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Fantasy Sports #1
Fantasy Sports 1: Court of Souls
In Sam Bosma's debut graphic novel, a young explorer and her musclebound friend go treasure hunting in a mummy's tomb—but if they want to get rich, they're going to have to best the mummy in a game of hoops! Can they trust their bandaged adversary to play by the rules? Or will they be stuck in the tomb... forever?
A fast-paced sports adventure graphic novel in the vein of 1960's manga, Mike Mignola, and Raiders of the Lost Ark, Fantasy Sports is poised to be Nobrow's first breakout adventure comic for the indie and YA scene.
A fast-paced sports adventure graphic novel in the vein of 1960's manga, Mike Mignola, and Raiders of the Lost Ark, Fantasy Sports is poised to be Nobrow's first breakout adventure comic for the indie and YA scene.
56 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2013
3 people are currently reading
318 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
July 1, 2016
* I was sent this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review *
I have to say that this one is probably not a book I would have picked up for myself had I been in a shop becuase sports, and this illustration style, aren't my favourite. However, I have to say I was impressed and pleasantly surprised by this, because the art style within was more to my taste, and the story was actually a lot of fun.
I definitely think this is a series children would enjoy, and I am looking forward to getting to know more about the characters in book #2 and the wizarding world.
3.5*s
I have to say that this one is probably not a book I would have picked up for myself had I been in a shop becuase sports, and this illustration style, aren't my favourite. However, I have to say I was impressed and pleasantly surprised by this, because the art style within was more to my taste, and the story was actually a lot of fun.
I definitely think this is a series children would enjoy, and I am looking forward to getting to know more about the characters in book #2 and the wizarding world.
3.5*s
February 2, 2017
"Hang on tho-- I gotta dance on this fool."
shit that i love: THIS
I actually also own the original "Fantasy Basketball" zine that Bosma released in 2013, which I bought kind of on a spur-of-the-moment feel, loved, and proceeded to be like "fantasy basketbaaaaall............. read it.........." to anyone who would listen to me, for who knows how long afterward. One of the (random?) things I loved about the original zine was the feel of the book, so when I heard "yo it's going to be a color hard cover book now too" I was like "but is it going to be as good in color????"
The answer is, of course, YES. It's BETTER!!!!!!
Features: a lil prequel bit (MORE STORY), and a gorgeous color palette that really elevates and provides more depth to pages that I already loved.
Some things I love, a lot:
-Wiz, framed in small panels (see: Wiz shooting the first basketball of the comic. Wiz raising a hand "hey" when Mug points her out. Wiz latched onto Mug's enormous arm. Wiz Wiz Wiz).
-The paneling! How does Bosma panel so tightly but still have everything work?! I dunno man!
-The hardcover binding!!!!! Lawddd guys. It's like the size of a children's picture book, has an endpage pattern, and the side binding features basketballs. Can it be any more perfect?! (NO.)
IF YOU LIKE COMICS, buy this and absorb it into your eyeballs.
(BOOK 2 WILL FEATURE VOLLEYBALL, AND WILL BE RELEASED LATER THIS YEAR. i am excited)
shit that i love: THIS
I actually also own the original "Fantasy Basketball" zine that Bosma released in 2013, which I bought kind of on a spur-of-the-moment feel, loved, and proceeded to be like "fantasy basketbaaaaall............. read it.........." to anyone who would listen to me, for who knows how long afterward. One of the (random?) things I loved about the original zine was the feel of the book, so when I heard "yo it's going to be a color hard cover book now too" I was like "but is it going to be as good in color????"
The answer is, of course, YES. It's BETTER!!!!!!
Features: a lil prequel bit (MORE STORY), and a gorgeous color palette that really elevates and provides more depth to pages that I already loved.
Some things I love, a lot:
-Wiz, framed in small panels (see: Wiz shooting the first basketball of the comic. Wiz raising a hand "hey" when Mug points her out. Wiz latched onto Mug's enormous arm. Wiz Wiz Wiz).
-The paneling! How does Bosma panel so tightly but still have everything work?! I dunno man!
-The hardcover binding!!!!! Lawddd guys. It's like the size of a children's picture book, has an endpage pattern, and the side binding features basketballs. Can it be any more perfect?! (NO.)
IF YOU LIKE COMICS, buy this and absorb it into your eyeballs.
(BOOK 2 WILL FEATURE VOLLEYBALL, AND WILL BE RELEASED LATER THIS YEAR. i am excited)
June 8, 2015
This was such a fun graphic novel to read since I am in the middle of a 400 page book right now. The art was amazingly adorable, and it was very easy to understand everything that was going on in the story.
There wasn't really much character development, but the amount that I did get made me want to read the next volumes when they come out. I like how badass the main character, Wiz, seems. She is a tiny girl, but she is bomb at basketball and just overall a bomb person.
I didn't really see the overall purpose to this story, but it was so entertaining that I don't really care. It was just a very long and intense basketball game. I am not really that big of a fan of sports. Errrrr. I'm not a fan of sports at all, I think they're stupid, but I loved reading this. I really got to see the importance of basketball in this world, and the way the story was told sucked me into the game.
This was a very well done comic book, and I definitely want to see where the story is going from here.
There wasn't really much character development, but the amount that I did get made me want to read the next volumes when they come out. I like how badass the main character, Wiz, seems. She is a tiny girl, but she is bomb at basketball and just overall a bomb person.
I didn't really see the overall purpose to this story, but it was so entertaining that I don't really care. It was just a very long and intense basketball game. I am not really that big of a fan of sports. Errrrr. I'm not a fan of sports at all, I think they're stupid, but I loved reading this. I really got to see the importance of basketball in this world, and the way the story was told sucked me into the game.
This was a very well done comic book, and I definitely want to see where the story is going from here.
April 13, 2018
Fun, but I wish there was more meat to it. 56 pages was not enough time to introduce a world, characters, and tell a full story. I'm hoping there's a collected edition coming- preferably in a more standard size. Album size was a weird choice for a Teen+ title.
February 8, 2017
What in the world! Everything about this short graphic novel is strange and odd, which means it's pretty awesome. It has somewhat of an old-fashioned appeal, which I love, and I laughed out loud a few times. The plot is simple yet clever, and the humorous tidbits strewn about make this story a much needed diversion.
February 22, 2016
Another entry from the dynamic and inventive publisher Nobrow, Sam Bosma's Fantasy Sports No. 1 is a delightful romp I'd recommend to any fan of Adventure Time or other deceptively deep fantasy-comedy series. A couple of agents from a Magic Guild, the earnest young intern Wiz and her "mentor," the musclebound oaf Mug, take on a dangerous crypt filled with skeletons and an evil mummy emperor with mad basketball skills. I had first seen Sam Bosma’s work in Andrew Smith’s Winger and his colorful, manga-esque art really brings this fantasy-sports world to life. I think kids who aren’t even into sports will find this short comic very fun, and it may even be a good way to bring in the sports lovers, too! Fun stuff!
October 7, 2016
Totally fun and goofy comic. The art style is charming and works with the overall silly theme of the story. There were some funny moments that gave me a good laugh. The story is a bit random and not super developed but so what, I enjoyed this one for the art and silliness and goofball zingers. Also: child wizards trash talking the snot out of their evil demon monster opponent in a game of basketball where the stakes are your life... what's not to like?!
Very easy read, nicely laid out, fun visual style, good dialogue, good pacing.
Very easy read, nicely laid out, fun visual style, good dialogue, good pacing.
January 23, 2016
Highly enjoyable with fun illustrations and a tongue-in-cheek plotting. While the library classifies this as YA, most likely for the bloodiness at the end, this reads more of a children's book. Having said that, the parody nature of it might be entertaining for teenagers as well. Has a fun discussion of might versus magic and teamwork, even if you can't quite get along with your teammate.
August 4, 2015
This is a fun, light-hearted romp through a tale that does actually blend Fantasy and Sports as the title implies, ...
and yes, as we might expect there is not much depth here,
but it was a quick and fun read.
and yes, as we might expect there is not much depth here,
but it was a quick and fun read.
September 22, 2015
Public library copy.
This was a fun all ages book that did a fine job blending fantasy with my favorite sport, basketball. I've turned the book over to my 12 year old daughter in the hopes she will enjoy the story too.
This was a fun all ages book that did a fine job blending fantasy with my favorite sport, basketball. I've turned the book over to my 12 year old daughter in the hopes she will enjoy the story too.
June 15, 2021
Viz and Mug are looking for magical artifacts, but in the process of finding some they enter a tomb and is challenged to a game of basketball by "He of the Giant Steps". They must win or else be doomed to stay there forever. A fun
September 29, 2023
This arrived in the post from the publisher this week, and I thoroughly loved it! A wonderful mix of basketball, magic and an ancient challenge! Mug and Wiz are a great duo and I can’t wait to see what else is to come in this series! My kids are going to love this!
April 27, 2016
3.5 stars
November 9, 2021
Wiz and Mug are a very unlikely pair of treasure hunters. Wiz is skilled at magic and would prefer to talk things through. Mug likes to use his brute strength to solve anything he sees as a problem. The two are sent to retrieve a treasure together, but things aren't looking good for their quest. When they finally break through a tomb to the big boss, he unexpectedly challenges them to a game of basketball. Mug of course assumes he's the one who should play, but when he is injured, will scrawny little Wiz come through in the clutch?
This is both an epic game of basketball to the death, and an intro novel about a pair of adventurers learning to work together and trust each other. I can see this appealing to readers who don't usually want to read fantasy, but love basketball. It's a bit on the gory side, so only recommended for YA on up.
Notes on content: 2 minor swears. No sexual content. Mug punches skeletons apart. One character gets a sprain, but another literally breaks his ankles. Mug tears the other guy in half at one point with black ichor spraying out (but this doesn't kill the skeleton guy...why does he even have any fluids if he's a skeleton?) Anyway, a little bit gory but easily covered up.
This is both an epic game of basketball to the death, and an intro novel about a pair of adventurers learning to work together and trust each other. I can see this appealing to readers who don't usually want to read fantasy, but love basketball. It's a bit on the gory side, so only recommended for YA on up.
Notes on content: 2 minor swears. No sexual content. Mug punches skeletons apart. One character gets a sprain, but another literally breaks his ankles. Mug tears the other guy in half at one point with black ichor spraying out (but this doesn't kill the skeleton guy...why does he even have any fluids if he's a skeleton?) Anyway, a little bit gory but easily covered up.
January 1, 2023
A large format graphic novel, following the exploits of odd couple Mug and Wiz as they pursue magical items in a fantasy world.
This first volume colourfully establishes the main characters of barbarian Mug and his young intern mage Wiz. Both work for a magical organisation that has charged them in securing various mystic artifacts. Their latest quest brings them into conflict with a necromancer whose battleground of choice is the basketball court...
Sam Bosa creates a fun, vibrant world filled with colourful characters and exciting set pieces. While the story is slight, his mangaesque art and action scenes more than makes up for it. Bosa sets up enough story points at the beginning to develop the world and characters should he so choose in later volumes. By the end of this first book the main characters, of Mug and Wiz, are fully realised, with their unique personalites and motivations, and bounce of each other well. With a more developed narrative this could be a great series to follow.
This first volume colourfully establishes the main characters of barbarian Mug and his young intern mage Wiz. Both work for a magical organisation that has charged them in securing various mystic artifacts. Their latest quest brings them into conflict with a necromancer whose battleground of choice is the basketball court...
Sam Bosa creates a fun, vibrant world filled with colourful characters and exciting set pieces. While the story is slight, his mangaesque art and action scenes more than makes up for it. Bosa sets up enough story points at the beginning to develop the world and characters should he so choose in later volumes. By the end of this first book the main characters, of Mug and Wiz, are fully realised, with their unique personalites and motivations, and bounce of each other well. With a more developed narrative this could be a great series to follow.
October 21, 2024
Wiz is an apprentice Treasure Hunter for the bombastic Mug who is not known for his subtlety. But when they break into the tomb of ‘He of the giant Steps’ the mummy issues a sporting challenge that Mug and Wiz are both excited to accept.
Not my usual genre but this was lots of fun - an unexpected Indiana Jones/basketball mashup in graphic novel format. An exciting adventure for fantasy and sports fans…
Not my usual genre but this was lots of fun - an unexpected Indiana Jones/basketball mashup in graphic novel format. An exciting adventure for fantasy and sports fans…
September 24, 2018
More like 3.5. Not sure why the book's summary here on Goodreads says it's about an adventurer and HIS muscle-bound sidekick, since Wiz-Kid is clearly a girl...
In any case: a fast-paced, energetic, if fairly slight story. Who knew that a basketball game could be so exciting! This is shelved in the YA section at my local library but would be fine for younger readers too, I'd say.
In any case: a fast-paced, energetic, if fairly slight story. Who knew that a basketball game could be so exciting! This is shelved in the YA section at my local library but would be fine for younger readers too, I'd say.
March 15, 2019
Great, short graphic novel. The book itself is well produced: large pages, quality paper, etc. The story is amusing and made me laugh out loud a number of times. The art strikes a good balance between detail and abstract cartooniness. It was an all around pleasure to read. Big thumbs up from me. I'll be reading the others in this series soon.
September 10, 2019
Jap, fajn je strip. Je kratka zgodba, ni neka zahtevna reč... In se vidi da je narisal v drugem formatu (mislim da je prvo sam izdal v črnobeli verziji, potem pa je dobil založbo NOBROW) in dialog je precej na hitro napisan, hehe (js bi kr popravlov k se mi zdi mal razmetano, ma ni sploh važno :)
Sam njegovi liki, osebe, pošasti, linije - KRASNO !!!
Sam njegovi liki, osebe, pošasti, linije - KRASNO !!!
January 23, 2021
how i wish this was longer !!!! ): this was so much fun & i was starting to really love the bond between the characters and then.. it was finished. the art is amazing, i love the sports theme even tho i dislike sport irl lmao, it’s so fun. i’m so glad i read this bc it’s something i’d never really pick up for myself (it’s my boyfriends) & i’m excited to read vol. 2 !
October 13, 2025
[Avis aux éditeurices : on veut plus d'histoires avec des personnages féminins et du sport - dommage que cette série ne soit plus commercialisée]
Un duo magique et mal assorti affronte une momie (?) dans un 1v1 de basket délirant : c'est Space Jam shooté à la fantasy et j'applaudis des deux mains (même si c'était trop court à mon goût) !
Un duo magique et mal assorti affronte une momie (?) dans un 1v1 de basket délirant : c'est Space Jam shooté à la fantasy et j'applaudis des deux mains (même si c'était trop court à mon goût) !
June 1, 2017
I liked the main character - Wiz, a basketball-playing girl mage, and was as annoyed with her act-first-think-later muscle partner Mug as she was.
It was a slim story, so accumulating more volumes will help readers get attached to the stories, people, creatures, and setting.
It was a slim story, so accumulating more volumes will help readers get attached to the stories, people, creatures, and setting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 10, 2018
A fun and fast read full of color and action. Some great basketball action scenes. The story is threadbare, though, and not much of introduction to the mages or the world, just jumps right in. Hope to learn more about Mug and Wiz in the next installment.
December 19, 2019
I am dad of a young daughter who both like comics.
We read and discuss books, and we both loved Fantasy Sports! It is just the right mix of sorcery, sports, humor, and action.
Sam Bosma is an incredible cartoonist!
We read and discuss books, and we both loved Fantasy Sports! It is just the right mix of sorcery, sports, humor, and action.
Sam Bosma is an incredible cartoonist!
January 6, 2023
A really well drawn goofy D+D adventure story. A young wizard and a disgruntled tank are tasked with looting a tomb. They end up having to battle an ancient mummy in a game of basketball. It's fun, it's colorful and it's funny. Can't ask for much more!
December 16, 2016
I don't like the gruesome violence, but I love everything else. It's snappy and awesomely strange, and I am definitely curious to read the second one.
January 31, 2017
A graphic novel where magicians use basketball to defeat the villain and get the treasure? What's not to love! Can't wait for the next one!
July 10, 2017
Love love love everything about this. And I'm not even a sports fan! But yeah, add mummy with a sick flattop and I'm in. Love the illustration style so much!
July 15, 2017
Read our review at https://bookthreat.com/2017/04/20/som...
September 25, 2017
Surprisingly good! I randomly picked this up and really enjoyed it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews