Shining Light 7-13 by SturkWurk (TG superhero comics)

I am delighted to introduce a new name to our weekly showcase of illustrated delights, SturkWurk, who is best known for his work at TGComics.

Shining Light is an exciting new serialized comic by SturkWurk, debuting this past weekend, with 2 chapters being posted daily until the grand finale, this Thursday. A transgender superhero comic, it explores The Origin of the Gilded Zephyr, a muscular, busty blonde who has appeared in some of SturkWurk's other comics, but whose transgender coming out was saved for this epic!

As I am writing this, the 8th chapter has just been posted, but I actually have all 13 (plus the super sexy bonus chapter), so I am going to tease you a bit while trying very hard not to give away anything important.

As chapter 7 opens, Jacob is confronted with the reality of the changes his body is undergoing. He is not quite a buxom superheroine yet, but he is smoother, curvier, and even more feminine in his speech and mannerisms. What makes it such a powerful chapter is that he is very much in transition, and SturkWurk captures that blending of male/female like never before. It is in the next chapter that new new Jacob begins accepting her new self, exploring her powers in a fun bit of vigilante heroism, and then exploring her blossoming sexuality in an even more fun but of masturbatory indulgence!

At the risk of spoilers, chapter 9 is where we see Jacob finally accept his fate as Lauren, slipping into the Gilded Zephyr costume, then meeting up with his/her mentor to learn the ropes of being a superheroine . . . and chapter 10 where we get to see her in action, flying through a number of rescue scenarios. It is pure pulp comic book fun, complete with special effects, movement blurs, and last-minute rescues - oh, and it all looks fabulous, especially the scene with the homeless woman, where we get to see the extremes to which SturkWurk can go in crafting faces, body types, and clothing.

Chapter 11 steps back a bit from all the action and adventure to explore the deeper emotional and psychological changes Jacob has undergone, particularly the extreme sexual arousal he feels as Lauren, but not as the Gilded Zephyr. It also offers a Lara Croft style flashback to the origin of the original Gilded Zephyr, which SturkWurk illustrates with a grainy style that perfectly captures the look and feel of the pulp adventure, before giving way to something out of a late 70s/early 80s sci-fi movie . . . but I have already said too much.

Chapter 12 and 13 are the climax of the tale, where SturkWurk does a lovely job of subverting genre conventions and leading us astray with expectations, actually telling a better, stronger story in the process - albeit one that is not complete. Like any good comic book story, this ends with a twist, a surprise, and the promise of more!

As for the super sexy bonus chapter, if you have been paying attention to the little glimpses into Lauren's life before Jacob stepped in, the Phantoms Club should ring immediate (exciting bells), but I will leave you to savor those panels for yourself.

Douglas Sturk (SturkWurk) is a writer and illustrator. He creates web comics for http://TGComics.com and http://MindControlComics.com, and can be hired for commission work.

@sturkwurk
https://www.deviantart.com/sturkwurk

Reviewed by Sally