Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

A young wizard apprentice and a brutish tomb raider rebound from a deadly pickup game. Wiz-Kid, a teenage intern, has learned that her reassignment request has been denied; she is mandated to continue assisting Mug, a temperamental, muscle-bound tomb raider. Each at odds with the other, they are sent out into the field to acquire magical artifacts, coming face to face with He of the Giant Steps, a cunning guardian mummy. In order to get the job done, they have to consent to the "ancient law," which in this case requires Mug to best Giant Steps in a game of basketball. Seldom does Wiz produce her wandonce to light dark areas and again to distract Giant Steps during the match. She may be an intern, but she serves as the lead, an astute and agile heroine who gives readers a new, strong female character in the comics world. A scene in which she steals the ball from Giant Steps and flips him the middle finger is hilarious, albeit a tad out of character. Bosma's manga-inspired panels toggle among fiery orange-reds (for hotheaded, muscle-bound Mug), cool hues (for smart, collected Wiz), and neon yellow-greens (for foul, ancient Giant), representing each athlete. Bosma successfully blends fantasy, myth, and sports to kick off this new modern comic(al) series. Whether sports fans, fantasy enthusiasts, or just comics lovers, readers will be eager for more adventures with this unlikely duo. (Graphic fantasy. 12-18) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Publishers Weekly
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

Sports have been famously hard to adapt in U.S. comics. In that regard, Bosma's debut graphic novella manages to stand apart, adding some of the action conventions that have made sports manga far more successful. Tough-guy tomb raider Mug and his young, clever apprentice, Wiz-Kid, must take on evil fantasy overlord Steps-not in a sword fight, but in an all-out basketball game. Bosma takes advantage of the fantasy setting and comics' unlimited visual-effects budget to create a game of basketball more compelling than any NBA broadcast. Even though Bosma, who works in animation (Steven Universe) and illustration, succeeds at breathing new life into a largely lackluster genre, the story takes second place to the fantastic art. His extremely fluid illustrations and lush, soft color palette can't completely make up for character arcs that don't have quite enough weight to them. As a visual spectacle, this is a page-turner, but the story misses the three-point shot. (July) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Book list
From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.

Wiz is an intern in the United and Ancient Order of Mages, and she has been paired with Mug, a hulking wizard who prefers to smash things rather than use his smarts. While searching for magical artifacts in a mummy's tomb, wily Wiz solves a puzzle that unlocks a secret door . . . which Mug promptly crashes through. Inside, they meet the wizened mummy, and Mug challenges him to a battle of wills. The mummy picks the contest basketball and unfurls to reveal his true form: an intimidatingly lanky-limbed, muscular b-ball player with a mighty flattop. Mug is a fierce contender, but Wiz tiny, fast, and with a mad jump shot is their secret weapon. Bosma's colorfully jumbled, slanty panels look like the inspired offspring of Spirited Away and Space Jam, capturing magical intrigue, fast-paced basketball action, and the best kind of on-the-court trash talk in one go. The only drawback to this winning combo of wizarding and athletics is that it is over too soon Cross your fingers that Bosma has more in store for Mug and Wiz.--Hunter, Sarah Copyright 2010 Booklist

School Library Journal
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Gr 5-7-Mug and Wiz don't always see eye to eye. In fact, they usually don't agree on anything. When these two mages raid a mummy's tomb for magical items, they run into the mummy itself, a powerful ancient being who poses a challenge to the magicians. If they win, they can take the treasures, but if they lose, they must pay with their lives. What is this dangerous quest? A game of basketball! One-on-one, and the first to 21 wins. Mug, who has never played before, is holding his own on the court, but he is no match for the mummy. Foul play renders Mug injured, and Wiz steps in to take control of the game when they desperately need to win. With an army of skeletons in the crowd, this is like no basketball game readers have ever seen. This title has clean, defined panels. Strong line work keeps the various characters well distinguished. The colors are nicely muted in warm tones of orange, yellow, and red. The two protagonists could have been more developed in this first volume, but hopefully future installments will shed more light on them. VERDICT A great choice where graphic novels are popular, especially quirky ones that blur the lines between genres.-Mariela Siegert, Westfield Middle School, Bloomingdale, IL © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.