Review by Ian Keogh

As with other graphic novels featuring WWE wrestlers, Power of Positivity combines genuine biographical detail, in-ring grudges and background mystique as contrived by the WWE script writers. It tells the stories of Big E, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods, collectively tag team the New Day, the longest running tag team champions in WWE history.

With the title being Power of Positivity, the New Day’s story is hardly going to be one of painful struggle, although the WWE narrative always equates success with the battle of overcoming the odds. Unusually the primary problem is with the WWE orthodoxy, and the wrestlers are shown being asked to perform a number of undignified roles and struggling to find an identity permitting them to be themselves. Writers Evan Narcisse and Austin Walker bring this out sympathetically and provide plausible dialogue as the team members come to know each other.

Artist Daniel Bayliss could probably tell his own story about hanging around in the background, always there or thereabouts, but never the star of the show. His cartooning here really hits the spot. He captures the personalities, keeps people moving in the ring, and puts the effort into clothing and locations. It’s a really polished artistic outing from Bayliss.

If scrutinised logically, so much about the New Day’s WWE career is head-scratching even for the wacky turns of the wrestling world. Narcisse and Walker mention some surreal stuff in passing, but really run with the pancake fixation for the finale. The story stops with the wrestlers finally finding their way instead of running through the more successful days, but it’s a fun ride, and very well drawn.