Burrowowl

A little bit late in the game I picked up on a fansub project called Tenjo Tenge. It’s a scanslation, as opposed to the typical AVI/DIVX stuff that I will post about from time to time. Along with Pretty Face, I”s, Read or Die, and Love Hina, this is one of the few manga that I’ve really enjoyed grabbing off of neferious little scanslation sites. So far I’m reasonably impressed.

I grabbed my copy from the kind folks at mangatranslation.com, and I’d like to extend my appreciation for their hard work in bringing this kung-fu silliness to light. In subject matter, Tenjo Tenge is rather similar to Real Bout High School (a high school/academy where all the students rigorously study martial arts and kung-fu-fight each other all the time).

As with Real Bout High School there is an ample helping of fanservice in just about every issue, but unlike RBHS there’s a bit more deep of a background story, with issues of loyalty, love, betrayal, and fate all mixing together to create an enjoyable story. The extended flashback in which the backstory is revealed takes up over half of what I’ve read so far, and is definately more interesting than the muscle-flexing and predictable love-triangle (actually there are about six people involed, so it’s a love hexangle or somesuch).

Also unlike Real Bout High School, I’m pretty sure this title will never see the light of day in the US English commercial market due to some very adult (not just naughty, but actually “adult” in a sometimes disturbing way) content.

So far, I’d give it an B+. It would have done better, but the constant reliance upon fanservice and the unlikable “main character” just don’t impress me too much. Perhaps I’ll upgrade this after further reading. I have presently completed 47 chapters, and do not know how long the series runs.