Review: Ballmastrz: 9009 “A Shooting Star Named Gaz Digzy Falls Fast and Hard” ; “With the Burning Spirit of Teamwork in Her Heart”

Die Hard.

Overview (Spoilers Below)

It’s the year 9009 and mankind has moved past the likes of baseball and football as forms of sports entertainment and has instead a dodgeball-like game that’s played more like lacrosse but with “kills” and powerful abilities being used in the heat of battle. The first two episodes set up the series by introducing us to Gaz Digzy who, after getting in a load of trouble, is demoted to play with a team of losers. If she leads this team to a single win, she can return to her all-star team of perennial winners. Her first game with her new team shows that there is SOME promise, but not a lot of common sense. Regardless, Gaz definitely brings increased visibility to her team, The Leptions and helps find teammate Ace’s TRUE powers in the process.

Our Take

For those looking for a straight follow up to Superjail, Ballmastrz bares a couple of similarities but they are rather minute. In Christy Karacas’ new series, there is definitely a great assimilation to that of Japanese anime with some obvious comparisons going to My Hero Academia. The character designs and fight scenes are excellent as to be expected, but the plot really doesn’t begin to fill out until mid-way through the show’s second episode. However, I love the serial elements of the show and am rather hooked to see how everything plays out. Natasha Lyonne’s take as Gaz is strong, but I’ve got my eyes on a few others that could potentially steal the show.