Glamorella's Daughter #4 // Review
Glamorella's Daughter #3 is written by Jerry Bennett and Charles J. Martin, with art by Bennett and sensitivity editing by Brandy Williams. Glamorella's Daughter is published by Literati Press. With her father missing, the stakes have never been higher for Comet and her family.
At the start of Glamorella's Daughter #3, Comet's father, Emmett, is missing, having gone through the portal to Glamorella's mysterious homeworld. But he's been kidnapped by an unknown creature. Glamorella may be his only hope. However, Glamorella's reluctance to leave Comet alone prompts Comet to sneak out to rescue her father herself. But she won't be alone- tagging along is her best friend Isaac as "The Silent Shadow," and her classmate, Betsy.
The inclusion of Betsy on this adventure adds a new dynamic for Comet to adjust to. Interacting with Betsy for an extended time is a new thing for Comet. Betsy is unfamiliar and complicated to Comet. And Betsy feels the same way about Comet.
Betsy idolizes Glamorella; she's her hero. And Betsy is incredibly jealous of Comet because her mom is Glamorella. But from Comet's perspective, she doesn't understand what's supposedly so good about having a superhero for a mom, as Glamorella's superhero identity can never be put aside. She's always Glamorella first, Comet's mom, second. The girls are at an impasse, neither one fully understanding where the other is coming from.
It will be interesting to see how Comet and Betsy's relationship changes throughout their rescue mission- if the girls become friends or if they at least come to understand each other better.
Another big thing Betsy doesn't understand about Comet is her autism. Betsy calls it a handicap, but Comet quickly tells her that it's not. Rather, her brain works differently from Betsy's or Isaac's. Comet also explains that her autism isn't a superpower; it doesn't give her superhuman abilities. While she is brilliant, Comet says she works incredibly hard for what she has.
The art in Glamorella's Daughter #3 is, once again, amazing. Bennett has a good grasp of form and movement, and it's apparent in this issue. As The Silent Shadow, Isaac does a lot of sneaking around, dashing, and jumping from hiding spot to hiding spot. Betsy is someone who talks with her entire body, especially her hands. She's very expressive. And then there's Comet, who is not outwardly expressive in contrast to Isaac and Betsy. One wouldn't be able to get a good read on her emotions just by looking at her. These differences go a long way in making each page visually interesting and building the characters as well.
Glamorella's Daughter #3 feels like the turning point for the story. Up until now has been the setup. Readers are introduced to the characters and given a chance to grow attached to them. Emmett's kidnapping serves to reveal the threat and set the conflict in motion. The plot is beginning in earnest now, and there's no backing out for Comet, Glamorella, or any of the others. It's going to be an exciting ride.
