I’m happy to say that I was not disappointed for once in a very long time. The story of Hyougemono transports us to the time of Oda Nobunaga, and I know it is a time visited very (underline ‘very’) frequently by Mangaka (that’s to say, it’s beginning to be a cliché) HOWEVER!

This story does NOT feature a lovable teddybear Nobunaga nor the I-don’t-know-what-the-Hell-I’m-doing Nobunaga and thankfully, not the Girls-just-wanna-have-fun! Cyndi Lauper-inspired Nobunaga. Though still not completely historically accurate, at least we have SOMETHING different.

But the story isn’t about Oda Nobunaga (even if my long-ish rant says otherwise), it’s about Furuta, Sasuke wannabe-warrior and tea lover. Who honestly WANTS to be a well-known and respected warrior but his freaking hilarious sense of fashion and desires, especially towards tea utensils, keep getting in his way. And it’s funny! Not ah-ha-haha… Maz-Maz doesn’t know what their saying, he..he.he. But OhOOhooooHO! Maz-Maz knows what shizzle is cooking! WOOOOAH!

But the thing is, it’s NOT a comedy which must be part of the charm; no one’s trying to force you to laugh at someone slipping on an obviously placed banana.
Where you don’t laugh but go ‘dude, go check out your glasses/eyes’.
It’s unintentional humour doth bring warmth to mine heart. {Beat that, Shakespeare.}

And if you’re going to read this Manga, you’re definitely not reading it for bimbo guys and girls (yes, I just called the guys bimbos too, happy feminists?) and unless your perverted enough to like middle-aged guys-plus, not saying that people that age shouldn’t like people at the same age but you know… *Awkward cough* Look, when it came to eye-candy let’s say that the confectioners ran out; okay?

The art was artistic and PROPORTIONAL, yes, PROPORTIONAL: I love spelling that word. It was shaded with a good amount of details; I wouldn’t say soak your eyes in this but I wouldn’t think you would find it displeasing either. Since it’s not mainstream, I say hi-five!

Overall, I liked the characters, plot, design and the author actually succeeded in building suspense, because for a moment there I felt my heartbeat rushing. It was a nice feeling. So for those who are wannabe-connoisseurs and –intellectuals or for those willing to be random for a moment. I’d say you’ve found your match for the day.