THE GREEN KING

In this third graphic-novel installment of the imaginative fantasy/sports mashup, a young heroine must win a game of mini-golf to save a cursed kingdom.

Feisty Wiz and her giant companion, Mug, both brown-skinned, are fished out of the sea and brought ashore to a tiny village suffering terribly under a diabolical scourge that caused “famine, the plague…the game [to] all run off, and the fish too.” Believing her to be the Blue Fish of Favor, Wiz’s savior demands a wish, imploring Wiz to break the curse. The source of their torment is an evil green tyrant sent by the Archmage. Wiz soon discovers that the fearsome creature is obsessed with mini-golf and maintaining his perfect record. Challenged with saving not only the village’s livelihood, but also her life, will Wiz be able to putt her way to victory on the loathsome links? Meanwhile, Mug finds himself mixed up in a fairly mind-blowing wrestling match. This slim, oversized volume is fast and furious fun, mixing fantasy and sports in a distinct and refreshing way. Showing a mix of influences from European comics and Japanese manga, Bosma’s panels are bustling and lively with their propulsive use of sound effects and motion lines. Although it’s the third volume in the series, it is a great jumping-in point for new readers, although assume most will seek out the previous volumes for more adventures in this quirky and exciting world.

A hole-in-one.