REVIEW: 'The Gimmick' #1 by Joanne Starer and Elena Gogou

 

THE GIMMICK #1 

Writer: Joanne Starer

Artist: Elena Gogou

Letters: Rob Steen

Publisher: Ahoy Comics

Release Date: March 8, 2023

Cover Price: $3.99

A hard-hitting action/drama written by rising star Joanne Starer (Sirens of the City)! Pro wrestling champ Shane Bryant's ring persona-his gimmick-is forgettable: he's a "nice guy." But his secret is more colorful: he has super strength. And when he punches a fist straight through his opponent's brain-in front of 2.4 million horrified viewers-everything changes. Now Shane needs a new gimmick and a new life!

Score:

★★★★☆ (4/5)

Ahoy Comics is known for its unique perspective on comic book publishing, offering a line of smart, funny, and satirical series unafraid to skewer the world around us. Its newest release is 'The Gimmick' by Joanne Starer and Elena Gogou about a pro-wrestler whose hidden super strength is exposed when he accidentally kills an opponent and goes on the run. It's described as a Coen Brothers–style dark comedy and it's quirky and chaotic enough to be in the same league. Starer's own background in wrestling informs the series adding a peak behind the curtain. 

Shane Bryant is a well-meaning nice guy wrestler who apologetically rams his fist through the skull of heel Schmidt, a Nazi played by Jose Lopez. After the catastrophic match, he and a veteran wrestler head out of town and wrestles in a mask in Mexico. While in hiding, a cast of characters is wondering where he's at. His manipulative mother, his ex-girlfriend, his child, the friends he left behind, and the daughter of the man he killed would like to have a word. It's this ensemble that populates the story with distinctive personalities, some of them angry, some of them clueless, but all with a stake in what happens to Shane. 

Starer successfully juggles all these characters by giving them enough page time to make an impact and set the wheels in motion as the lovable goofball Shane continues his career in secret. The debut issue brings up a lot of questions. Why does he have super strength? How did no one know? How can he continue wrestling after what he did? Will he be held accountable? When everyone finds him what will they do to him? In other words, you'll be hooked wanting answers to all these questions and more. 

Gogou's art is vibrant, slightly cartoony, and very energetic. Its pacing and dynamic perspectives keep the story chugging along as new characters are introduced. It's engaging enough to keep readers captivated and glued to every page. 

'The Gimmick' is off to a strong start, blending a little Elmore Leonard, and a little Cohen Brothers, with professional wrestling resulting in an intriguing compelling package. You'll want to get on board just to see what happens next in this unpredictable dark caper comedy.