If our heroes survive the trap set for them by crooked promoter Buddy Hansen and if they can survive each other they turn their attention to the greatest heist in Wrestling History! Is there team complete? Are they prepared? Will there be a training montage? You better believe there will be! Does this issue curiously make this series an evergreen Thanksgiving season classic? Curiously it does, indeed! Wrestle Heist #3 is another fantastic issue that expands the heist plan while adding more motivation.

Kyle Starks has delivered a fantastic series so far and Wrestle Heist #3 is a great example of how and why this series works so well. On its surface, the story is a simple heist story, though a bit exaggerated in so many ways. But, not all that below the surface is some biting commentary about the wrestling industry and its underlying issues and outright abuses.

The second issue left some of the team in a hardcore match to free up one of their members to participate in their planned heist, but from there, it’s the addition of a new team member as well as discussion as to why they’re all doing what they plan on doing. With a lot of risk, the comic up to this point has delivered a fairly simple reason for everyone’s actions but Wrestle Heist #3 adds some depth to it. While enjoy Thanksgiving, our band of wannabe thieves discuss the abuses they’ve experienced and know about within the industry and perpetrated by their target. There’s thinly discussed real world issues and individuals and the group touches upon racism, sexism, abuse, drug abuse, homophobia, sexual predators, and more.

While all of that might seem weighty as topics, Starks delivers it all with a sincere take but at the same time small additions that take the tension and seriousness out of it all. One group members loves the drugs, a solution to so many problems in their mind. Another reveals they’re gay and while the revelation starts of sincere, it goes off in a direction of horror and humor. It’s the sort of delivery Starks brings to the comic over and over, just when you think it might go off in a serious direction, it does something to cut the tension and gets readers to laugh.

The art is fantastic as always with an over the top style to it that helps add to the humor of it all and Vlad Popov‘s colors help make it all pop. The visual delivery of lines just add to the enjoyment of the comic and at times it’s the punchline to whatever joke Starks has set up to be delivered.

Wrestle Heist #3 continues what’s both a love letter to the wrestling industry but as biting commentary and observation about it as well. You don’t need to be a fan of sports entertainment to enjoy it but those that are will find a layer that’ll get you to think and experience it on another level.

Story: Kyle Starks Art: Kyle Starks Color: Vlad Popov
Story: 8.25 Art: 8.25 Overall: 8.25 Recommendation: Buy

Image Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

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