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joanna1905's review against another edition
3.0
A really cool comic series! I love gay sports comics and this is the first one I've seen that's fxf! This series as a solid story, great art and I love all the characters.
Due to the mature of comics I usually don't care that much for the supporting characters because we never get to know them very well - however, this series changes all that by having the pov switch to a different member of the team each issue. I really really liked this and this format really made it easier to love this super cool cast of characters!
Due to the mature of comics I usually don't care that much for the supporting characters because we never get to know them very well - however, this series changes all that by having the pov switch to a different member of the team each issue. I really really liked this and this format really made it easier to love this super cool cast of characters!
heabooknerd's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this cute and inclusive graphic novel and I'm looking forward to more.
nerdysread's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
mehsi's review against another edition
4.0
I received this graphic novel from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.
Meet Charlene, or Charlie Bravo. A transfer student to this college she is in for a heap of trouble and fun as she walks around for clubs and meets the Avant-Guards, a wannabe basketball team that just needs one more player (where have we seen this setting before, ah yes, so many places :P). They want Charlie. I was wondering why because Charlie didn’t seem like the girl to do basketball, but it turns out she was actually in varsity (which makes me wonder what happened).
I have to say I wasn’t always a fan of Olivia, having her POV at times did help, but otherwise I am not too big of a fan of pushy characters. I get that you need a team member to complete your team, but pushing, hedging and whining and even getting other peeps to help out just went WAY too far for me. If I was Charlie I would have said a big fat no to Olivia and just turned away. Olivia needs to chill out. She is also way over the top with everything, it is like she can’t do anything normally without exaggerating the fuck out of it. Again, not a character trait that makes me happy.
And sure, she had her cute moments, and I loved seeing her swoon (at least that is how I saw it) over Charlie.
Meet Charlene, or Charlie Bravo. A transfer student to this college she is in for a heap of trouble and fun as she walks around for clubs and meets the Avant-Guards, a wannabe basketball team that just needs one more player (where have we seen this setting before, ah yes, so many places :P). They want Charlie. I was wondering why because Charlie didn’t seem like the girl to do basketball, but it turns out she was actually in varsity (which makes me wonder what happened).
I have to say I wasn’t always a fan of Olivia, having her POV at times did help, but otherwise I am not too big of a fan of pushy characters. I get that you need a team member to complete your team, but pushing, hedging and whining and even getting other peeps to help out just went WAY too far for me. If I was Charlie I would have said a big fat no to Olivia and just turned away. Olivia needs to chill out. She is also way over the top with everything, it is like she can’t do anything normally without exaggerating the fuck out of it. Again, not a character trait that makes me happy.
And sure, she had her cute moments, and I loved seeing her swoon (at least that is how I saw it) over Charlie.
laura_cs's review against another edition
5.0
I received an ARC of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Welcome to the Georgia O'Keeffe College of the Arts and Subtle Dramatics! Now meet our players: Charlie, an aspiring filmmaker and transfer student; Olivia, a textbook over-achiever; Ashley, who sings like Beyonce and dances like Rihanna; Tiffany, who would like you to join her coven and, no, those are definitely not candles in her dorm room; Nicole, the cynic; and Jay, who is a quiet gentle-giant. Together they are: the Avant-Guards!
This motley crew come together to play basketball in a brand-new league for small colleges, and develop friendships (and romances) as they learn how to become a team. It's sweet and cute and funny, and the art is fantastic. But what a cliffhanger! I can't wait to see what will happen in Volume 2!
Welcome to the Georgia O'Keeffe College of the Arts and Subtle Dramatics! Now meet our players: Charlie, an aspiring filmmaker and transfer student; Olivia, a textbook over-achiever; Ashley, who sings like Beyonce and dances like Rihanna; Tiffany, who would like you to join her coven and, no, those are definitely not candles in her dorm room; Nicole, the cynic; and Jay, who is a quiet gentle-giant. Together they are: the Avant-Guards!
This motley crew come together to play basketball in a brand-new league for small colleges, and develop friendships (and romances) as they learn how to become a team. It's sweet and cute and funny, and the art is fantastic. But what a cliffhanger! I can't wait to see what will happen in Volume 2!
laurenkara's review against another edition
5.0
tw: mentions of anxiety and panic attacks
omg i loved this so so so so much i need a volume 2 stat. i loved all the characters so much and i'm so weak for team sports dynamics!!!
omg i loved this so so so so much i need a volume 2 stat. i loved all the characters so much and i'm so weak for team sports dynamics!!!
geekwayne's review against another edition
3.0
‘The Avant-Guards, Vol. 1’ by Carly Usdin with art by Noah Hayes is a sports comic about a somewhat diverse group of people who get together to form a basketball team.
Charlie is new to the Georgia O’Keeffe College for the Arts and Subtle Dramatics. During a student fair, she meets force of nature, Olivia, who is trying to form the school’s first basketball team. Charlie is reluctant, and really doesn’t seem to fit in to this group of outgoing drama students. We learn she is there to study film, and that she is a bit shy. We also learn that she doesn’t like team sports for some reason. During the team’s first game, the Avant-Guards crush the competition.
After 100+ pages of a comic, I feel like I barely found out anything about these characters, except for the diversity notes. Perhaps that will play out as the story goes, but Charlie is kind of a boring character, especially compared to Olivia. I liked the art well enough. As far as sports comics go, it was really just kind of mediocre.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Boom! Studios and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
Charlie is new to the Georgia O’Keeffe College for the Arts and Subtle Dramatics. During a student fair, she meets force of nature, Olivia, who is trying to form the school’s first basketball team. Charlie is reluctant, and really doesn’t seem to fit in to this group of outgoing drama students. We learn she is there to study film, and that she is a bit shy. We also learn that she doesn’t like team sports for some reason. During the team’s first game, the Avant-Guards crush the competition.
After 100+ pages of a comic, I feel like I barely found out anything about these characters, except for the diversity notes. Perhaps that will play out as the story goes, but Charlie is kind of a boring character, especially compared to Olivia. I liked the art well enough. As far as sports comics go, it was really just kind of mediocre.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Boom! Studios and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
geekwayne's review against another edition
2.0
'Strange Skies Over East Berlin' by Jeff Loveness with art by Lisandro Estherren is an alien encounter story set in the Cold War in East Berlin.
The story takes place in the shadowy realm of East Berlin in 1973. An American spy encounters a strange being from outer space. The being is very powerful and the spy has to make strange alliances to survive.
I love the moody art and the idea of the story. I felt let down by the execution of the story. It had potential, but just wallowed in sameness.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from BOOM! Studios and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
The story takes place in the shadowy realm of East Berlin in 1973. An American spy encounters a strange being from outer space. The being is very powerful and the spy has to make strange alliances to survive.
I love the moody art and the idea of the story. I felt let down by the execution of the story. It had potential, but just wallowed in sameness.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from BOOM! Studios and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
radikaliseradgroda's review against another edition
4.0
Lots of fun and very cute, but there wasn't quite enough plot progression for a whole volume. Really nuanced characters though!