type of lead that makes shoujo romance unrealistic: cool, rich, the strongest guy, and very adept at running his organization and everything else. Adding to this, Maya lives in a traditional Japanese house while Mitsuomi resides in a vast mansion. Let’s not forget the rich and haughty love rival, Emi.
The fighting scenes are brutal and entertaining, though it is regrettable that despite the brutality, there are only a few deaths. It’s quite strange that crying is enough to make everyone hold hands and become friends, forgetting their past animosity, even when someone has just murdered your entire family. It seems the author loved his characters too much to kill them off.
Special attention must be given to Shin. He is a popular character, but unfortunately, he is just a Sephiroth look-alike. No, he is Sephiroth; it’s not just physical resemblance—Shin uses a long sword just like Sephiroth did, starts as a nice person before going berserk and killing people, again just like Sephiroth.
The author appears indecisive and easily swayed. Souchiro might be the worst main character ever due to his cockiness, yet instead of salvaging his character by explaining his behavior through a bitter past, the author caved to Mastaka’s fanboys and fangirls’ demands, giving him more prominence in the story. There’s even a scene where girls accidentally service him.
In another instance, Tenjou Tenge Special depicts Maya and Mitsuomi becoming a couple again—an obvious attempt by the author to appease fans and salvage his comic. After the publication of Tenjou Tenge vol 22, the author searched online for comments and was shocked by remarks calling Tenjou Tenge the stupidest manga because the main character (Maya) died. By doing so, the author literally killed his own manga, as stated on the last page of volume 22.
There’s confusion regarding the microchip Kurei found in Kyushu, supposedly containing information about F and Mitsuomi’s relationship. But what is the significance of the chip? Maya could have simply asked Mitsuomi since they still kept in contact. Never mind, as the chip was never mentioned again.
If they are enemies and Mitsuomi intended to destroy Juken, why do they often work together? Masataka could easily defeat Mitsuomi’s bodyguards and is considered the second strongest fighter in Jyuken below Maya. So why didn’t they just beat the crap out of him?
Bob is actually an interesting character and a good fighter. Almost everyone voted Souchiro as the worst character ever, but they liked Bob. Why did he just fade away like that?
The story suffers from being sexist, racist, and indecisive. However, reading this mess is highly recommended purely for the ecchi content.
In short, while this manga started out with a bang, I feel that at some point Oh GREAT gave up on it. There are so many story arcs and questions that either went unfinished, were dropped mid-story, or just went nowhere. Additionally, there was too much time spent on historical flashbacks rather than focusing on the characters in the present.
I believe when the Tenjou Tenge anime didn't take off, Oh GREAT abandoned any ideas he might have had for the manga. To wrap up the series quickly, he turned to online comments from the anime and filled the story with things fanboys and fangirls wanted to see instead of sticking to his original ideas and storyline!
The fanboy/girl effect can be seen in the character Masataka Takayanagi, who is also said to be the one telling this story. Sorry, fanboys and fangirls, but I personally didn't get the Masataka craze. And what was Oh GREAT thinking when he made Nagi Soichiro the main character? Worst main character of the year! If anything, the main characters should have been the Natsumes—Shin, Maya, Aya—since most of the story focused on their past.
I feel this manga would have had a greater impact on me if Oh GREAT had teamed up Bunshichi Tawara and Bob Makihara, making them the friends arriving at the school to bring about change. Their combined personalities alone would have made this series one hundred times better!
Well, well... When was the last time I read a Tenjou Tenge chapter? I wonder...
Let's start with the story...
Story 6/10
Typical, turns a bit more interesting after several chapters but nothing groundbreaking. Every time it tries to be surprising, the mangaka devotes multiple volumes to the characters' pasts, making you lose track of the main narrative. As if that wasn't enough, there's another "surprise" waiting for us. You might all be wondering, or even have guessed it already... That's right... It's the historical reference thing. Yay! When Oh!Great wants to explain something in detail, he just inserts some historical event or figure into the story. People unfamiliar with Japan's history will probably give up on the manga, or if they decide to continue, it'll likely be due to the fanservice.
Art 9/10
One of Oh!Great's strongest points, if not his very best. He offers everything: cute faces, cool hairstyles, nice moves, and perfect girls. What more could you ask for? But since this is Tenjou Tenge, you may find the art quite disappointing at first. It seems sloppy and old-fashioned, with weird eyes. However, the improvement almost makes up for it.
Character 7/10
Good! They initially appear quite ordinary but develop well later on. You get to know them better, see how they feel, and understand their motivations. Despite that, they still follow the roles typical in shounen manga, nothing really impressive. All I can say is that they could be more original.
Enjoyment 8/10
Who said you can't enjoy a manga even if it isn't great? While this isn't exactly the case here, I had quite a good time with it, no wonder I kept going. You might be wondering what kept me engaged...
At first, it was the whole package, but then the story became less interesting. This is where the wonderful art comes in. To be honest, what kept me from giving up on this manga was its art and the creative character designs (appearance). Tenjou Tenge has quite a large number of characters.
Overall 7/10
I wouldn't really recommend this manga simply because it's hard to follow. You get lost after a few volumes. Of course, if you're a fan of fanservice, violence, and gore, then try it as long as you're not looking for quality in the story.
Since I forced myself to read many chapters while being uninterested in the story, perhaps I could force myself again. Maybe I've missed what makes TT so popular or what the mangaka is really trying to achieve with such a story.
Tenjo Tenge is likely one of the highest quality fighting manga that not many have had the chance to read.
Art: If you're familiar with Air Gear, then it won't be a shock when I say Tenjo Tenge's art is "freaking amazing." Both are from the same creator. There are dedicated scanlators for this series, but if you can get your hands on the physical copies, the art alone justifies it. It doesn't stop there; the art improves with each volume, reaching an impressive level of detail in the final ones that few can match.
Anime: Why skip? Well, partly because the anime adaptation didn't do justice to the source material. It only covers the high-school arc, which is relatively short and uneventful in the manga, missing out on what made the series special. Similar to Air Gear, the anime was mediocre and ended up being mostly filler, failing to capture the essence of the story.
Summary: Tenjo Tenge begins as a typical high school brawler, much like others you've seen. Like Air Gear, it has its fair share of fanservice upfront. After some flashbacks that delve into the deep past of the characters, the real action starts. The story evolves from simple fights to involving weapons, robots, and even gods, all depicted with an incredibly detailed and cool fighting style. There aren't many named techniques; instead, it's a barrage of over-the-top attacks one after another.