Comic Review: Fence #8

Fence #8

BOOM! Studios

Writer: C.S. Pacat

Artist: Johanna the Mad & Joana Lafuente

Fence has been an absolute joy to read so far. In just eight issues, C.S Pacat and Johanna the Mad have managed to create a fun sports drama that rivals some of the best that sports manga has to offer.

Fence #8 opens with the beginning of Seiji’s day. The reader gets to learn about the young fencing prodigy as he wakes up, warms up, and works-out before his peers. It’s an excellent look at Seiji’s work ethic, establishing him as a hardworking character as opposed to someone who is only blessed with natural talent. This Seiji-centric perspective also allows the gives us a look at the way he treated by others, especially those who see him as a deterrent to their own goals. Seiji’s attitude is much more understandable when exposed to the way he is treated, making him much more human.

Outside of the excellent look at Seiji’s character, this issue also features an excellent matchup between Harvard and Seiji. The match properly establishes the significance of a fencer’s place in the National Rankings. C.S Pacat successfully builds her characters and world while also giving the reader a much-needed understanding of the world of professional fencing. The character’s relationship and dialogue outside of the matches are authentic and flat-out entertaining. Each character feels unique and carries their own energy through the pages.

As always, the overall tone of Fence is really held together by Johanna The Mad’s excellent art. The artistic style hugs the line between realistic and cartoony, and it works. The actual action in the training and matches look great, with appropriate poses and body proportions throughout the issue. When there is less drama on the page, the characters can take on a much more animated appearance, sometimes even appearing as chibi characters.

The panels themselves are structured so that every page practically pops at the reader. The action flows naturally, making the fencing matches easy to follow, even for those who still aren’t familiar with the sport. Joana Lafuente’s colors bring the finishing touch to every page, which naturally adds a light-hearted feel to the competition happening on the pages.

While Fence still isn’t for everyone, it is just such a fun book that it is hard to not recommend to just about any reader. It perfectly balances drama and action, while also remaining charming and wholesome. Fence #8 may lack a bit in the actual fencing, but it succeeds in both character and world-building.