Fence, Vol. 2

Hints at Seiji’s dark past? Yes, please. Nicholas’s character development? Nice. And good lord, Aiden and Seiji’s match! It was so exciting I caught myself holding my breath.

Fave quote of the issue is this one, hands down:

I want to win this match and erase Aidan's win against you. So that the one you look at as a rival is ME.

I mean, on one hand, the DRAMA of it all, the sweet, sweet rivalry. I am so here for this. But also Nicholas being a little shit and annoying Seiji after the match? That’s the stuff the best ships are made of.

As a person whose only interest in sports consists of sometimes watching random figure skaters on YouTube and lifting weights in my apartment a couple of times a week, Fence does a fantastic job of show more introducing fencing in a way that makes me genuinely interested in the sport.

Fun fun fun. show less

This volume won me over as the fencing action comes fast and furious during the first part of the tournament to determine who will make the team. I'm still frustrated that the books are way to short to serve the pacing of the story, as the tournament continues into the next volume.

The character interactions and psychological warfare during and around the matches are engaging as hell. Really looking forward to seeing more of this in the future.

The first four volumes of the comic Fence, about Nick Cox, a talented but not well-trained high school fencer who wants to compete at a high level. He receives a scholarship to a school where he can fence, but he must make the team to stay on. The first four volumes follow Nick as he first arrives at school, begins practicing with the team, and nurses his rivalry (and friendship?) with elite fencer Seiji. This comic is a delight, with great friendships, lots of queer rep, and neat fencing sequences. I'm looking forward to more of it.

I READ THIS SO FAST.

literally so fast. wow. it was so good. i hate sports but i loved this. but there better be romance comin up bc i'm dying over here. wow the art is so pretty. the story is so strong. i love that nicholas has a dumb bitch mode and literally no amount of mental games will break him. what a king.

the tension is so good. i need the third volume but also like PLEASE i need LOVE between RIVALS im dying.

Fence, Vol. 2 is just what I wanted to read in the cozy season - such a cute YA comic! Set in a boarding school and focused on the dreams and issues and dramas of the school's fencers, the series so far is about the fencing team try-outs. There are heated rivalries and personal problems to overcome and sports psychology in action. Volume 2 shows us more about these boys, and I really like them all.

Nicholas is so amusing. I love all the characters so much. I can't wait to see more of the side characters.

I'm still finding it hard to get into the fencing. I am also a bit confused by the whole try-out process that is the major plot line of this book. Only four guys get to be on the team. How are there so many fencers trying out? I assume it's like most other sports and that one gets better with practice and coaching. But, if you aren't on the team, where does the practice and coaching come from? Is the whole school spending its free time practicing and hiring private coaches? Maybe things are different in private school.