FENCE

Teen fencers vie for a coveted spot on their school’s team in this reissue that collects Chapters 1-12 of this queer sports story.

Nicholas Cox wants to be a great fencer like his father. Robert Coste won the Olympic gold before focusing his efforts on coaching his son Jesse along a similar path. But he has no interest in helping—or even acknowledging—his son Nicholas, whose mother he never married. Without the resources for elite training, Nicholas pays for fencing lessons by cleaning his coach’s studio. He makes it to a regional tournament, where he loses to Seiji Katayama, who was a finalist at the Junior European Championships. Six months later, Nicholas enters Kings Row Boys School, where his scholarship depends on his making the fencing team. But the team generally doesn’t take freshmen, and this year they have two competing for a spot: Nicholas and his nemesis—and roommate—Seiji. Queerness is universally accepted in this world, with many fencers crushing on team heartthrob Aiden; Nicholas’ friend Bobby wears a hair ribbon and skirt with his school uniform without apparent judgment. Though the character design looks more like Western comics, the influence of sports manga is evident, particularly in the humor, the underdog theme, and the inclusion of manpu embellishments. Nicholas appears white, Seiji is cued Japanese, and there’s racial diversity among the supporting characters.

A fun series opener with lovable characters to root for.