BETTIE PAGE #1, from Dynamite Comics on 6/7/23, finds the notorious Miss Page suddenly whisked away to Rome for a starring role in a movie directed by a cinematic genius with a suspicious motive.
The Details
- Written by: Mirka Andolfo, Luca Blengino
- Art by: Elisa Ferrari, Mara Angelilli, Tomassa Ronda
- Colors by: Mauro Gulma, Francesca Vivaldi
- Letters by: Jeff Eckleberry
- Cover art by: Joseph Michael Linser (cover A)
- Comic Rating: Teen+
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: June 7, 2023
Is It Good?
BETTIE PAGE #1 begins a delightful adventure that’s sure to tickle your nostalgia bone for madcap films from the Golden Age of Hollywood. Set in the scenic locales of Rome, Mirka Andolfo and Luca Blengino’s story gives Bettie Page the acting opportunity of a lifetime, but the offer may have more strings than a yarn factory.
Andolfo and Blengino’s script works because it strikes the right tone for an adventure/mystery that matches Bettie Page’s personality. The plot is a mixture of equal parts, fun, excitement, sexiness, and mystery, so you get a truly classic Hollywood vibe. Andolfo and Blengino’s pacing is smooth, the dialog strikes the right balance between serious banter and snappy charm, and the mystery surrounding Bettie’s eager director gets a big boost with a doozy of a cliffhanger.
There’s not a lot to critique with this issue because the story is super simple and super quick. You get exactly who the players are, what’s happening, and why until you get to the twist cliffhanger. If you like comics where you can sit back and enjoy some light, fluffy fun, this is it.
How’s the art? Well, we’ve got a small squad of artists working on this comic, so it’s had to tell who to credit for what. Therefore, the team did a great job. The art style is reminiscent of Bruce Timm’s mid-century pin-up work with meatier figure work. The colors look great, and the panel transitions are smooth. If different artists were responsible for different pages, you can’t tell.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
We begin with Bettie Page struggling to make it through a grueling modeling contract. The work isn’t fun, the people, aren’t fun, and Bettie wants to quit, but Bettie’s trusty assistant, Karen, reminds Bettie that they need the money.
Suddenly, Bettie Page’s agent, Ben, arrives to let her know she can quit her current modeling gig in favor of an offer she can’t refuse. In two shakes of a corset string, Bettie Page, Karen, and Ben are on a plane to Rome for a movie role with the auteur director Eugenio Vitelloni.
Bettie is entranced by the sights and sounds, but the lack of a complete script and coy answers to her questions lead Karen to believe something fishy is going on. We conclude the issue with a late-night house visit, suspect evidence, and a double-take.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
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BETTIE PAGE #1 captures the vibe and charm of a classic hijinks film from the Golden Age of Hollywood. Andolfo and Blengino nail Bettie’s personality, and the plot is mysterious but light enough to be fun.
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