MLGG: Pop Culture News, Reviews and Interviews

In my recent review of sci-fi wrestling comic, Galaxy Grappling Alliance #1, I mentioned that wrestling seems to be really having a moment right now; kids who grew up watching sports entertainment in the glory days of the 90s and 00s are now easily old enough to be creators themselves – and not only that, but there’s so much more wrestling beyond the usual WWE product. Lots of action from different promotions such as AEW and NWA (fun fact, the National Wrestling Alliance is now run by Billy Corgan – as in, The Smashing Pumpkins Billy Corgan!), to mention just a few, is readily available on various online channels, so it’s easier than ever to keep up with the dramatic, engaging and often daft storylines that add real weight to the entertaining action in the squared circle.

Which all explains why there’s so many wrestling comics at the moment; it truly is a Golden Age for comic book fans who also happen to be fans of wrestling – there’s never been so much choice. Over the last few years, there’s been wrestling and sci-fi (Invasion from Planet Wrestletopia and Galaxy Grappling Alliance are a few examples), wrestling and horror (The Crimson Cage, a Macbeth-inspired, graphic gorefest) and even wrestling as a backdrop to a mature, gripping crime drama with the stunning Ringside.

Now we have the brilliantly named Do A Powerbomb, the first issue of which is absolutely brilliant. There, that’s my review. Go read it.

Seriously though, it’s good.

Wrestler Yua Steel Rose has it all: a loving husband, a daughter who looks up to her, legions of adoring fans and even the Tokyo Grand World Heavyweight Title. In a title match against heel powerhouse Cobrasun, however, tragedy strikes. Years later, her daughter Lona is trying to make a name for herself in the world of wrestling, but finds it hard with the shadow of her mother looming over her. Yet a shady figure – who seems to have been observing her for a very long time – makes her a seemingly impossible offer; one she is unlikely to be able to refuse.

Do A Powerbomb #1 – great title by the way – really is a stunning opener to the seven issue series. Even if you’re not a fan of wrestling, you’ll still be captivated by the high drama, brilliantly illustrated action and well handled tragedy within this first issue. The art – by Daniel Warren Johnson, who also writes the story – is phenomenal. It’s detailed, wonderfully stylised and helps to tell the story with perfect clarity.

Mike Spicer’s colouring and even Rus Wooton’s letters really make the action pop and give everything a larger than life feel, which is totally appropriate for the over-the-top action of professional wrestling. Though there’s a slight supernatural undercurrent to the story, in this opening chapter most of the tale is told in an only slightly exaggerated fashion; the tragedy feels all too real and really has tremendous impact.

It’s a truly great start and this opening issue puts it at the top of the best comics to have emerged in 2022 so far, in my humble opinion. What are you still doing here? Go read Do A Powerbomb #1 now.

You can thank me later.

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