ORLA! / Script by JOHN LEES / Art by SALLY CANTIRINO / Colors by DEARBHLA KELLY / Letters by LUCAS GATTONI & SHAWN LEE / Published by MAD CAVE STUDIOS

Orla Bard seems like a perfectly ordinary modern woman. She restores antique furniture. She enjoys bird-watching. And she loves a good bodice-ripper romance novel. Beneath the surface, however, Orla has a secret she’s been hiding since she was 17.

Whenever Orla deals with a disrespectful man in a romantic setting, something within her is unleashed. Something she calls The Ick, which she tries to keep under control by intentionally seeking out men with red flags. She may not find the love she wants, but at least she can keep the dating pool clean for other women.

Orla was content with that status quo. Unfortunately, the bookstore owner who sells Orla her smut asked her out and turns out to be a decent man. But The Ick must be fed! And there are others who know Orla’s secret and want the beast within to run free…

I’m not sure who will be more offended by Orla! Certainly the comic makes a point about Men’s Rights Activists and Andrew Tate fans. However, I’m also sure that some feminists won’t appreciate the idea of a woman whose anger turns her into a hairy man-hating monster – the popular image of the cliche lesbian.

At its core, however, Orla! is a romance. It is a story about the problems with opening your heart up to love and the secrets we’re all afraid might drive people away. The fact that Orla’s secret involves her becoming some kind of mythological monster and her isolation and identity issues because of it are largely irrelevant.

John Lees does a fantastic job of introducing us to the cast and making them into real, fully-developed characters. Orla! is a funny story and I liked getting to know almost everyone in this comic. (Well, except for “The Douche” – the sleazy fiancée of Orla’s best friend.)

The artwork is equally amazing. I’ve enjoyed Sally Cantirino’s work in earlier books and her art in Orla! does not disappoint. The character designs, both human and monstrous, are eye-catching and distinctive. There is also a sense of motion to every page, even the more mundane scenes of characters just talking at a table. The colors by Dearbhla Kelly are suitable throughout. However, I must single out the letters by Lucas Gattoni and Shawn Lee as the most memorable aspect of the art. Specifically, the unique word and sound balloons used throughout Orla! Particularly the ornate fonts used to denote “The Douche” whenever he enters the scene.

Be warned that Orla! is not for the prudish or anyone under-18. Beyond the sex, nudity, and violence, this is the sort of story that requires a certain level of maturity to appreciate. This is a damned good adult comic for actual adults, that isn’t afraid to spice things up with a little childish humor. Highly reccomended.

Orla! arrives in book stores everywhere on April 21, 2026.