Wrestle Heist #1: Business is About to Pick Up!

I’m going to try and keep the wrestling jokes and puns at a minimum while talking about Kyle Starks’ latest contribution to the comic kingdom, Wrestle Heist. When our EiC told me that Starks’ new book had me “written all over it,” I had to jump on it like the NWO, because Comic Watch is where the “big boys play.” Not even out of the first paragraph, and we’re already slinging puns and quotes like steel chairs!    

Kyle Starks’ Wrestle Heist #1 is a masterclass in storytelling. It reads like a high-octane love letter to professional wrestling while building a compelling drama about redemption and life. From the cover, it is clear that this book is deeply rooted in Starks’s admiration for wrestling, perfectly capturing the grit, sweat, and spectacle of the squared circle.

A Visual powerhouse of great memories that immediately transports the reader into the world of sports entertainment (it’ll always be wrestling!). Dylan Todd came in with the Rolex watches and alligator shoes, as he laid this book out reminiscent of classic wrestling magazines like Pro Wrestling Illustrated or the old iWrestle covers. The fake advertisements, “top ten” lists of wrestling crimes, and “what if” scenarios (such as “Gravedigger or Bearwolf?”) add an incredible layer of immersion when print was king and wrestling was real. It still is! Vlad Popov brings a vibrant lived-in feel to the story, making the backstage and arena glow with excitement.

Starks’ writing excels by leaning into beloved wrestling tropes. The plot centering around a “career on the line” match is classic territory storytelling at its best. I can hear Gordon Solie! Not to mention the use of  “working stiff,” or “shooting an Irish whip,” and “getting baby oil” to put “asses in seats” feel absolutely authentic. The characters are taken directly from the larger-than-life ones that we grew up with and currently adore. Taking great care in showcasing the “arrogant a**hole” on camera, but the respected mentor backstage. Pure cinema captured and told perfectly.