Boom! Box/Boom Studios 2017
Created & Written by C.S. Pacat
Created & Illustrated by Johanna the Mad
Coloured by Joana Lafuente
Lettered by Jim Campbell
Who knew that I would find myself fascinated by a book about fencing? Yes this is out of Boom! Box and so it’s geared towards the younger, teen and all-ages groups but I have to say I am totally in with this. Pacat does some stellar writing and characterisation here and she really gets you into the story in a way that is subtle and fast. There’s very much a Yaoi feeling to the story but it’s not quite the same and yet there’s an electricity to the way the characters interact that you expect so much more.
I’m really impressed with how the book is structured, its ebb & flow from the explosive opening to the last page there’s that feel to it where it is so natural. Life happens this way and this is the life of both Nick and Seji and their time together to learn, grow and find the best parts of each other that will make men of them. Coming of age, sure in a way that is unexpected but fencing while a solo competition each member is still part of a team and it’s team that lives, practices and dreams together. So how these two young men will learn to do just that is something I look forward to.
For those of us who may fall into the older reader category will fondly remember their first day of school more so if you’ve ever moved and was the new kid. Or just the first day of high school where the older kids would pull pranks on the freshmen. So being late on your first day of practice when you are trying to earn your scholarship and a place on the team well that’s just a prank from one of the older kids right. Yeah Pacat really does nail the whole school aged relationships here and as we see groups form and clicks gravitate the pecking order becomes very clear.
Johanna’s work on the interiors here is utterly marvellous. She makes this have that international feel to the characters where it doesn’t quite fit in with manga or typical American style cartoon like work and it’s a blend that makes it unique and interesting. Her use of page layouts with the angles and perspective in the panels showcase a wonderful eye for storytelling. Not going to lie either her rendition of Nick is wonderful as we see that cute ducky in the shower to getting dressed in that uniform he’s a heartthrob that’s for sure. I’m just really impressed with the work she does here and then the page with all their faces yeah that’s kind of a stand out for me.
Once the practice kind of gets underway we learn more about the backstory that has led up to where we are. Of Nick’s absentee father, knocked up his mum and never acknowledged him as his, the half-brother who gets all the accolades it’s kind of a powerful thing to see. Then there are the others who believe in their skills and their spot on the team, guaranteed is not on the table here. Plus we meet the Captain and well that’s someone I wasn’t quite prepared for and the motivation for the two room-mates and their place in all this.
This is a wonderfully crafted story and it’s more complex and interesting than you would ever expect it to be. I find the setting intriguing, the characters fresh and full of life and the opportunity for growth. All of this with some very charming interior artwork making it something you should pick up and read, though you are probably scared of taking the chance.