The Bandit of Barbel Bay

Gr 5–7—This installment picks up right where the predecessor left off: mages Wiz-Kid and Mug are headed home with the spoils from their basketball victory. The dynamic duo's route takes them through Barbel Bay, a seaside town recently visited—and ransacked by—the Order of Mages. Wiz and Mug attempt to blend in as locals for a night, but they are tricked by a thieving cleric. Their treasure is stolen and, it turns out, used as ante for Barbel Bay's volleyball tournament. Wiz and Mug once again take to the sports arena, this time to earn back what's rightfully theirs. The pair quickly learn the rules of volleyball and crush the opposition, but when Barbel Bay's own champions enter the fray, Wiz and Mug's best efforts might not be enough to see them through. While the first volume of "Fantasy Sports" centered on the dynamic between the main characters, this follow-up explores the heroes' world. What is the Order of Mages? How was Wiz adopted into the profession? And, most important, why would a town openly disdain the Order? Bosma's artwork consistently succeeds with its acclaimed early-1990s anime aesthetic, and the modern absurdist-style comedy remains spot-on. The artwork is further embellished by a vivid blue tone to Barbel Bay, in contrast to the red hue of the first volume. This entry does require readers to be familiar with Wiz and Mug's characterizations and offers little in the way of an introduction for new readers.