A comic I’ce been hearing a lot of buzz about is Fence, a manga-inspired drama published by BoomBox about a young upstart fencer Nicholas who has to face off against prodigy Seiji. In the tradition of sports manga – and such cult favorites as Check, Please! and Yuri on Ice – there is competition, soap opera and maybe a little sexual tension among teammates.
And plenty of fencing.
Created by best-selling novelist C.S. Pacat (Captive Prince) and Mexican artist Johanna The Mad, with colors by Joana Lafuente, the series has definitely been a hit with the Check Please/Yuri crowd – and with Comics Beat reviewers. And with issue #5 it’s officially an ongoing series – which I expect you’ll hear more about.
Pacat actually studied epee in high school, and that experience – along with a trip to Japan – helps give the book the requisite intensity for a sports manga. “Thanks to everyone who supported the comic and gave us this incredible chance!,” Pacat said in a statement. “I’m so thrilled we’ll be able to continue the story. Here’s to us aiming for the state fencing championships together with the cast of FENCE!”
“This is so exciting!” said Johanna the Mad. “I can’t wait for everyone to see what we have planned for the future of FENCE.”
New readers will be able to jump right into the action. Issue #5 will hit the stands in April, the same day as FENCE VOL.1 DISCOVER NOW EDITION, a comic-shop exclusive collection of the first four issues, with a cover by Dream Daddy artist Shanen Pae.
And for those who want even more, an expanded edition of Fence Vol. 1 will go on sale in July, for both comic shops and bookstores.
“Retailers, fans and press have sent a clear message – they want more FENCE and I couldn’t be happier to let you know that’s just what you’re getting,” says Dafna Pleban, BOOM! Studios, Editor. “Not only can you go to your comic shop every month to get all the teen drama, suspense and surprises you’ve come to love at Kings Row, but now it’s the first place you can get FENCE VOL.1!”
Here’s an exclusive look at the covers for the collected editions.
This is great. Books like this and Boom’s Giant Days are my favorite comics at the moment. Fence is a really great mix of action and melodrama and I can’t wait to read more of it. Congrats to the whole team.
This is awesome! I just picked up fence at my comic store recently and I love it!
First thanks for shaing this stuff, i read all article and it was great for me!
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