Power Up #1 is the kind of comic that needs its own theme tune, stat! Kate Leth and Matt Cummings have created a comic that is cute, bright and ready to muscle in amongst the likes of LumberJanes and Bee and Puppycat.

Publisher: Boom! Studios
Writer: Kate Leth
Artist: Matt Cummings
Price: £2.49 from Comixology

[yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]

Power Up #1 focuses on our first protagonist, Amie, a black 23-year-old woman who arrives precisely thirteen minutes late for her shift at the pet shop. She is a great vehicle for conveying what 23-year-olds go through after graduating university and not landing the dream job (and paycheck!) – mouldy milk and trips to the corner shop in pyjamas only to find that you’re 40 cents short.

So much about Amie is relatable that you can’t help but adore her and fret when she eventually comes under attack. As for the rest of our protagonists, we get fleeting mention of them but in such a way that you’re left counting down the days for issue 2’s release.

The artwork is adorable, simple and accessible. There’s no ambiguity about what’s happening and is appropriate for children – even when the antagonist turns up and destroys the shop. The character designs are all very different – from Amie’s gorgeous dusty pink quiff, Kevin’s large nose and bushy beard, Sandy’s bob and Silas the goldfish. While the backgrounds aren’t super detailed, this just helps to bring the characters out just that little bit more – this is definitely a character-based comic.

Power Up is light and easy to pick up and engage with. The writing flows between characters as if you were standing in the room witnessing an actual conversation. It feels like a six-issue run will not be enough. A very strong character piece that is definitely worth checking out.

“Power Up is that “cute” comic that you need in your collection. Accessible, charming and downright brilliant, readers of all ages will love this.”