We’re two issues into “Fence” and that’s two issues too many without referencing the sword fight from Princess Bride. Otherwise, this series continues to improve and shine on its own merits.
Written by C.S. PacatCover by Johanna the Mad
Illustrated by Johanna the Mad
Colored by Joana Lafuente
Lettered by Jim Campbell
As Seiji and Nicholas struggle with their living arrangement, the competition heats up.
The first issue of “Fence” was a solid start to the series, leading readers into the characters Nicholas Cox and Seji Katayama. Overall it gave a good indication of who, and to a degree what, the series will be about. What it (understandably) didn’t do was develop the infrastructure for the series to sustain itself and go to emotional places. Thankfully, writer C.S. Pacat deftly takes care of all that in this issue, setting up the stakes for the series long term (beat rival school, Exton, and win State) and in the short term (get on the team) without dropping the core motifs as the series transitions into a school drama. With Johanna the Mad’s delightful character designs and solid page work, “Fence” has set itself for success in a way most comics rarely do after two issues.
One of the defining motifs of “Fence” is class, and Nicholas isn’t part of it. With a subject matter like this book, it isn’t surprising this is an early motif. While I love me a good sword fight, the art of fencing was knowledge only afforded to the old school aristocracy and their gentlemanly codes. As the book also shifts into its school setting at Kings Row, these motifs are revealed further. There’s the sense of amazement Nicholas has at the size and quality of the school’s fencing hall, compared to the anonymous and dingy looking gymnasium seen in flashbacks. The school uniforms, normally symbols of conformity, also don’t quite fit him. While Johanna highlights with little kawaii-indica around him as he gets dressed, and he does look good in it, the uniform is clearly a costume that doesn’t really fit yet. This isn’t to say all rich people in this book are jerks, Bobby and the Captain seem delightful, but in emphasizing the materials that show how far outside of his economic bracket he is, further reveals Nicholas’s status as an outsider on multiple levels.
Those items are just outward expressions of a class. The dynamic comes in early with an Odd Couple routine. Pacat and Johanna put Nicholas and Seji as roommates; needless to say, after their run in at the regionals, they don’t like each other very much. Their dissatisfaction results in an ineffective dividing line between their respective halves of the room. While they argue about being put together, Johanna the Mad does her best to consistently represent the sequence with a mirrored balance between the two. It’s a motif that reaches its full conclusion in the full-page reveal of their divided room.
That sequence emphasizes one of Mad’s strongest traits: creating impactful images and easily understood character designs. This isn’t too surprising for an artist who popped up on Pacat’s radar for some Mulan fanart. She has a way with physical expression that imparts a genuine emotion, such as the introduction of Bobby. Other than the name, “Fence” hasn’t really done anything to textually narrate Bobby. However, Mad draws him with such energy, it’d be easy to write him off as a “Senpai Noticed Me Type” like other fanboys seen this issue, but it’s more an earnest love for the team and fencing. There’s only four spots on the team and Bobby shows up in the fighting game like character select screen, but I’m doubtful they’ll get on it. The energy Mad has shown the character in has me excited to see them in a supporting mascot role.
It’s surprising to read a book from a first-time creative team with such great flow. Normally, with a novelist like Pacat, you’d generally get the feeling the issue is overwritten. This isn’t really the case, other than a couple of moments that feel out of left field from a western comics perspective but would feel right at home in manga. Johanna the Mad runs an excellent art blog, but this is their first foray into long sequential work. Yet here they both are with a single issue that feels very fulfilling. The reveal of Aiden is a proper visual pay off to something Pascat sets up as a gag. “Who’s Aiden?” Nicholas wonders after seeing the phrase ‘Aiden dumped me’ on Coach William’s wall-of -stuff-you-don’t-ever-say. On that setup you turn the page and BOOM! Here’s Aiden with his glam rock hair and vampire-like good looks in a big half page spread. Mad segments the remainder of the page to just further emphasize the spell he has on the team. It’s another example of Johanna the Mad’s character design telling the reader what they need to know about a character.
Continued belowIt’s these high moments that also bring into relief segments that didn’t quite work. Pacat has been upfront about being inspired by the various sports manga she’s read and now that “Fence” is also in its school setting, I was expecting a bit more manga-esque flair. There are little bits here and there, how Mad draws a blushing Bobby and the little star indica, but overall page designs have been predominantly western without melodramatic paneling or flair. Mad gets close when showing Seji through contrasting Bobby and Nicholas vision. Bobby thinks Seji is Tuxedo Mask levels of dreamy, Nicholas not so much. Mad does a good job of subtly changing the two images to emphasize how they see him differently instead of relying on the contrasting color and textures. However, as the page goes on and shows another mental flight of fancy, it is done with none of the previously discussed indicators, this makes the swamping between reality and fantasy awkward. Especially when the page could’ve easily extended the Bobby-Nicholas vision metaphor to encompass this moment.
“Fence” second issue covers a lot of ground in smart fashion and lays the structure for the series to succeed if things go right. Even in the moments that don’t fully work their intent and sincerity are enough to get things done. It’s not there yet but there might be something to this comic.
Final Verdict: 7.5 – With good structure from Pacat and strong design work from Johanna the Mad, with a little refinement “Fence” could turn into something pretty great.
