Nerds That Geek Comic Book Review: 'Long Live Pro Wrestling' #0

Written by Zeke Perez Jr.

Every so often I search for something new when I head into Mile High Comics on New Comic Book Day. I seek out a change of pace from the usual superheroes and publishers that are on my pull list. Luckily, my scan of the new comics rack came just in time to get in on the front end of an exciting new story. Drawn in by the title and cover, I snagged the last remaining copy of Scout Comics’ Long Live Pro Wrestling #0 this past week. Issue #0 sets the tone for what looks to be a fun and interesting look at the world of professional wrestling.
 
From the first issue alone, I get a feeling that this series will take me on a personal journey of who I am as a wrestling fan, from how I felt about it when I was a kid who was captivated by the characters and the storytelling, and moving to how I view it as an adult with an appreciation for the athleticism and the behind-the-scenes lore.
 
I first became a fan of wrestling when I was around 8 or 9, joining in with my obsessed neighbors as Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock dominated the WWF. I too fell in love with it. I started watching weekly, getting my parents to take me to live events when they came through Denver and trying to share it with any and all of my friends. I maintained a die-hard level of interest through most of middle school but went on a hiatus entering high school. It’s easy to lose interest at that age as your ability to suspend disbelief wanes amidst a barrage of people pointing out how “fake” it is. A few of my high school friends enjoyed it though, so I would casually keep tabs on it through them.
 
My hiatus extended through college and deepened as I was unable to find anyone who was interested in it. I lost track of who the current wrestlers were and stopped paying attention. At some point post-college, I was itching to get to a live event, purely for nostalgic reasons. Then, a few years after that, my good friend (and NTG colleague) Joel gave WWE a watch for the first time and got hooked. Having someone again to share in it with, I’ve started to get back into it.
 
I’ve found that being a fan of pro wrestling these days is much different than when I was a kid, not only due to my change in perception of the sport but also because of how the wrestling universe at-large operates. Fans take to social media during and after each show to discuss and critique the writing, the wrestlers, and the overall product. The conversation, good and bad, seems never ending on Twitter. Shows like GLOW and YouTube programs like Botchamania and What Culture Wrestling reframe how fans watch, interact with, and think about wrestling. They unlock the door to the entertainment and provide a deeper insight into everything behind the magic.
 
So, getting back to Long Live Pro Wrestling (and forgive my preceding tangent), the comic series appears to play off of all of those aforementioned issues. It examines how the public and wrestling fans each perceive pro wrestling, grappling with the disconnect between the two groups. It should resonate with fans who have seen themselves grow in how they watch it. At the very least, the first issue puts forth a plot that will certainly ring true with wrestling fans.
 
Issue #0 focuses on Evan Dandy, a famous former wrestler who crossed over into mainstream pop-culture and entertainment popularity. Dandy is coming out with a network show that will share the terminology and backstage secrets of pro wrestling. He hopes the show might win over the general public and get them to fall in love with pro wrestling by framing it as an art form. But things don’t go well when he sits down with a smarmy TV host named Lance to promote the show. The conversation sours when Lance prods Dandy with personal barbs and attacks on wrestling. The two have an exchange about wrestling that all fans surely have had at some point. About how ‘predetermined’ does not mean ‘fake’ and how a suspension of disbelief is necessary. About how a great match can tell a story, and how enjoying a good storyline is no different than enjoying the fiction in a movie or TV show. The interview turns hostile and the issue ends with a nice twist and a solid setup for the rest of the run.
 
Through his writing, Long Live Pro Wrestling’s creator and author James Haick III begins to capture the passion that exists for pro wrestling. I also enjoyed Haick’s ability to quickly build tension and intrigue in the story. He mixes in some very real issues facing the industry, discussing the threat of MMA as a competitor and the drug addictions like those that some real-life wrestlers have faced. All of this is complemented extremely well by artist Branko Jovanovic’s realistic drawing style and colorist JM Ringuet’s bold tones and shadows. The total package of the bold lines and stark colors is an enticing beginning to a story that looks as good as it reads.
 
There are a number of wrestling comics out on the market right now, including WWE’s own titles. Long Live Pro Wrestling starts off with an issue that is very much an introduction and a table setter, but it heads in an interesting direction with a lot of potential. Scout Comics’ Long Live Pro Wrestling #1 should hit shelves in early September. Be sure to pick up a copy to see where the story heads next!

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