Fantasy Sports No.2: The Bandit of Barbel Bay

Description

Wiz and Mug are back in action, and the action this time goes by the name of BEACH VOLLEYBALL! Wiz and Mug's adventures continue when a misunderstood teleportation spell accidentally drops them off in a ruined beach town. When the town's amphibious inhabitants confront Wiz and Mug with the revelation that the United Order of Mages may not be exactly what it seems, a new tournament begins! In this sequel to the 2015 best-selling graphic novel, we'll also find out where young Wiz's story began-and if you were to find out it was on a baseball diamond, would you really be surprised?

Sam Bosma was born in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. After graduating from the Maryland Institute College of Art, he taught in the Illustration department from 2011 to 2013 before moving to Brooklyn, NY. He won a Silver Medal from the Society of Illustrators in the Institutional category, as well as a Gold Award from Spectrum in 2013. He currently does background drawings for Steven Universe on Cartoon Network when not making comics and graphic novels of his own. He lives in Brooklyn, NY, USA.

A standout among youth graphic novels that earns its ample, varied appeal. -Booklist, STARRED REVIEW Bosma could have simply mirrored Wiz's first, successful outing, but instead he introduces Wiz's back story, moral complexity, and mystery and leaves the ending unresolved, making this second volume more substantial than the first. Bosma's anime panels are polished, with movement and the right amount of intricate action-adventure frames. Fans will be breathing down Bosma's neck for the third. -Kirkus Reviews This is anything but a repeat of the first volume, with layers of character development making this a deeper venture, and an evolving bond between Wiz and Mug results in different dynamics between the two than in the first volume. The manga-inspired illustrations sizzle with action and drama; changing relationship to panel structure helps control pace, and an otherworldly range of colors are both discordant and inviting. -The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books Bosma's good-hearted and beautifully drawn sequel once again mixes high fantasy and sports drama [...] [Fantasy Sports 2] carries a similar message of the power of unity and friendship in the face of anger and miscommunication. -Publisher's Weekly ...exploring more substantial thematic material adds even more depth to an already rich series. -The AV Club This book is sure to be a hit with kids who'll enjoy seeing their favorite sports played to the extreme by funny-looking monsters. -Mental Floss Sam Bosma is a genius! Fantasy Sports is the perfect mix of everything you could ever want in a comic! I am in love! -Rebecca Sugar, Creator of Cartoon Network's Steven Universe A fun romp with skillfully drawn action sequences, this second book sets up Wiz's backstory and a more complex political dynamic to be explored as the series continues. Middle grade readers will be pulled in by the jokes and action while adults will find themselves pleasantly surprised by the nuances of the story. -Marika McCoola, Author of Baba Yaga's Assistant Bosma gets to the heart of what makes a sport fun to watch and play without dumbing down strategy or game play. -Rob Clough [...] there is no good reason at all for you to not get this delightful book and give it to a kid who loves comics or your local library, or keep it on the shelf to re-re-read from time to time. [...] oh my goodness can Sam Bosma tell a story! -Okazu With the stellar artwork and a great story, "Fantasy Sports Volume 2" is a solid sequel to the splendid first book. -The Newest Rant It's a book with strong storytelling with both the writing and the visuals, but with the visuals you can go back through and just look at the book and grasp the story. That's how strong the artwork is and how beautiful. -Comic Bastards This is a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat. It is like watching the last nail biting minutes of a good game of sport. It will also make you smile and laugh at the over-the-top antics and overblown emotions. It is literally an adrenalin injection of a comic, thrilling and affecting, fun and frenetic. -Down The Tubes