Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
Ah, another tricky first issue of a new comic book series that doesn’t quite give its readers a solid sense of what it’s really about. Issue #1 of Groupies by Helen Mullane and Tula Lotay starts off with a one-year-old flashback scene, where a bunch of partygoers are either lying wasted or dead. It then flips to a blood-soaked panel featuring what seems like a demonic entity. But soon, we’re taken to the present timeline, where some gorgeous girls are getting ready to hit the club and flirt with the hottest new boy band in town.
If I had to sum up the essence of Groupies based on the first issue alone—blood, gore, and demons collide with the world of ‘love, sex, rock n’ roll.’ Lisa Storm is probably the primary protagonist of the series: a young, beautiful woman in love with a hot musician named Si, who looks like a cross between a young Sebastian Bach (Skid Row) and Kurt Cobain, but with long black hair. Lisa Storm’s face immediately reminded me of Bollywood diva Parveen Babi; the resemblance is uncanny. I’ve attached an edited picture of comic-book Lisa and Parveen Babi side-by-side for you to see.
Plot-wise, Groupies issue #1 is quite cryptic, Lisa finds herself on the receiving end of her jealous friend Vera’s ire, meanwhile, a close friend meets a brutal end. It’s Tula Lotay’s stunning, dreamy, glossy artwork that will keep readers turning the pages. I loved Tula’s art style in the Comixology series Barnstormers, and it’s safe to say that as long as her artwork accompanies a comic book, it immediately elevates the storytelling. In Groupies, the girls are all about glitz, glamour, evoking a strong sense of 1970s/80s nostalgia, with their style screaming disco glam.
I’m still not sure where Groupies is heading; it’s largely told from Lisa Storm’s perspective—a love-struck groupie, completely smitten by Si. Music and sex are two of the biggest themes in the issue, so there are a few graphic scenes throughout the comic. The issue ends with a cryptic cliffhanger, hinting that a crucial character may be something far more sinister than they appear. On the brighter side, Lisa and her posse of hot girlfriends get themselves invited to tour with the band, so there’s probably going to be some on-tour madness in the next chapter.
You can read Groupies on Kindle Unlimited.
Read Next: The House Graphic Novel Review
Also Read: Nobody Wants This – Netflix Series Review (Short Audio Version below)
