Review by Frank Plowright

Charlie Bravo has just transferred to a new art college, which seems a surprise as she shows no interest in the assorted arts and drama societies, but is drawn to a table set up in order to start a basketball team. Carly Usdin gradually reveals that Charlie has played basketball before, but wants to play for fun, not fester in a possibly toxic team environment. She agrees if the ultra-enthusiastic Liv can make a half court shot.

As the title suggests, The Avant-Guards veers away from the predictable, and add the fluent cartooning of Noah Hayes to characters who’re instantly known and the scene is set for a viable comedy drama. The only mis-step is Charlie’s ridiculous name. What was Usdin thinking?

Her characters are largely one-dimensional, with only Charlie and Liv transcending that limitation, but over this first volume there’s no need for them to be anything else. It’s enough that Tiffany presents as an eccentric figure prone to dabbling in witchcraft, and her individuality allows for a few funny comments. Charlie is quiet, but runs emotionally deep, while Liv is presented as if with ADHD, constantly talking, over-explaining, and with little in the way of personal boundaries. Her enthusiasm, though, is infectious.

There are a couple of places early on where Usdin experiments with the storytelling, for instance repeating a set of circumstance from a different viewpoint, but thereafter she opts for a straightforward linear narrative all the way to a shock ending.

Hayes populates the pages with interesting people with interesting expressions, keeping the backgrounds simple while always supplying what’s needed. A distinctive look is completed by Rebecca Nalty’s use of bright flat colours.

A fair amount of ground is covered in establishing a maverick basketball team with likeable personalities and real problems, and you’re likely to want to see how things turn out in Volume Two. Or pick up The Complete Collection combining all three volumes.