Welcome to an all new edition of Parlay Points, the comic book book to the ODPH Podcast. For this entry, we’re checking out the conclusion of one of the best mini-series of 2022. DO A POWERBOMB #7 by Dainel Warren Johnson (Murder Falcon, Beta Ray Bill), Mike Spicer and Rus Wooton for Image Comics hits the final bell on a story that has combined the worlds of comics and pro wrestling. Each issue has felt like an event. The series has been an emotional roller coaster while building towards the main event. Let’s not waste any more time and RING THE BELL to kick this blog off, shall we?

DO A POWERBOMB #7 - On Sale Decemeber 7th
Creative: Dainel Warren Johnson, Mike Spicer and Rus Wooton
Photo Credit: Image Comics

*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***

In case you’re new to this comic, the story centers around Lona Steelrose. Lona is the daughter of Yua Steelrose. On a fateful match vs. Cobrasun, Yua is fatally injured when Cobrasun is performing a move and slips. 10 Years later, Lona wants to become a pro wrestler, determined to follow in her mother’s footsteps. Her family doesn’t want her to do it, but when approached by Willard Necroton, a necromancer with a proposal Lon can’t say no to: enter and win my tournament and her mother will be brought back to life!

This becomes a no-brainer for Lona as she enters the “Deathlyfe Tag Team tourney”. There’s one hangup: Lona needs a partner. The solution becomes reconnecting with the man who wrestled Lona in her final match…. COBRA SUN!!!! Since we last saw Cobrasun, the masked wrester has now dabbled into the pro wrestling deathmatch scene. When Necroton presents the tourney idea to Cobrasun, he’s reluctant to take on Lona as a partner, but does. Readers are hit with a HUGE reveal when Cobrasun is revealed to be Lona’s father and Yua’s husband!

From this point, the pair enters the supernatural tournament. Readers are taken thru one hell of a range of emotions as the pair fights their way to get to the main event! Much in the vein of great pro wrestling (LONG LIVE GCW), there are swerves thrown in the story but there’s nothing short of the incredible action going on between the ropes. Through some luck and timing, the pair winds up winning the tag team titles after initially losing the tourney. Unfortunately, Necroton’s promise turns out to be false as he can’t bring Yua back. He does enter one final option that can though. The pair must now face GOD in a 2 on 1 handicapped match! Get ready for the ultimate main event!

This issue kicks off at Heaven’s Gate Pro Wrestling with a packed arena waiting for this main event! From the opening bell, Lona and Cobrasun are giving their all against the “architect of creation”. Readers are in for an intense battle as the pair is literally pulling out all the stops to win this bout. The action is non-stop and pulls from many styles of pro-wrestling. Can the pull off the impossible? How will they hold up against GOD? Readers won’t be expecting the outcome but trust me when I say, they will be more than satisfied with the ending. The issue will leave readers will a final image that will carry them forward post match.

Incredible issue and series from start to finish. One thing Daniel Warren Johnson has become well known for is the big action and big emotions from his books. Do a Powerbomb lived up to that label and then some. As an avid pro-wrestling fan (Check out the ODPH or 607 TWS podcasts for proof), Johnson’s attention to the wrestling styles made for some fantastic visuals. Mixing in Lucha Libre, Strong Style, and Deathmatch to name a few, Johnson demonstrates how wrestling can literally tell a story. Seeing great tag teams like ORANGABANG & The Knights of Rhyne made for some memorable matches. This issue captures the “big figt feel” as the tag team faces off in a match they shoudn’t be in but readers are fully invested on every near fall till it’s conclusion. Johnson books a match that lives well up to the hype.

However, the theme that will hook readers (regardless of their wrestling fandom) is Lona’s determination to get her mother back. Johnson crafts Lona’s quest with sheer determination and will. Readers can’t help but pull for her and Cobrasun to win. Johnson also keeps the surprises coming and this issue was no exception. Each issue shows how much Lona puts on her shoulders as she strives to win the tourney. The match’s conclusion will throw some readers off but it nails the landing for the series. The final moments deliver on tying up the journey at hand and the final image is guaranteed to hit all the emotional buttons on every reader who sees it. Johnson doesn’t let the action sway away from this. The whole series has been about various stages of feeling and never misses that mark to close on.

FINAL POINT: Do A Powerbomb #7 caps off a series that defines how emotional the world of pro wrestling can be. Johnson, Spicer & Wooton present readers with a story of perseverance while pressing forward in dealing with loss. This only comes together with the spectacular storytelling and thrilling art that comes with any project with Daniel Warren Johnson’s name attached to it. Highest possible recommendation this week. Make sure you get to the Local Comic Shop and pick this issue up

Hit me up on ODPH Social media and let me know what you thought of Do A Powerbomb #7. Thanks fr reading.

DO A POWERBOMB #7 (IMAGE COMICS)

Ken M