Fence 1

by CS Pacat, Johanna the Mad, Joana LaFuente, and Jim Campbell
Collects Fence #1-4 (read through issue 6)
volume one | two | three | four

An easy and somewhat silly story about high school fencers – but I’m also completely hooked. It feels a lot like the anime Ouran High School Host Club – a bunch of high school boys with big and goofy personalities, a range of diversity and gender expressions, and of course lots of high school drama.

Nicholas, illegitimate son to a fencing prodigy, gets into a prestigious school on the condition that he earns a spot on the fencing team. His goal is to win the tournament and secure that spot, but more importantly to defeat Seiji, fencing prodigy, fellow teammate and also roommate. Does that sound ridiculous? Great. It is, and I enjoyed every moment of it. While the cast is definitely male heavy, that range of diversity (particularly Bobby, who presents feminine) definitely helps, and thankfully both fencing coaches are women too – the head coach has a lot of screen time working with Nicholas and the other students. And true to anime trope form, a lot of queer boys in the school also means a lot of romantic tension (Seiji and Nicholas clearly can’t stop thinking about each other and I doubt it’s just because of fencing, Aidan breaking hearts, etc)

The dialogue gets a little exposition-y with fencing terms and rules, and sometimes it’s organic – like the coach helping Nicholas with his form and his weaknesses – and other times completely artificial, like one player explaining how to win during a tournament (everyone there obviously knows). I never would have thought that fencing would look so good in an anime style, but Johanna the Mad creates a lot of excitement and tension between panels and characters.

If there’s anything I want more of it’s non-fencing time with the crew to get to know them in different settings. I read through six issues, and towards the end it felt just a little tired. Also the class element of fencing is interesting – clearly you need special equipment, coaches, etc, and Nicholas barely made it through – but I’m not sure that’s the focus of the story.

This is a perfect summer read, great for both anime fans and anyone looking to try anime, no preexisting knowledge of fencing needed either. Just know what to expect going in.