Orla! #1 (Mad Cave Studio, 2025)

I haven't gotten to say it about a romcom this year but boy howdy can I not wait for issue 2! 

ORLA! Written by John Lees, art by Sally Cantirino, colors by Dearbhla Kelly and letters by Lucas Gattoni.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello, and welcome to First Issues Now, the weekly show
posted daily about only the newest first issues released by
insert comic company. Here this week, i'll be looking at
the comics release for the week of August sixth, twenty
twenty five. Oh Mad Cave, I owe you an apology
for misciting speed Racer as a different company last week
because I'm a moron. So I already bought both covers

(00:22):
I could for this, and let's hope it won't be
less thanstellar so that we're at least all happy here.
This is Orla written by John Lees, art by Sarah Canterino,
colors by Dear Black Kelly, and letters by Lucas Gattoni.
I think becoming an adult is siding with Orla in
this regardless of gender, Okay, So Orla is a plus

(00:45):
sized guy who has a massive problem with the people
she dates, the problem being they're all kind of the
shittiest version of guys you can think of, and most
of the types you'd also find would be on a
dating app. However, she does take one home, and, naked
on the bed, is about to see the deal. She
then turns into a giant monster and invistrates the jackass granted,
she also really does believe in true love and often

(01:08):
feels she's helping out women by removing the scunnies guys
from the dating pool. This isn't just the creature feature
that we've seen on so many B movies. There's also
a rom com element where a really good friend asks
her out and she legit likes him. So uh oh.
But that's also the date for next issue and I
really cannot wait to see it, so right off the bet,

(01:29):
I do know a couple of people who are already mad
about this book because it's a woman given a bit
of war to guys that they agree with. And this
is going to be a blanket statement. If you agree
with the asshole guys, maybe take that as you may
not be on the right side there. There's also the
argument about how being a jerk doesn't deserve the death sentence.
But let's be clear here, it's not that deep, bro.

(01:50):
This is a rom com mixed with a creature feature
that reminds me a lot about indie comics like slut
Burger back in the day, and I love it. It's
not a thinking critique of the justice is perpetuated by
men to women who merely want to exist and stretch
those inaliable rights to life liberty in the pursuit of happiness.
Although it can be, but I'm going at this from
a completely different direction. This is a comic book plot

(02:12):
through and through, and I am absolutely here for it. Well,
I'm not a straight up her homcom person. It is
a perfect co genre for other things like, oh, say,
a creature feature Orla isn't a perfect gal, but she
is a perfect lead for this story, which, at least
at the very barest bones can potentially be about letting
your guard down when entering into a positive relationship. Or

(02:34):
at least that's what I'm thinking as that's the hook
for the next issue. So without going deep into the
weeds on this, my verdict for this comic is, at
the very least pull it. At the very least, this
book is worth being put onto your pull list digitally
or physically. Me personally, I like it both ways. But
this is also another book that I really really wish

(02:56):
was on Newspulp for the physical It just feels like
it is a modern comics that's with an ax and
I love it, But maybe I'm wrong. Let me know
what your thoughts of this issue is over on Facebook
at the Comic Archivist, or Twitter at AGENC underscore does
it all, and on Blue Sky at AGAC does it

(03:17):
all without any underscore. Don't forget to like, share, follow,
and do all the stuff that I'm being told is
so important to continue doing these more than anything though,
stig goolden inklings