Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
The dreamy, glossy artwork by Tula Lotay is the life of ‘Groupies’ by Helen Mullane, a dark, retro comic-book series about a group of beautiful young women and their adventures with the hottest rising band in town – The Moon Show. However, all the love, fame, sex, drugs and rock-n-roll comes at a heavy price.
Also Read: Groupies Comic Book Series #Issue 1 Review
“Wow, we’ve really made it. We’re with the band. And not just any band. The up-and-coming, everybody wants a piece, we’re gonna be bigger than The Beatles, achingly hip, band of the moment.”
Issue #2 of Groupies kicks off with the protagonists hitting the road alongside the band, delving into the highs and lows of tour life. It’s not all glitz and glamour, especially as the story unfolds through the eyes of Vera, the fiery one in the group. Jealousy brews as her friend Lisa Storm hooks up with Si, the sexiest member of The Moon Show, right under Vera’s nose. But that’s not the only thing gnawing at her—she’s deeply troubled by thoughts of Amina, who hasn’t been picking up her calls for days. And if you’d remember – Amina met a gruesome fate in the first issue.
Vera’s character receives more depth in this issue. Even though she remains arrogant, jealous, and vain, her genuine concern for her friends shines through – she makes constant calls and inquiries about Amina’s whereabouts. Adding to her anxiety, Lisa seems to be entangling herself in some dangerous affairs as well, leading to much tension between the girls. While hints of demonic entities and a possible cult-like presence are teased at the start, this chapter gradually provides readers with more clarity about what’s unfolding—and whether there might be a ‘devil’s bargain’ at play.
At the cost of sounding repetitive (sorry, but I can’t help it) — Tula Lotay’s art in Groupies is a sight worth beholding. She draws the women like dreamy sirens from a fantasy fiction book, yet, from their outfits, you know it’s the ’60s/’70s. I already mentioned in the previous issue’s review how Lisa’s character design looked inspired by Bollywood diva Parveen Babi, a very popular actor during the ’70s. And interestingly, Tula Lotay confirmed to me in a tweet response that Parveen Babi was indeed the inspiration for the character. The looks scream 70s glam.
While readers might not have noticed Vera too much in the first issue, but since she narrates this edition, she stands out a lot more this time around. Her short, curly blonde hair, is reminiscent of were Medusa—the mythical Greek woman who had live snakes on her head instead of hair and would turn men to stone if they gazed into her eyes. Vera isn’t as potent, but it will be interesting to see how her character shapes up in the next few issues.
Overall, this edition of Groupies is entertaining, cinematic, and packs in a few dark twists toward the end. Hanging out with the hottest boy band suddenly doesn’t seem as exciting, lucrative, or fun as it’s touted to be. Will Vera and the girls continue to live life on the edge with the rising rock stars, or will they cut their losses and head back home? A cliffhanger promises more blood, death, and gore in the upcoming issues.
You can read Groupies on Kindle Unlimited.
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