Exclusive: BOOM! Studios Hits the Basketball Court in The Avant-Guards
Heavy Vinyl Writer Carly Usdin & Wet Hot American Summer Artist Noah Hayes Launch the 12-Issue Series in January 2019
Main Art by Noah Hayes
With fan-favorite series like Fence and Dodge City gracing shelves, BOOM! Studios has cornered the market on fun, inclusive sports-related comics—a niche largely unexplored in American markets, but clearly one with an eager fan base. Beginning in January 2019, BOOM! extends its athletic dominance with The Avant-Guards, and Paste has your exclusive first look at the 12-issue series.
Written by Heavy Vinyl’s Carly Usdin and drawn by Wet Hot American Summer artist Noah Hayes, The Avant-Guards introduces readers to the Georgia O’Keeffe College of Arts and Subtle Dramatics, an historically all-female school more enthusiastic about the performing arts than its sports programs. Protagonist Liv, budding actor and basketball player, doesn’t want to choose between theater and sports—and neither does new transfer student Charlie. Charlie was a star basketball player at her former school, and it quickly becomes Liv’s goal to recruit the new kid to Georgia O’Keefe’s ragtag basketball team.
The Avant-Guards #1 Cover Art by Noah Hayes & Rebecca Naulty
“I started playing basketball in middle school, and I still play now as an adult,” Writer Carly Usdin said in a statement. “It’s a lovely constant in my life that I wanted to honor with The Avant-Guards. The idea of a funny, pure series about friendship, teamwork and perseverance really appeals to me right now, and I’m so excited to share this with the world in 2019.”
“Gearing up for The Avant-Guards has been such a blast,” added artist Noah Hayes. “Carly’s created such a wonderful cast of characters that were a ton of fun to design. I hope readers will enjoy the journey we’re taking them on and find them as charming and memorable as I do.”
