Starting life as a short self-published black and white comic Emma Oosterhous and Ollie Hicks’ Grand Slam Romance has evolved into something far more expansive. Now a three-book series of graphic novels from Abrams’ LGBTQIA+ Surely imprint, the first volume in the series was released last year with Book 2 coming this summer. Those interested in reading about the project’s origins can discover more in this exclusive creator commentary from Oosterhous and Hicks last year at BF.
When someone touts a book as being about “magical softball lesbians” it’s difficult not to be intrigued. Grand Slam Romance does, indeed, seamlessly cross genres giving the reader a carefully blended mix of fantasy and the rarely seen (outside of the UK ’s past glories in that regard) sports comic, all with a queer slant. The story follows Mickey Monsoon, the much feted pitcher for softball team the Belle City Broads, who is shocked to discover their former love interest Astra Maxima has returned from her time in Switzerland to join up with fierce sporting rivals the Gaiety Girls.
Adding to the confusion is the presence of Wolfgang, another player with close relationships with both Mickey and Astra. And who, like Astra, also has magical powers. With self-styled “fuckboy” Astra showing interest in Mickey again despite their chequered past, and with tensions rising on the field of play, where will this love triangle lead for both the trio and their teammates alike?
Oosterhous and Hicks provide us with a high energy sporting soap opera that is big on humour without ever forgetting the tender character moments. For all the fantasy elements and the competitive athletic drama Grand Slam Romance is essentially a character piece that focusses on themes of love, betrayal and romantic loss as we follow the emotional journeys of the book’s three main characters.
Visually this is a graphic novel that revels in a kinetic panel-to-panel pacing, particularly in the softball and mystical sequences. But it’s also eloquent in its visual characterisation which allows the cast to become all the more human to us through their physical reactions as they are via their dialogue. If there’s perhaps one element where the narrative doesn’t quite deliver it’s in the introduction of such a vast and sprawling cast of characters, some of whom have very limited roles to play. But then this is only the first of three books so perhaps we’ll be seeing more of them in future.
A fun and frenetic sports fantasy that combines the fantastic with the poignant, Grand Slam Romance Book 1 is an appealing introduction to a company of queer characters whose adventures are only just beginning. Book 2 is out in June.
Emma Oosterhous and Ollie Hicks (W/A) • Abrams, $24.99
Review by Andy Oliver
