Tenjo Tenge Full Contact Edition 2-in-1 Volume 7 cover image

Rated “M” for “Mature”

Debuting in the mid-1990s, Tenjo Tenge is a martial arts and seinen manga (comics for adult men).  Created by Oh!great, the penname of Ito Ōgure (Air Gear), the series is set in and around Todo Academy, a high school dedicated to training students in the art of combat.  The series focuses on the members of the Juken Club and their opposition, the Executive Council, which is also the student group that rules Todo Academy.

VIZ Media is currently publishing Tenjo Tenge as Tenjo Tenge: Full Contact Edition 2-in-1, which gives readers two volumes in one single graphic novel.  Unlike the earlier English-language publication of the series, the Full Contact Edition retains the violence and nudity depicted in the original Japanese publication.  Tenjo Tenge: Full Contact Edition 2-in-1, Vol. 7 collects Vols. 13-14 of the Japanese editions.

Maya Natsume returns to Todo Academy with the intention of putting Mitsuomi Takayanagi in confinement as he begins his transformation into the Black Dragon.  Then, Maya and Mitsuomi join Ichiyo Nagi, Tessen Ishiyumi, and tagalong Mawari on a journey to the Sohaku Estate for a showdown with Sohaku.  However, the big showdown is between Maya and Tetsuhito Kagiroi the True Demon.  Tetsuhito tells Maya the Kagiroi Family origin story and of their iron blood.  The battle between Maya and Tetsuhito is so terrible that neither combatant may survive.

THE LOWDOWN:  As I write in every review the Tenjo Tenge manga, I like the series.  I keep thinking that I am too easy on it, but to be honest, I love martial arts in comics.  When a comic book or manga artist can capture the energy, grace, beauty, power, and lethal nature of martial arts through static, sequential images, you get a comic book as badass, in its own way, as any marital arts movie.

I love that VIZ Media is publishing this book in a larger format (6.6” x 8.4”) than what it regularly publishes manga (4.85 x 7.4”)  The bigger size captures the crazy beauty and beautiful craziness of Oh!great’s art.  This is kick-ass in widescreen.

POSSIBLE AUDIENCE:  Battle manga readers looking for sexy, ultra-violent, R-rated, martial arts will like Tenjo Tenge: Full Contact Edition 2-in-1.