Comic Review: GLOW #1

GLOW #1

IDW Publishing

Writer: Tini Howard

Artist: Hannah Templer

This week we get the first chapter to a 4-issue mini-series that spins out of the Netflix series GLOW providing fans of the show a catch up with the characters in a different and interesting way. The series will revolve around the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling attending the Reseda Wrestlefest and having to wrestle another group of female wrestlers.

The first issue introduces us to the story. The girls find out about Wrestlefest and from Sam who tells them they’re scheduled for an appearance… but they will have to pay their traveling fee themselves. We then get different short narratives of how the girls managed to raise the money in time for the trip. Those ranging from street performances to a peculiar bake sale.

Tini Howard’s writing takes off quite rapidly at the beginning of the issue with a bit of similarity to a cartoon episode plot, setting up the problem right away so that a few anecdotes about the fundraising can be shown. This chapter focused most on presenting the show’s characters in the comic book format and it does so nicely. Howard is able to capture the show’s humor spot on despite not being able to the same for the cast’s charisma, which unfortunately makes for a huge loss to the plot’s charm. Sure the characters are fun on their own, but the comic made clear that a lot of that comes from the cast members. The plot and how it flows feel like a cheerful episode from the show, avoiding the darker themes the series has already approached.

Templer’s pencils alongside Nalty’s colors give the book a beautiful and lighthearted tone. Templer’s style is gleeful at its core and does an amazing job at giving the book a cartoonish look (with exaggerated facial expressions and movements that are hilarious) and still portray every actor and actress faithfully, making it easy to recognize each character from the show. Nalty’s choice of colors complements that style with warm pastel tones managing to make the artwork even more charming.

This first issue is a funny and entertaining read and it feels good to get a new story about GLOW’s lovely characters, but it merely scratched the TV series’ already displayed potential to present heartfelt and heavier storylines. Which is why I’m hoping Howard will drive the comic a bit darker in the next issues, seeing as most of the story arcs in the series also started off lightly