Check, Please! Year One

This book is the first collection of the Check, Please! webcomic. It follows main character Eric "Bitty" Bittle - former figure skater and current vlogger - during his freshman year as a member of the Samwell men's hockey team.

It's a refreshingly formatted and well told story about over coming fear, finding a place, and learning to embrace who you are. The webcomic has a wonderfully interesting cast of characters from Canadian hockey robot Captain Jack Zimmerman to best friends D-men Ransom and Holster, the tiny artistic team manager Lardo, and so many more. This is a fun and engaging read that's a little bit about the college experience, a little bit about accepting yourself, and tiny bit about hockey.

This fun 2014 YA graphic novel is about the Samwell University hockey team in Massachusetts. The plot follows the adorable Eric Bittle—former figure skater, vlogger, and dedicated baker—as he begins his freshman year playing hockey and makes friends with the guys. It's nothing like the co-ed (non-contact) club hockey back in Georgia, where his father coaches football. Eric, nicknamed Bitty, has trouble dealing with the physicality of college hockey and also has to follow through on his plan to come out as gay at the LGBT-friendly college.

This book (which is the Kickstarter edition) covers the school year and shows the personalities of all the guys on the team, as well as revealing the issues of the team captain Jack Zimmerman. show more

Creator Ngozi Ukazu is an American cartoonist and graphic novelist. She wrote and illustrated all four years, which are currently sold as two volumes, with each book covering two years.

Four and a half stars. No spice. Mentions of off-screen alcohol abuse. show less

this was... very possibly the weirdest thing I have ever read, and I didn't understand half of hat was going on, but yet somehow I loved this a LOT

This follows the first year of Georgian, Pie Baking, Tiny Eric R. Bittle as he arrives as Samwell University and gets acclimated to the hockey team. The comic uses the framing device of Bittles' (hockey nicknames are explained in the extra bits with Ransom and Holster) video blog but branches out from there as Bittle plays hockey, learns to take a check (sort of), makes friends, gets more protein, and of course bakes pies… so many pies. You don't have to know anything about baking or about hockey to love this comic. The artwork is beautiful, the story is well plotted, and the characters are well developed. The comic lives predominately as a webcomic and has been translated into hard copy well. Each page is a single panel with each show more "episode" around 7 panels each. show less

Updated. Bitty and Jack are the cutest. I love how everyone is supporting them. The fine jar is funny. I love this comic. :)

Update. I just read the latest additions, and I love it more and more. It's awesome how everyone is still so involved even though some have graduated. Jack & Bitty are adorable. The diner scene is great. I'll continue to follow this comic. ♥︎

I'm in love with this comic. I've read seasons 1, 2, the outtakes/extras and what's up so far for 3. The characters are so cute and fun. There's hockey plays, pie baking, friendship bonds being formed, college parties. It's all great. The graphics are exceptional, and since it's online occasionally the reader even gets a moving bit inside a pic. The storyline kept my show more interest, and the extras are really funny and sort of educational. I will definitely continue to follow this comic. show less

Surprisingly fun.