It’s 1977, and Strawberry the glowing octopus (Stauroteuthis syrtensis) is finally out of jail. Hitching a ride with Ray, an insurance sales-snake searching for meaning in his life, she heads for New York City, where she eventually finds work at a little bar called CBGB.
Centered around the New York City Blackout of 1977 and featuring a host of rock royalty, NEW YORK CITY Glow is the outstanding graphic novel debut from Margaret River-based Rachel Coad. From start to finish, it’s an absolute delight, pulling double duty in both capturing the zeitgeist of the period and imbuing the whole thing with a sense of whimsy that can only come from having a glowing octopus as your leading lady.
Not content with featuring the iconic CBGB, The Ramones, New York Dolls, or even handing Strawberry a guitar, Coad also adds suggested listening to many of her gorgeously imagined pages. It’s truly a love letter to music – whether of the era or otherwise – and there’s even space to add a few tracks of your own and build that perfect NEW YORK CITY Glow playlist.
A unique twist on a brief period of New York history, NEW YORK CITY Glow is also a sweet comic caper, with echoes of found family, self-discovery, and following your dreams. A genuine joy!
FOUR AND A HALF STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Rachel Coad’s NEW YORK CITY Glow is available now through Upswell. Grab yourself a copy from Booktopia HERE.
