Courtesy of Humanoids, AIPT can exclusively reveal Joanne Starer’s Total Suplex of the Heart, a new graphic novel inspired in part by their real pro-wrestling experiences. Joining them on the graphic novel is artist Ornella Greco with letters by Nathan Kempf. The story follows a young freelance journalist, Georgie who dives headfirst into the fast-paced world of wrestling only to confront the complicated nature of growing up as a young woman in a male-dominated world. Available in March 2024.
“TOTAL SUPLEX OF THE HEART is an incredibly personal story for me. It borrows from my formative years as a teenager, navigating my way through eating disorders, toxic relationships, and my own self-worth, all while working in the wild world of pro-wrestling,” said Starer. “I can only hope it strikes a chord with readers who have experienced some of these same struggles.”
So what’s Total Suplex of the Heart about?
Glowing up isn’t the same as growing up. Georgie’s always been nerdy: Teased by jocks, spending her lunchtime with a comic in hand, and falling in love with wrestling from Saturday nights on the couch with her dad. But that was then – this is now!
She’s out of school, freelancing as a journalist, and hot as heck. In an effort to prove to her mom that she has a “real job,” she goes undercover in the local hardcore wrestling scene to investigate a piece. She’s quickly swept up in the drama, both in and out of the ring. With new friendships developing and potential romance blossoming, she’s riding the wave of attention that temporarily silences her own insecurities. But as girl fights, casual hook-ups, and creepy older men begin to dominate her days, Georgie has to ask herself who really holds the power in her life, and whether she’s happy with where it’s headed.
Check out a preview below!
Los Angeles, CA (September 1, 2023) – Internationally renowned publisher Humanoids announced today TOTAL SUPLEX OF THE HEART, a brand new original graphic novel inspired in part by the real pro-wrestling experiences of writer Joanne Starer (Sirens of the City, Fire & Ice: Welcome to Smallville) and featuring the explosive art of up-and-comer artist Ornella Greco with letters by Nathan Kempf, about young freelance journalist Georgie who dives headfirst into the fast-paced world of wrestling only to confront the complicated nature of growing up as a young woman in a male-dominated world. Available in March 2024.
Glowing up isn’t the same as growing up. Georgie’s always been nerdy: Teased by jocks, spending her lunchtime with a comic in hand, and falling in love with wrestling from Saturday nights on the couch with her dad. But that was then – this is now!
She’s out of school, freelancing as a journalist, and hot as heck. In an effort to prove to her mom that she has a “real job,” she goes undercover in the local hardcore wrestling scene to investigate a piece. She’s quickly swept up in the drama, both in and out of the ring. With new friendships developing and potential romance blossoming, she’s riding the wave of attention that temporarily silences her own insecurities. But as girl fights, casual hook-ups, and creepy older men begin to dominate her days, Georgie has to ask herself who really holds the power in her life, and whether she’s happy with where it’s headed.
“TOTAL SUPLEX OF THE HEART is an incredibly personal story for me. It borrows from my formative years as a teenager, navigating my way through eating disorders, toxic relationships, and my own self-worth, all while working in the wild world of pro-wrestling,” said Starer. “I can only hope it strikes a chord with readers who have experienced some of these same struggles.”
Joanne Starer writes comic books, comic strips, and sometimes even giant comic walls for the Smithsonian Museum. She spreads her unique brand of comedy with a conscience across a wide spectrum of themes, including pro-wrestling, the Holocaust, abortion, and modern romance. Starer is best known for her work on Fire & Ice: Welcome to Smallville with DC Comics, The Gimmick with Ahoy Comics, and Sirens of the City with BOOM! Studios. Prior to becoming a writer, Joanne owned and operated a women’s wrestling promotion in Pennsylvania.
“It was exhilarating working on TOTAL SUPLEX OF THE HEART because of all the drama, romance, and action on every page! It’s been quite a ride following Georgie’s journey of self-discovery in the pro wrestling world, and I hope everyone else enjoys it as much as I have.”
Ornella Greco is a cartoonist and freelance illustrator from Italy. She studied in Palermo, Sicily at the Grafimated Cartoon-School of Comics and finished her studies in 2019. After she graduated, she began working for various publishers in the American and French comics industry, on such works as the acclaimed Dragon Kingdom of Wrenly series from Little Simon, Star Trek: Picard’s Academy with IDW Publishing, and more.
TOTAL SUPLEX OF THE HEART will be available in bookstores everywhere (bookshop.org) and in comic shops (comicshoplocator.com) in March 2024. Digital copies can be purchased from comiXology and other digital platforms.
For continuing news on Humanoids, visit www.humanoids.com and follow @HumanoidsInc on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
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