Name: The Avant-Guards Vol. 2
ISBN: 9781684155682

Carly Usdin

Collects issues #5-8 of The Avant-Guards.

The Avant-Guards Vol. 2

Welcome to the Georgia O’Keeffe College of Arts and Subtle Dramatics, an historically all-female school whose population is decidedly more drama geek than jock. Liv, aspiring actor and basketball enthusiast, doesn’t understand why she can’t be both, but she seems alone in that belief...until Charlie. Charlie is a recent transfer, a star basketball player, and the answer to all of Liv’s problems. She’ll stop at nothing to get Charlie to join the ragtag group of misfits that make up their fledgling basketball team. Carly Usdin (Heavy Vinyl) and Noah Hayes (Goldie Vance) present a touching tale about finding what you’re looking for... on and off the court.

The Avant-Guards #1

Linara K.S

When Charlie transfers to the Georgia O’Keeffe College of Arts and Subtle Dramatics, she struggles to find her feet, but winds up exactly where she belongs...in the school’s (terrible) basketball team. As a transfer student to the Georgia O’Keeffe College for Arts and Subtle Dramatics, former sports star Charlie is struggling to find her classes, her dorm, and her place amongst a student body full of artists who seem to know exactly where they’re going. When the school’s barely-a-basketball-team unexpectedly attempts to recruit her, Charlie’s adamant that she’s left that life behind…until she’s won over by the charming team captain, Liv, and the ragtag crew she’s managed to assemble. And while Charlie may have left cut-throat competition in the dust, sinking these hoops may be exactly what she needs to see the person she truly wants to be. From Carly Usdin (Heavy Vinyl) and artist Noah Hayes (Wet Hot American Summer, Goldie Vance) comes an ensemble comedy series that understands that it’s the person you are off the court that matters most.

The Avant-Guards |

brianna

thank you netgalley for providing me with an e-arc.

AHHHHHHH this is everything I've wanted in a comic series and more!! Our entire cast of characters is made up of queer ladies of color and I would die for every single one of them? Sports gays are already god tier but the amount of pure lesbian energy in this is unreal give me more NOW. Y'all absolutely have to pick this up when it comes out this September.

Izza

5 stars | oh my god. This was freaking amazing!! I need more.

Ingrid 

** An ARC is generously provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review **

5 Stars, this was incredible!

Would recommend if you like the art style of Goldie Vance or the friendships in Lumberjanes.

We follow Charlie, who has just transferred to a new university. She meets Olivia who wants her to join the basketball team. The story focuses on friendship and dealing with your past. There's diversity when it comes to race, sexuality, mental health and gender. 

The characters are truly amazing. Their personalities really came through, even in this first volume. They are all diverse in their own way. So far the characters haven't labeled themselves, so neither will I. There is definitely queer love in this. Two females characters are into females (but haven't said if they identifies as lesbians), one character has shown interest in both females and males (but haven't said if she identifies as bi or pan), and one character uses they/them pronounce. There is also a character who deals with anxiety and has had panic attacks in the past. 

What I enjoyed the most about the diversity, was that it was just there. It didn't feel forced or made to be a big thing, which made it very natural. 

The biggest selling point for me was that the characters where so different from each other, and their relationships. 

If you enjoy colorful contemporary stories with friendships, then this is for you. I highly recommend getting yourself a copy when it is releases. I know that I will.

The Avant-Guards have been on a roll when it comes to their newly-formed Athletic Coalition, and Charlie has been getting more comfortable with her new teammates, but when they hit the end of their winning-streak, will these new friendships survive?

The Avant-Guards #5

Helene Skjørvold

Everything is going great! Charlie is on the team, and the Avant-Guards are on a winning streak, taking the liberal arts sports scene by storm. It’s more impressive than it sounds. However, that winning streak is all at risk when they face off against the Selfies of the American Institute of Internet Influencers.

The Avant-Guards #4

The rep, the rep, the rep!!!!!😍😍😍

Reeling from a crushing defeat at the hands of the Selfies, the Avant-Guards must rediscover their team spirit and remember what makes them love the game. It doesn’t help that a member of their team is horribly smitten with a Selfie player.

The Avant-Guards #6

The basketball season is off to a start, and Charlie, Liv, and the rest of the Avant-Guards are trekking across state for their very first game. They’ve hardly had time to polish their skills, though, and if the season isn’t going to end before it’s really begun, they’ll have to fight to make their dreams come true!

The Avant-Guards #3

I never knew I needed these graphic novels in my life, but now I see, that I can not go on without them! 
I love the characters, I love the scenarios and I love the entire vibe of these novels🥺😍

Charlie is done with team sports. Nope. Not happening. Never again. But Liv and the rest of the Georgia O’Keefe College of Arts and Subtle Dramatics basketball team are determined to get Charlie to join them, and they’ve cooked up a ruse to woo her! For basketball. Nothing else.

The Avant-Guards #2

This is so cute!
She has the same number as me!!🥺🥺🥺

As a transfer student to the Georgia O’Keeffe College for Arts and Subtle Dramatics, former sports star Charlie is struggling to find her classes, her dorm, and her place amongst a student body full of artists who seem to know exactly where they’re going. When the school’s barely-a-basketball-team unexpectedly attempts to recruit her, Charlie’s adamant that she’s left that life behind...until she’s won over by the charming team captain, Liv, and the ragtag crew she’s managed to assemble. And while Charlie may have left the cut-throat world of competitive basketball in the dust, sinking these hoops may be exactly what she needs to find the person she truly wants to be. From Carly Usdin, the writer behind the hit series Heavy Vinyl, and artist Noah Hayes (Wet Hot American Summer) comes an ensemble comedy series that understands that it’s the person you are off the court that matters most. Collects The Avant-Guards issues #1-4.

The Avant-Guards

Flavia Louise

This series is really amazing and I really enjoyed (re)reading it in its entirety.

Volume 2 was just as cute and good as Volume 1

Mazdyn Miller

I literally love absolutely everything about this graphic novel and the entire series. I haven’t read through a graphic novel series that I love more! It being super inclusive is a plus too. Just read it!

Karolina

Charlie is a transfer student in Georgia O'Keeffe College of Arts. During the first day, she meets a group of friends, which offers her to join their basketball team the Avant-Guards. As it is a school of art, they cannot find many people interested in it. Charlie had a bad experience with a team in her old school so she rejects their offer right away. However, Liv a girl who was a founder of the team doesn't give up and try to convince her by introducing her into the team. It didn't take them much time until she accepted the offer but also become one of them. 

An LGBT graphic book about friendship, love, and passion. I actually didn't know and notice the chemistry between the girls and I was nicely surprised me when it came out. Part I really like about this book is that all characters are very unique and different. The Avant-Guards is a nice fast reader to relax, laugh and run from reality. I can't wait to read a volume 2 and learn more about the characters of the book. 

I'd like to thank NetGalley and BOOM! Studios for sending me this ARC copy of the book.

Helena Cristina Nogueira Pereira

3.5
It was good, but too short and nothing actually happened. Looking foward for the next one.

Sans

Here’s hoping Liv figures out what she wants soon.

Hayley 📖🌈💜🌸

Cute, but I'm not sure if I'll keep reading or not. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Kate

This was EVERYTHING.

It was funny and adorable, with gorgeous artwork, basketball, college life and a wonderfully diverse cast of characters I’m already obsessed with (rep wise, there are multiple queer characters, a budding f/f romance, multiple POC characters, a character who uses they/them pronouns and anxiety rep). Plus, there are SO MANY PUPPIES.

I need volume two in my hands, like, yesterday.

SO. MUCH. FUN. The teamwork, the competition, THE ART STYLE (which I'm very much in love with), the wonderfully diverse and lovable cast of characters, the friendships, the romance. 
It's all just SO GREAT. 

I love how Usdin balances team life and competition, whilst not losing sight of the characters. Each character is full explored, with their own unique personalities, backstories, relationships and goals and they're all wonderful. 

If you're looking for a graphic novel full of charisma, charm, and sport, with an art style that brings the story and characters to life in a way that's impossible to put down, this is the series for you.

The Avant-Guards Vol. 2

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