Image Comics
Writer, Artist, Creator: Daniel Warren Johnson
Letters: Rus Wooton
Do A Powerbomb #6 opens on a scene long promised. The aftermath of Yua’s tragic death is laid out in bold, sober panels that depict Lona’s father’s utter despair. Creator Daniel Warren Johnson transitions into the haunting flashback from a major emotional turning point in his fantasy wrestling epic, with Lona Steelrose learning the true identity of her temperamental tag partner, Cobra Sun. It’s the first of several fluid and effective jumps through time that help make the issue one of the series’ strongest.
The issue’s opening act is entirely bittersweet, as we see young Yua and Cobra Sun meet for the first time, knowing the tragedies and failures that lay ahead. An equally sweet and doomed moment sees Cobra Sun arrive just in time to meet his newborn daughter, with Yua affectionately reminding him to take off his mask. It’s an effective motif throughout the issue.
Johnson’s layouts and spreads are gorgeous and efficient. A series of sweeping action moments switch out for a more straightforward breakdown of the issue’s all-important father-daughter moment. Yua and Cobra are reduced to small figures in stacked square panels, making the exchange feel gigantic around them without losing the intimacy of the moment, with Cobra dropping to his knees.
The wrestling scenes, meanwhile, are dynamic and splendidly over the top. I’d love a straight up 80’s or 90’s wrestling book from Johnson, if not a full-on fantasy fighting tournament book.
However, the fantasy elements of Do A Powerbomb, once again, lag behind the family elements. There are a few convoluted subversions that setup a second chance for Sun and Steel, even though Necroton –in underwhelming fashion– simply doesn’t have “the juice” to revive Yua. It’s a confused emotional ride compared to the expertly arranged family story.
Then again, the flimsy magic mumbo jumbo allows a final issue that sees Sun and Steel in a handicap match against God. Yes, that God. I can only imagine the titanic layouts and splashes Johnson has planned. And I’m intensely curious to see if Yua is magically revived from death. It feels too good to be true, but the only seeming alternative is God obliterating our father-daughter heroes. I’m thinking Cobra or Lona will die in the match, then the other will win, and revive their partner.
In any event, I can’t wait for the ultimate PPV finale in Do A Powerbomb #7 next month!
