Total Suplex of the Heart

by Joanne Starer, Ornella Greco (Artist), Nathan Kempf (Letterer)

Young freelance journalist Georgie joins a local wrestling circuit to investigate a new article, making friends (and more than friends!) along the way. But is the validation she gets from the sport worth the drama that comes along with it?

Glowing up isn’t the same as growing up.

Georgie’s always been nerdy: Teased by jocks, spending her lunchtime with a comic in hand, and falling in love with wrestling from Saturday nights on the couch with her dad. But that was then – This is now!

She’s out of school, freelancing as a journalist, and hot as heck. In an effort to prove to her mom that she has a “real job,” she goes undercover in the local hardcore wrestling scene to investigate a piece. She’s quickly swept up in the drama, both in and out of the ring. With new friendships developing and potential romance blossoming, she’s riding the wave of attention that temporarily silences her own insecurities. But as girl fights, casual hook-ups, and creepy older men begin to dominate her days, Georgie has to ask herself who really holds the power in her life, and whether she’s happy with where it’s headed.

An unflinchingly honest coming-of-age tale set in the fast-paced world of wrestling, Total Suplex of the Heart explores the complicated nature of growing up as a young woman in a male-dominated world: Georgie battles through eating disorders, toxic relationships, and her own messy mistakes. It’s a spirited story of falling in love, crashing and burning, and then finding your way back by falling in love again… this time, with yourself. Inspired in part by the real pro-wrestling experiences of writer Joanne Starer (The Gimmick, Fire & Ice: Welcome to Smallville) and featuring the explosive art of up-and-comer Ornella Greco (Star Trek: Picard's Academy).

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Fiction, Romance, Graphic Novels Comics, Adult, Contemporary

160 pages, Paperback

First published June 18, 2024

Reviews

[Esme · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanna start this off by saying I understand this was a biography graphic novel and I do feel bad giving it a negative review but it just wasn’t well done in my opinion.

The idea and concept I really enjoyed but the way it was written and executed wasn't for me. It lacked a lot! Don’t read this if you’re wanting more of the journalists aspect since it was maybe present for about 5 pages and then it was never mentioned again. The plot didn’t feel like it flowed, the story line jumped around like years at one point which left me confused for a few pages.

The story ended before we were able to see any resolution or growth. Everyone in this book are incredibly toxic people and they don't change at all throughout this. Abuse and eating disorders were just brushed off and joked about. (I don't recall triggers being listed but I would advise looking for a full list before reading)

The cover makes it seem a bit like a potential cute wrestling rom com, but it just left me feeling icky and uncomfortable.

The art was the saving grace here imo! The art was stunning and incredibly done!

Thank you netgalley and the publishers for an e-copy in exchange for an honest review

[Chase B · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book tricked me for sure.

Honest and mucho-autobiographical tale of a journalist who looks into the world of Independent Wrestling for a story but then ends up thoroughly embedded in it. That's how the book starts but this intro only brings you behind the curtain (so to say in an attempt to be witty). We get a look at the often misogynistic and unfair characteristics that can exist in pro-wrestling, a woman trying to overcome the psychological damage done to her from a controlling mother as well as navigating different friendships and romantic relationships. This romantic relationship angle is brutal at times with some horrible partners and the duality that exists at trying to own your sexuality while navigating the perceptions people have of you.

Only knock comes from expecting some time spent with learning how wrestling works (storytelling, moves, etc.) but the focus of the story spent on a person growing, making mistakes, learning from those mistakes and who their true friends are...can't get mad at that.

I'm a graphic novel fan, wrestling fan, and strong female protagonist fan. Those boxes definitely get checked here.

[Neon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NatGalley and Humanoids Inc | Life Drawn for the ARC for a honest and in-depth review. And of course none would be possible without Joanne Starer and her hard work and creation.

4 out of 5 stars.

'Total Suplex of the Heart' by Joanne Starer is about a young and beautiful journalist who decides to first write a story about wrestling, but soon gets caught up in the magical world she never knew existed.

With stunning illustrations, quirky and loveable characters, this graphic novel will pull you in from the very first page and have you unable to put it down until the very end. With great humor and story comes a great graphical novel.

I would happily read this again and recommend it to others.

Fantastic read.

[Adriana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm rating up on this one because I love how honest Starer's story feels. It's somewhat based on her personal experience and you can feel that coming through on the page, it just feels like we're missing parts of the story, which is a little silly because there's only so much you can fit into a graphic novel.

There are so many elements to explore: the misogyny and bizarro world of wrestling, Georgie’s mental health struggles and the trauma from her awful mother, and awful relationships that Georgie is convinced are all she deserves. You spend so much time wanting to yell at her for the decisions she makes over the course of the story, but the more you learn about her, the more you just want to hug her and help her find people that are actually supportive of her.

Overall, I didn't find it particularly entertaining, but I loved the story it tells.

Happy thanks to NetGalley, Humanoids Inc., and Life Drawn for the read!

[JoyJoyisreading (Semi-Hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I dove into this graphic novel with no expectations, and it absolutely captivated me! The author’s personal story shines through, revealing her truth and vulnerability on every page. The narrative flows smoothly, and the main character’s growth is apparent—even if it takes a little time for her to find her stride. Also, the graphic novel’s wrestling setting evoked nostalgic memories from my childhood. My only minor gripe? I wanted more! Questions about her future, love interest and friendship with Cassidy lingered, leaving me hungry for further exploration.

Content Warning: This graphic novel delves into eating disorders and abusive relationships, so approach it with care.

The artwork is a visual delight. From clothing details to room designs, each scene is meticulously crafted. The vibrant colors leap off the page, and I especially appreciated the character sketches at the back, complete with names.

Georgie, our relatable protagonist, grapples with self-perception and her relationship with Steve. Social media’s influence on beauty standards hits close to home, and we’ve all been there—stuck in relationships that drain us. Sacrificing our happiness for someone else’s sake is a painful reality. The novel beautifully portrays this journey from beginning to end, reassuring readers that they’re not alone. Kudos to the author for tackling such sensitive topics with vulnerability.

And let’s give a shout-out to J.T., Georgie’s unwavering friend. His candid advice and genuine concern add depth to the story.

In summary, this 4.5 star-rating graphic novel is a delightful, relatable read. I devoured it in one sitting and eagerly await more from this talented author. Perhaps a sequel awaits us—a continuation of Georgie’s brave journey. Many thanks for the authors and Humanoids Inc for the arc in exchange of my opinion.

[Jessica]

I don't know how to rate this. It was interesting, but almost everyone was an asshole, which I don't like. The art fit the story, but the story just ends. The afterword said that the story was semi autographical, which may explain it, but still.

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I voluntarily read and reviewed this advanced copy from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I've seen this graphic novel in the catalog for months and I finally selected it today when it was automatically approved. My only knowledge of wrestling was when I had a brief phase in middle school where I was obsessed with The Undertaker. Total Suplex of the Heart only focused a quarter of the book on the madness of the ring. The comic primarily featured the protagonist Georgie's struggles with her eating disorder, journalism pursuit, and train wreck of a love life. All of these characters were horrible. Messy, selfish people that I would not deign to spend time with in real life. I thought the story was over halfway through only to treat the reader with domestic abuse, near cheating, and destruction of friendship. This book had me feeling absolutely disgusted upon completion and it wasn't worth the 15 minutes I spent reading. The artwork and color palette were lovely, but they couldn't do all the heavy lifting for the atrocious narrative. I should have left my curiosity unassuaged and avoided this Total Suplex of the Heart.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story took me totally by surprise - as part of the Manara, Moebius, and the Metabaron ebooks I was recently lucky enough to secure this was a title I just happened to pick to see what it was "all about"

Here you have the highs and lows of Georgie as she navigates her coming of age while being mesmerised by the American Wrestling scene . Partly inspired by the life of Joanne Starer during the early 80s this book has messy life's, toxic relationships and a whole load of self discovery and I was enthralled.

There are times you stumble across a story that just utterly catches you out and this was it - I would never have signed myself up for this but it didn't take long before I found myself "just" having to turn the next page. There are times you just have to give something a go and see what happens - ironically literally what happens in the story too!

[Manon (bookswithonno) · Rating 2 out of 5]

*2.5 stars

I really wanted to like this semi-autobiographical graphic novel, but I was left feeling disappointed. The story is supposed to be flawed and show characters going through tough situations, but all of the characters were SO unlikable… The story touched upon EDs, pregnancy scares, domestic abuse, OCD and cheating, but it only briefly touches the surface on these subjects. There were also a lot of skips in the timeline, which left me very confused.

Thank you NetGalley and Humanoids for providing me with an e-arc!

[Kylie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really interesting story. Going into it, I wasn't prepared for how heavy it was in some moments.

The time jumps felt a bit confusing and it felt like there were some things that could have been developed upon more, but overall this was a great graphic novel.

I really liked the art style and there were some really great characters throughout.

*Review copy received through NetGalley*

[Marina · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found the premise quite interesting but the execution was rather lacking. I felt as if there were a lot of issues raised but almost none properly tackled or resolved. On the contrary, many instances made me uncomfortable. The art, however, was very good.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me this eARC to review.

[Rosalyn]

DNF @ pg 40. Like the art but the writing is really throwing me off

[Mel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wish this was longer or even a series. It felt like nothing was really discussed and things just moved on incredibly quickly. The scene changes could be jarring. So much was unexplained. Bleh.

[Jenny · Rating 2 out of 5]

I tried reading this book three other times but kept putting it down. I was so excited to read it at first, it seemed like it had two of my favorite things: wrestling and romance. Unfortunately this book felt so rushed that I actually thought I had accidentally skipped pages or something. I feel like this would have been better if this was a series. The art style is nice. I think seeing the indie circuit through a women’s perspective is important, so hopefully we see more of this in the future 🤞

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this graphic novel and while yea it’s about wrestling to an extent. It’s about so much more than that. Georgie has had crap thrown at her many different times and she has zero confidence in herself. We get to see Georgie grow and learn who she is and how she should make decisions for herself. I liked the deep aspect of this and appreciated the emotional and mental journey of Georgie. I kind of thought there would be more wrestling but overall great book and art.

[mad mags · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Full disclosure: I received a free e-ARC for review from the publisher. Content warning for eating disorders, OCD, child abuse, domestic violence, and sexual harassment and assault.)

Working as a freelance journalist, Georgie decides to go undercover in the local wrestling circuit - both in pursuit of a good story, and to prove to her overbearing mother that she does, in point of fact, have a "real" job. Navigating the male-dominated world of wrestling is hard enough; doubly so when you're grappling with an eating disorder and are prone to toxic relationships. Georgie quickly gets swept up in the drama of it all, both in and out of the ring, and before she knows it, this simple story has changed her life: she quits her job, enrolls in online college, and relocates to suburban Pennsylvania to be closer to her new boyfriend, Steve. But when he proves to be the biggest mistake of all, can Georgie pick up the pieces of her life and move on?

I really wanted to like TOTAL SUPLEX OF THE HEART - I mean, that premise! the title! - but it's not without its flaws. Chief among them: the story feels really disjointed, like we're skipping from one moment in Georgie's life to another, without any transition. One minute an untrained Georgie is trying to get a job at the local ring; the next, she's actually performing with other wrestlers. She and Steve are maybe dating, then - bam! - she's joining him in PA. Georgie is sexually harassed and even assaulted at multiple points in the story, and then the issue is just kind of ... dropped? Even Georgie's recovery from an eating disorder feels a little too easy; anticlimactic, even. Maybe it's because I read the ARC, but the story felt a little unpolished.

On the plus side, the artwork is lovely, and there are enough PARKS AND REC references to satisfy the poetic, noble land mermaid in all of us. I also loved the scenes with JT and his mom - I wish we'd seen more of those two.

[Libbie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Total suplex of the heart follows Georgie, a freelance journalist, as she enters the wrestling scene in order to write a new article for her website.

I learned after reading this that this graphic novel is semi-biographical which almost makes me feel bad for rating this so low, but I can't bring myself to rate it any higher.

This graphic novel covers a variety of important and serious topics from domestic abuse, homophobia, sexism, eating disorders and generational trauma. Unfortunately, it does not cover any of these topics in any detail and rather glosses over them to get to the next plot point. If you're looking for a book that takes any of these topics seriously this is not the one.

An example is when Georgie's partner, Steve, slaps her across the face for singing whilst cleaning the toilet. The next page she is having sex with him and it is never mentioned again.

The 'plot' is also very incoherent. It jumps from plot point to plot point with zero cohesion or flow. On several occasions I found myself flicking back and forth, believing that I had skipped pages accidentally, I had not. There are just simply major gaps in the storytelling.

The ending also left much to be desired. There is no character growth or development, nor is there any conclusion to the story. There is a massive betrayal from Steve on more than one front and then it ends abruptly. Not really sure what happened there.

Thank you netgalley and Humanoids Inc for providing an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own

[Gabriella · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5🌟 I went into this graphic novel blind. Attracted by the cover, thinking it was going to be a fun story about wrestling. I was wrong. But let me tell you that this GN went from something that was supposed to be fun to something that holds deep meaning. By the end I was sobbing. Finding out that this is taken from the author’s own life experience adds to the vulnerability portrayed by our main character.

Georgie is such a relatable protagonist, she struggles with her self-image as well as her relationships both romantic and platonic. The author raises some sensitive topics such as socials media’s influence on beauty standards and other people’s perceptions of us. As well as sacrificing our own happiness for the sake of others hit close to home for me. Yet even with all of these realities that the novel broaches, it still somehow portrays the empowering journey it takes to figure out one’s self-worth. The author does a really good job of this in our fmc.

Finally, the artwork is beautiful and vibrant. I look forward to reading more hovels by this author, hopefully one that includes a continuation of Georgie’s growth and journey because I still need answers to some questions! Like what does her future hold? Who does she end up with, is she happy and thriving? And what becomes of her friendship with Cassidy?

Content Warning: This graphic novel discusses topics such as,
- eating disorders
- abusive relationships

[Carro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Content Warnings: Eating disorders, bullying, OCD, child/familial abuse, domestic abuse/violence, sexual harrassment and assault, infidelity.

Total Suplex of the Heart is a semi-autobiographical graphic novel following Georgie, a young woman with a burgeoning career in freelance journalism who decides to go undercover in the world of local amateur hardcore wrestling circuit to investigate the ins-and-outs of this at time sordid and certainly alluring scene. As she gets her start acting as a valet (someone--usually a woman--who accompanies another wrestler--usually a man--into the ring to excite the crowd or interfere in the match, as needed), she quickly finds herself ingriated with the locals, making friends, enemies, and then some as she dives deeper and deeper into the wrestling world unfolding before her.

First thing's first: this art is GORGEOUS. The characters look amazing; the character design is sleek and gorgeous while not sacrificing a certain realism to the designs, and it perfectly fits the story it is depicting. The colors are appropriately moody, and it really adds to the sense of atmosphere that the story is trying to invoke.

All of the characters depicted feel very real, in a "these people are SO messy" sort of a way, which made the narrative feel more grounded and compelling to me (a serial lover of messy, complicated people). This messy realness could, in all fairness, also make it very hard to root for anyone presented in this graphic novel, but that's the thing with people: nobody is usually 100% good or 100% bad, and that very much comes through in the writing of these characters, who may be loosely or firmly based upon actual people in the author's life.

Even the author's own expy is not immune to being a complete wreck who makes some severely bad choices, but that's what makes her Real--she struggles severely with her childhood trauma which, in turn, spirals into her making rash sexual and interpersonal decisions and dealing with an eating disorder as she tries to lay claim to her own life and choices. This part, at least, is entirely too relatable to me.

These messy characters, alongside the depiction of abuse in relationships and the realities of the very-often misogynistic, homophobic, racist, etc. world of hardcore wrestling, can be something of a heavy, bitter pill, but it makes for a story that feels deeply authentic and fascinating for me. It is best summarized as being a hot mess of a story about a bunch of hot messes, and I wouldn't change that, even if some readers might not find that to be to their tastes.

The ending is a little abrupt, but given that this is based on the author's real life, I can understand why it left off as it did, and there are pacing issues--often, we fly through any semblance of characters bonding or relationships unraveling, and months will pass by from one panel to the next without mention particularly in the latter half of the novel, which can be a bit difficult to follow at times.

Overall, I enjoyed this graphic novel. It's not perfect, but nobody is, right?
3.5 out of 5, rounded up.

[Maki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e copy!

Before i get into my review i want to point out this book should have had a trigger warning page at the start.
There is talk about Eating disorders, abusive parents and relationships, mental illness, child abuse, sexual harassment and many more.

This is a semi-autobiographical graphic novel by Joanne Starer. The beautiful art by Ornella Greco. The narrative follows Georgie, a freelance journalist who immerses herself in the local wrestling scene to write a story but after she gets enough information to actually write it she can’t seem to let it go.

I don’t know how i feel about this book, some parts were good and others not so much.
I felt a lot of important topics were not talked about enough and just brushed off.
none of the people were likable which sometimes that is the intention but this didn’t feel like it was.
I would have liked this more if we didn’t skip so much time. She meets someone and suddenly it’s a year later and they are together..?
The art style is definitely my favorite part about this book, i really enjoyed how much it added to the story.

[EmyAttorney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not expect to enjoy this graphic novel about wrestling, relationships & growing up so much! Starer presents this (semi-autobiographical?) tale and its extremely sensitive topics with great candor and honesty. We follow a pretty big cast of characters, but they're all extremely distinctive and fully fleshed out - even the minor actors are unique and they don't melt into the background of the main character's story. They all feel very human, flawed and interesting (especially our main character, who is kinda unlikeable).
Ornella Greco's art is lovely, colorful and apt to the story.

trigger warnings (from memory, so some might be missing, definitely do your research if you think there might be hard topics for you in here) parental abuse, intimate partner abuse, eating disorders

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review!

[al ╰(*´︶`*)╯♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

thank you netgalley and lifedrawn for this arc!

this was a semi-autobiographical graphic novel about the authors experiences in independent wrestling. i was drawn to this as a wrestling fan but i didn’t fully know what to expect. i understand there are limitations in telling a story like this in this medium, but it felt like there was a LOT left unaddressed. overall it was a fun read that handled some heavy subject matter, but i definitely had some issues with the way those subjects were handled. this IS semi-autobiographical though, so i can’t fault the author for the way she’s talking about her lived experiences.

[kaila | kd.reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this, and I know you can only do so much with a graphic novel - but I felt like we were missing so much more information. The transitions between scenes felt very rushed and incomplete. I liked the premise of the story and the fact that the FMC realizes that family isn't only blood. I get the story was inspired by the authors life, but those weird comments from the men rubbed me the wrong way in the beginning.

----------------
Thank you to Netgalley and Humanoids for the eARC of Total Suplex of the Heart in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts are my own.

[BookCupid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Toxic relationships will drain your spirit. This story isn't inspiring as to why it's important to walk away. But it definitely demonstrates how we would look at things differently if we saw it from another perspective.

Georgie was abused as a child by a mother with a mental illness. This leaves trauma scars that sadly made her a prey to the idea that abuse and care go together. Getting over something like that requires therapy. As one bad relationship will lead to another unless self-awareness takes place.

[Sana · Rating 3 out of 5]

'Ah yes, I'm slowly dying for capitalism. But it makes my mother proud.'

Oh wow, an entire cast of toxic characters and no one ever really learns or improves anything about themselves and the ending is so anti-climactic? I don't get itttt. However, the comic is inspired by the author's real life so I do appreciate that aspect of it all and how she came out of it but still, something's gotta give in the actual story and not in the author's note, sigh. Oh well.

Not a fan of the art style, unfortunately.

[Lorena · Rating 3 out of 5]

thank you netgalley for sending me an eArc

i don't really know how to judge the plot of this graphic novel because it's based on the author's life. i think it's okay to say that there isn't a real plot but it's someone telling you about a period of their life

i loved the art style and the color palette and how hot every character is

[Sheba Hector · Rating 4 out of 5]

girl?!!!!!!!!!?!??!? anyways more of 3.5

[Kaja Makowska · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations were easy on the eye, unfortunately I found the story chaotic and quite uncomfortable.

[alyssa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Edit: lowering this to one star after thinking more. This was not the right way to present this story.

Damn, this left me disappointed. I know it’s semi-autobiographical, so I don’t want to be too critical. I do think the main character’s arc needed to be developed more, as well as showing more complex characters. Everyone just comes across really toxic in the end, so I’m not sure what message we’re supposed to be left with as the readers. The art is gorgeous but unfortunately makes the cover misleading. I thought this was gonna be some cute wrestling shit, and instead there should have been some trigger warnings.

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a deep, challenging story and I was not expecting that. The characters are so complex and flawed, that I knew it must have been based on the author’s life. Georgie wasn’t always a very likeable character, but that just made it feel so much more real. I loved JT and wished we would have seen him more!

I feel like this story might have been better as a series, rather than a single volume. There were so many important plot points that were glossed over or not really resolved, and I would have loved for them to be expanded on more.

I loved the art style! I think the costumes and characters designs were really well done. Wrestling worked so well in graphic novel form, as the colours and costumes really popped.

Overall, I thought this was such a unique and interesting read!