Comic Book Review: Pivot by Jaime Dear
In softball, second base and shortstop need to be in synch. Knowing who’s going after which ball, making sure the bases are covered, and preferably not running into each other. But shortstop Luciana Herrera and second base player Ella Xie are dealing with huge crushes on each other that they aren’t quite ready to admit, and that’s throwing their game off.
The two of them are in boarding school, and some sort of “sport” is mandatory, regardless of how athletic you may or may not be. It’s spring, so the girls are doing softball. They just might be the worst softball team in the area, but McKitterick Academy is primarily about academics with sports just to make sure the kids move around a little.
While the framework is sports, and there’s a bit of explaining how the game works, the focus is on the budding romance. The girls have to work up the courage to speak to each other, learn a little about each other outside the team, sit next to each other, and maybe even hold hands. It’s very sweet.
We at least get introduced to the other players, who have a variety of sizes and shapes (high school being a time of variable growth), and the team does slightly improve over time, even getting a couple of small triumphs.
The story is inspired by the artist’s own time playing softball, and her appreciation for the sport is obvious.
The art style is nice, and goes well with a slice of life story, with some innovative paneling. It’s pretty easy to tell the main characters apart. (Important in black and white comics where you can’t rely on colors to differentiate.)
Content note: There’s some mild bumps and bruises due to players colliding with each other. Some parents might be uncomfortable with a two-girl romance. (A bonus picture has them kissing.) But this is a mild young adult story–some middle schoolers might be able to handle the mushy stuff.
This is very much a small press item, so there are some rough edges, but it might be worth your while to encourage the creator. Recommended especially for “sporty” girls who enjoy a little action in their romance comics.
