REVIEW: 'Eight Limbs' #1 by Stephanie Phillips, Giulia Lalli, and Lee Loughridge

 

EIGHT LIMBS #1

Writer: Stephanie Phillips

Artist: Giulia Lalli

Letters: Andworld Design's Jame

Publisher: Humanoids Publishing

Release Date: July 12, 2023

Cover Price: $19.99

Edition: Softcover Trade

Format: 120 pages - Color

Joanna, a  retired Muay Thai champion, takes in a troubled foster teen and decides to train her... until the teen lands herself in a dangerous situation and Joanna must re-enter the ring to fight for her new family! From writer Stephanie Phillips (Grim, Harley Quinn) and artist Giulia Lalli comes a story of found family and choosing to fight.

Score: ★★★★☆ (4/5) 

Humanoids' latest graphic novel, 'Eight Limbs' by Stephanie Phillips and Giulia Lalli is a heartfelt and exciting story about found family and a love letter to the fighting discipline of Muay Thai. This discipline is known as the "art of eight limbs," characterized by the combined use of fists, elbows, knees, and shins. And if you read the preface (you should) Phillips reveals her real-life passion for the martial art, her experience, and what it meant to her. It's the perfect set-up for the protagonist Joanna in 'Eight Limbs' that we're introduced to. 

Joanna is a retired professional Muay Thai fighter who runs her own gym now while raising a daughter with her husband. She empowers her clients by instilling the lessons of hard work and proper technique that she honed for years that made her a champ. When a friend reaches out for help with a troubled young girl named, Mari, Joanna takes her under her wing. Mari's a foster kid who's moved around a bit for fighting at school. Joanna tries to direct that aggression into something positive by training her. It's not an easy transition for either of them but through some guidance and some tumultuous turns, 'Eight Limbs' becomes a rousing, feel-good, story of redemption and love. 

In a story like this where a seasoned mentor teaches a young resistant protege important life lessons through sport, is a common one. It's also a formula that continues to work when done right and 'Eight Limbs' gets it right. The reason it works so well here is that Phillips injects the story with authenticity and respect for her characters and the Muay Thai sport. She speaks from first-hand knowledge and transfers that to Joanna. The philosophy and movements are clearly described and beautifully illustrated by Lalli. There's a great splash page of movements with accompanying dialogue that demonstrates this allowing novices to share in the beauty of the discipline that Phillips lovingly recreates here. Can it be melodramatic and sentimental at times? Sure. But the story is told with such earnestness and care, you'd be a Grinch to complain. And the fight scenes are so exhilarating, it's the perfect balance of drama and action. 

It's easy to see why Lalli is an artist on the rise. Clean lines, great details, composition, and fluid depictions of movements make the illustrations flow effortlessly. Lee Loughridge's colors are soft and muted but varied. Colors inform the transition from past to present and highlight the action. It's just a well-paced and well-choreographed comic that lands all the punches. 

'Eight Limbs' is a heart-warming and exciting drama about love, family, and coming of age. It's a feel-good, crowd-pleasing story that fans of 'Rocky' and 'The Karate Kid' will love.