A former pro wrestler—who has a brush with death thanks to a crooked promoter—assembles a crew of fellow wrestlers he’s screwed over… to rob him blind during the biggest wrestling event of the year. Wrestle Heist #1 kicks off a traditional heist tale while also poking and digging at the wrestling industry.

Written by and with art by Kyle Starks, Wrestle Heist #1 is a solid debut that sets up what’s to come and introduces the characters well. The short version is Sterling Steele is wronged by a promoter and decides to rob a big event in retaliation.

While that concept is straightforward, Starks digs a bit into the world of wrestling. Steele’s target, a shady promoter, feels like a mix of the scumbags you hear about when wrestlers talk about the history. But, Starks leaves it all a bit nebulous if it’s supposed to be anyone in particular. The world is squarely set in the world of wrestling but what promotion and even the wrestlers themselves, are a bit up in the air. But still, it all feels familiar enough to keep you guessing who is who.

Starks also isn’t afraid to dig into the issues of professional wrestling. Steele’s career is cut short due to revenge for moving to a different promotion, highlighting some of the real world bad blood between promotions but also the rather flimsy healthcare of the industry. While the matches are scripted, the moves, bumps, and danger is very real and a wrong move can ends someone career and do real damage leaving wrestlers struggling physically and financially for the rest of their lives. While not directly addressed, it’s part of the plot and drives what’s to come.

The look of the comic is in Starks’ style with color by Vlad Popov. The look of the comic highlights the more comedic aspects of the comic with characters beyond exaggerated, to the point of laughter. But, the comic isn’t quite a comedy, though there’s comedic aspects. It’s a dramedy if anything and Starks’ style feels like it emphasizes that in some ways and matches the tone of the story quite well.

But, beyond the entertaining comic itself, there’s a detail to Wrestle Heist #1 that stands out. The backmatter features faux articles about the main character and has some fun with comic creators choosing their Mount Rushmore of wrestlers.

It’s clear Wrestle Heist #1 is a love letter, though not afraid to dig, of the wrestling industry. True love of something is also recognizing its issues, and Wrestle Heist #1 brings up some of them. With a nice setup, this is a series that delivers a dose of comedy and action in the world of professional wrestling.

Story: Kyle Starks Art: Kyle Starks Color: Vlad Popov
Story: 8.0 Art: 8.0 Overall: 8.0 Recommendation: Buy

Image Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

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