REVIEW: 'The Gimmick' #4 by Joanne Starer, Elena Gogou, and Lee Loughridge

 

THE GIMMICK #4 

Writer: Joanne Starer

Artist: Elena Gogou, Lee Loughridge

Letterer: Rob Steen

Publisher: Ahoy Comics

Release Date: June 28, 2023

Cover Price: $3.99

Secrets are bared in the pro wrestling drama that Patton Oswalt said has "Back-breaking laughs and shin-cracking action... plus a lot of heart." As fugitive wrestler Shane is unmasked before a group of fans, his ex-lover Alicia is exposed by a trashy tabloid.

Score:

★★★★☆ (4/5)

'The Gimmick' is another entertaining series that is typical of the Ahoy Comics line-up. This quirky, amusing tale of a secretly super-powered wrestler who accidentally kills his opponent in the ring and is on the run exemplifies Ahoy's commitment to unique stories that straddle genres while also subverting them. I write reviews but I also read reviews and when it comes to Ahoy titles some reviewers find it hard to embrace certain stories because they don't always fall in line with expectations. 

For example, 'Second Coming: Trinity' by Mark Russell, Richard Pace, and Leonard Kirk, is about an earth-bound Jesus living with a superhero and some reviewers question where the story is going, what are the stakes, etc. Comics are all subjective so there are always legitimate critiques but because Ahoy creatives sometimes veer away from the formulas we're used to expectations can fall short. The truth is, 'Second Coming' is a meditation on spirituality, existentialism, and human nature, and told with humor. Not every issue or arc has to be a giant cataclysmic endgame. We sometimes have to live in the moment as reviewers and this is where 'The Gimmick' comes in. 

Issue four doesn't have much action, a portion takes place around a diner booth. The story is driven by the many characters and as slow as the plotting may seem, writer Joanne Starer is giving equal time to their respective predicaments. Shane faces his fans after being exposed, Alicia bonds with her ex-mother-in-law while attempting a comeback, The General recovers, and the wrestling promoter pins her hope on Shane's return. Starer's ensemble cast requires time and room to breath and develop. In television terms, this is like an episode of 'Shameless,' where you're seeing what each character is up to. 

Artistically, Elena Gogou and Lee Loughridge work in tandem to create a colorful and well-paced series. Gogou can be a bit of a minimalist putting the focus squarely on the characters in the foreground leaving backgrounds sparse. Meanwhile, Loughridge bathes scenes in different monochromatic color schemes to differentiate them. They're usually subtle tones that bring a softness to the comic. As in the writing, the characters drive everything, and the art represents that with the time and care given to them. 

'The Gimmick' continues to be a congenial dramedy as quirky and engaging as some beloved TV shows and movies with ensemble casts. It's a messy situation that hinges on Shane's return to the spotlight so the series looks to be headed into one big confrontation. Endearing, thoughtful, funny, and sometimes silly, 'The Gimmick' is an unconventional series full of heart.