Review by Ian Keogh

At eighteen Oda Nobunaga ought to be studying for his exams, but instead reads books about historical warriors, one of whom he’s named after. He dreams of achieving something, ensuring he’ll be remembered after he’s dead, and little does he know he’ll soon have his opportunity.

This occurs when a portal to another dimension conveniently opens in his town, pulling Oda and his sister Ichiko through to a world characterised by constant battle between forces led by historical warriors from Earth. Oda is completely out of his depth, but fortunate his courage has moved the heart of legendary swordsman Kondō Isami.

For English language readers there’s the suspicion that the heroes Yasu Hiromoto introduces in this opening volume are genuine Japanese legends little known beyond their own country. It’s confirmed by a number of them having Wikipedia pages for further reading and by the map closing the eighty page opening chapter, showing territories controlled by people with greater fame outside Japan such as Joan of Arc, Julius Caesar and Ivan the Terrible. One can be picky about African, Native American or Viking absentees, but Hiromoto comes up with an appetite-whetting list. Oda’s value among such military minds appears negligible, but that’s deceptive. He’s ended up in the one place where his specific knowledge is invaluable.

Kubaru Sakanoichi is a gifted artist and when there are only a few characters to be seen they’re elegantly drawn, while a lot of effort is put into a maximum amount of figures if an army is seen in the distance. However, in the manner of several manga titles recently released in English by Titan for the first time, there’s little clarity about the art during battle scenes, where it’s often difficult to take in what’s actually happening. There’s an interesting visual view of Japan’s greatest fighters also. They’re existing in a place where there’s contact with the future via people popping in randomly, so Sakanoichi draws them with more modern clothing and accessories. Was this controversial in Japan?

As this opening volume progresses it becomes more than just set-up as Hiromoto looks in on other rulers, and the historical figures loyal to them. Some are transferred with extra abilities, and they can counter numerous ordinary soldiers, and time moves rapidly forward. Oda settles in where he’s valued, but his over-riding ambition is to rescue Ichiko.

The “Tengen” title is never explained, much less the quotation marks around it, but there’s more than enough groundwork laid here to combine human interest with military strategy. As this volume closes Oda’s about to commence the fight of his life, and that picks up in “Tengen” Hero Wars 2.