Wrestling Comics Worth Checking Out

Mister Universe #1 (1951, Stanley Morse)

Synopsis: This Golden Age comic book features the adventures of the fictional wrestling champion known as "Mister Universe." The stories typically involve him using his strength and wrestling skills both inside and outside the ring, often getting entangled in crime-fighting scenarios or dealing with nefarious characters trying to fix matches or cause trouble. Like many comics of the era, it likely contained multiple short stories featuring the main character and possibly backup features.

Key Significant: It is a very early example of a comic book centered entirely around a wrestling personality/theme, published during the first television boom of professional wrestling. It represents an attempt to capitalize on the growing popularity of wrestling in post-war America. Published by Stanley Morse, a smaller publisher known more for crime and horror, it offers a glimpse into how different companies approached genre comics in the Golden Age.

The Thing #28 (1985, Marvel Comics)

Synopsis: After leaving the Fantastic Four and feeling adrift, Ben Grimm (The Thing) quits his temporary involvement with the Thunderiders motorcycle stunt team. Seeking a new path (and prodded by Vance Astro), he discovers and joins the Unlimited Class Wrestling Federation (UCWF), a professional wrestling league specifically designed for competitors with superhuman strength. This issue details his tryout, his entry into the federation, and his debut match against another super-strong wrestler, Demolition Dunphy.

Key Significant: This issue is highly significant as it kicks off the popular and defining "Unlimited Class Wrestling Federation" story arc for The Thing's solo series. It established the UCWF within the Marvel Universe, creating a unique blend of superhero action and professional wrestling spectacle. The issue also marks the first appearance of Dennis "Demolition" Dunphy, a character who would later become the superhero D-Man and associate himself with Captain America.

WWF: Battlemania #1 (1991, Valiant Comics)

Synopsis: A 5-issue Valiant comic magazine (1991-92) featuring WWF stars like The Ultimate Warrior and The Undertaker in exaggerated, often bizarre, out-of-ring adventures based on their personas.

Key Significant: Valiant Comics' major WWF tie-in series, most notable for featuring artwork from legendary Spider-Man co-creator Steve Ditko.

WCW: World Championship Wrestling #1 (1992, Marvel Comics)

Synopsis: This 12-issue series featured top WCW stars like Sting, Ron Simmons, Rick Rude, and Vader in an ongoing narrative. Sting often took the lead, battling WCW rivals and the mysterious, powerful original villain known as The Ghoul.

Key Significant: Represented Marvel Comics' major attempt to license and integrate WWF's main competitor, WCW, into an ongoing comic series, complete with its own continuity and unique threats like The Ghoul. Notably drawn by Ron Wilson, known for his work on Marvel's The Thing.

Fun Fact: The series faced challenges keeping up with real-world WCW changes. WCW World Champion Lex Luger was featured prominently in the first two issues but then abruptly left the company in real life, forcing the comic to awkwardly write him out and crown a new champion off-panel

Love & Rockets #46 (1994, Fantagraphics)

Synopsis: This issue continues two major storylines: Part 4 of Jaime Hernandez's "Wigwam Bam," focusing on Maggie returning to her old neighborhood and confronting changes, particularly involving Hopey; and Part 9 of Gilbert Hernandez's "Poison River," further exploring the dark, complex backstory of Luba and her family connections.

Key Significant: Important for advancing key character arcs late in the first volume's run. Jaime's story deepens Maggie's journey of self-discovery and changing relationships, while Gilbert's "Poison River" installment adds layers to Luba's intricate and often harrowing history.

Fun Fact: Although wrestling doesn't feature heavily in this specific issue, Jaime Hernandez's contributions to Love and Rockets are notable in the larger context of wrestling comics for creating compelling wrestler characters like Rena Titañon and Vicki Glori and exploring their lives both in and out of the ring in other storylines.

Warrior #1 (1996, Ultimate Creations)

Synopsis: This debut issue, written entirely by The Ultimate Warrior, introduces his complex personal philosophy known as "Destrucity." It begins a typically dense and intense narrative exploring the cosmic origins of the Warrior persona while also depicting the wrestler awakening with newfound aggressive purpose.

Key Significant: Launched during The Ultimate Warrior's heavily promoted 1996 WWF comeback, this series was a vanity project written by Warrior himself. It's significant for attempting to directly translate his unique worldview onto the comic page and became infamous for its confusing narrative and distinct 1990s art style.

Undertaker #1 (1999, Chaos! Comics)

Synopsis: This ongoing series portrayed The Undertaker as a supernatural entity, often acting as a warden for Hell's prison (Stygian). He battled escaped demons (sometimes disguised as wrestlers), his treacherous manager Paul Bearer, his brother Kane, and demonic figures like The Embalmer, expanding on his dark mythology.

Key Significant: This was WWF's flagship comic book during the height of the Attitude Era, published by Chaos! Comics. It leaned heavily into the horror/supernatural aspects of the character, making it one of the more popular and thematically fitting wrestling comics of the period. Chaos! Comics would go on to make more comics featuring WWF superstars: Stone Cold Steve Austin, Chyna, Mankind, and the Rock.

Nash #1 (1999, Image Comics/Top Cow)

Synopsis: Set in a dystopian 2023 where the world is divided between rich domed cities and poor wastelands, the massive Nash emerges to fight injustice against Cyruss Storm and the powerful World Food Distribution Corp., which controls the food supply. The story promises plot twists, betrayals, action ("big guns"), and "scintillating babes."

Key Significant: This comic marked the official writing debut of professional wrestling superstar Kevin Nash, launched by Image Comics during the peak of his nWo/WCW fame.

Spider-Man’s Tangled Web #14 (2002, Marvel Comics)

Synopsis: Titled "The Last Shoot," this story focuses on Crusher Hogan, the wrestler a young Peter Parker famously defeated in his very first public display of spider-powers. It catches up with Hogan years later, working as a janitor in a boxing gym, reflecting on how that brief, embarrassing encounter shaped his life and how he remembers Spider-Man.

Key Significant: This issue is often highlighted as a standout from the Tangled Web anthology series. It's significant for taking a very minor character from Spider-Man's origin and providing a touching, humanizing story that explores the lasting impact of Spider-Man's existence, even from his earliest days.

Headlocked: Work of Art #1 (2007, Visionary Comics)

Synopsis: This graphic novel continues the journey of Mike Hartmann, a former college theater major chasing his dream of becoming a professional wrestler. He continues to navigate the difficult and often bizarre world of the independent wrestling circuit, facing challenges related to performance, identity, and the harsh realities of the business.

Key Significant: As part of the critically acclaimed Headlocked series by Michael Kingston, this volume is significant for its continued authentic portrayal of the inner workings and struggles within the professional wrestling industry, funded successfully through Kickstarter campaigns.

Fun Fact: The Headlocked series, including "A Work of Art," is well-known for its collaboration with numerous actual professional wrestlers, who often contribute forewords, backup stories, or appear on variant covers, adding a layer of authenticity appreciated by wrestling fans.

WWE Heroes #1 (2010, Titans)

Synopsis: This series reimagined WWE superstars as reincarnations of ancient, powerful beings locked in an eternal battle between good (the Firstborn) and evil (the Shadow King). The conflict unfolds in a specially created universe, often involving major WWE events like WrestleMania as backdrops for supernatural showdowns.

Key Significant: Launched by Titan Comics in 2010, WWE Heroes represented a significant effort to create a dedicated comic book universe for WWE characters, blending their established personas with a high-concept, supernatural storyline separate from the in-ring action.

Fun Fact: The primary villain of the series, the ancient and evil Shadow King, was drawn with a striking resemblance to Triple H's popular "King of Kings" persona from WWE television during that era.

Andre the Giant: Life and Legend (2014, First Second)

Synopsis: This graphic novel biography chronicles the extraordinary life of André René Roussimoff, known worldwide as Andre the Giant. It covers his childhood in rural France, his rise to global fame in professional wrestling, his iconic role as Fezzik in The Princess Bride, and delves into his struggles with acromegaly (gigantism), his legendary drinking exploits, and the physical pain he endured.

Key Significant: Created entirely by Box Brown, this book is widely regarded as a seminal graphic novel biography. It received critical acclaim (including becoming a New York Times Bestseller and winning an Eisner Award) for its thoroughly researched, sensitive, and humanizing portrayal of the iconic figure, balancing the "legend" with the complex "life."

Thor Annual #1 (2015, Marvel Comics)

Synopsis: This annual features three distinct stories showcasing different eras of Thor but we will focus on one story: Young Thor: A tale of a brash, young, pre-worthiness Thor engaging in an epic drinking contest against Mephisto.

Key Significant: Released during the period when Jane Foster was Thor, this annual is notable for featuring the Marvel Comics writing debuts of former WWE wrestler CM Punk.

Fun Fact: The "Young Thor" story, which heavily features a mythological drinking contest, was written by CM Punk. This was ironic to many fans, as during his WWE career, Punk portrayed a character who strictly adhered to a "straight edge" lifestyle, abstaining from alcohol and drugs.

Ringside #1 (2015, Image Comics)

Synopsis: Ringside is a gritty crime noir series set against the backdrop of the professional wrestling world. It focuses on the lives of wrestlers outside the ring, delving into themes of aging, the physical and emotional toll of the business, broken dreams, backstage politics, and the intersection with crime. The story primarily follows Dan Knossos, a former wrestler known as "The Minotaur," who returns from Japan to help an old friend tangled in dangerous affairs, forcing him to confront his violent past.

Key Significant: The series is known for its realistic, often bleak, and character-driven portrayal of the less glamorous side of professional wrestling, earning comparisons to the docuseries Dark Side of the Ring. It uses the wrestling world not for spectacle, but as a setting for a multi-perspective crime drama exploring the harsh realities and personal costs of the industry. The series ran for 15 issues from 2015 to 2018.

Fun Fact: Despite being set in the world of professional wrestling, Ringside features very little actual in-ring wrestling action. Instead, it focuses heavily on the "kayfabe" (the staged elements and storylines) bleeding into real life and the often-brutal consequences faced by its characters outside the spotlight, using authentic wrestling terminology and industry insights to build its noir atmosphere.

WWE: Then.Now.Forever #1 (2016, Boom! Studios)

Synopsis: This oversized one-shot anthology launched BOOM! Studios' WWE comic line. The main 20-page story, "The Breaking of the Shield," delves into the events surrounding Seth Rollins' betrayal of his partners Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose, exploring the motivations and behind-the-scenes manipulation by Triple H. It also includes backup stories featuring The New Day in a time-travel escapade, Sasha Banks' journey, and other vignettes celebrating various WWE eras and superstars.

Key Significant: Published in November 2016, this special served as the kickoff for BOOM! Studios' partnership with WWE and preceded their ongoing WWE series. It established the comics' aim to expand on WWE storylines and character backstories, adding depth to events seen on television, particularly the highly influential Shield breakup.

Fun Fact: The special reprinted several one-page comics initially released at San Diego Comic-Con 2016 to announce the BOOM! Studios/WWE partnership. It also featured multiple interlocking variant covers by Dan Mora, which when placed together, showed the three members of The Shield standing separately but connected.

Long Live Pro Wrestling #0 (2018, Scout Comics)

Synopsis: The story follows Evan Dandy, a former professional wrestler who successfully transitioned into a mainstream pop culture star and talk show host. On the eve of his network show's premiere, his wrestling past comes back to haunt him, potentially jeopardizing his newfound success.

Key Significant: An independent comic published by Scout Comics, created by the company's President, James Haick III. It offers a look at the wrestling world through the lens of someone trying to move beyond it while navigating mainstream fame.

The Crimson Cage #1 (2021, AWA Upshot)

Synopsis: Set in the Louisiana territory wrestling scene of 1984, this horror series is a direct reimagining of Shakespeare's Macbeth. Local main event star Chuck Frenzy receives a supernatural prophecy foretelling championship glory, leading him and his ambitious wife/valet Sharlene down a violent path of murder and madness to achieve it.

Key Significant: Published by AWA Studios/Upshot, this 5-issue limited series (2021-2022) received critical acclaim for its unique and effective blend of Shakespearean tragedy, gritty 1980s territory wrestling atmosphere, and visceral horror imagery.

Fun Fact: The series cleverly translates Macbeth into wrestling terms, with the Three Witches becoming mysterious "Bayou Sisters" and wrestling promos often serving the narrative function of Shakespearean soliloquies or monologues.

Hell is A Squared Circle (2022, Aftershock Comics)

Synopsis: This "Wrestling Noir" one-shot follows Ted "The Irish Mooska" Walsh, a struggling, third-tier wrestling heel in the late 1970s. Behind on rent and child support, his desperate attempt to take control of his life leads to violence, forcing him onto the run, where his past inevitably catches up with him years later.

Key Significant: A 48-page prestige format one-shot (part of AfterShock Comics' "One-Shock" line) known for merging the gritty realities of low-level territory wrestling with dark crime noir elements. It was written by Chris Condon, acclaimed creator of That Texas Blood. The story specifically leans into the "Wrestling Noir" concept, focusing on the darker, more desperate side of the business and featuring a flawed protagonist wrestling with his past, typical of classic noir fiction.

Do A Powerbomb! #1 (2022, Image Comics)

Synopsis: Lona Steelrose dreams of being a pro wrestler like her late mother, Yua, who died tragically in the ring. Lona gets a chance to bring Yua back when a wrestling-obsessed necromancer invites her to compete in a dangerous, otherworldly tag team tournament alongside Cobrasun (the wrestler involved in her mother's accident). The prize for winning the interdimensional "Deathlyfe Tag Team Tournament" is the resurrection of one deceased loved one.

Key Significant: This 7-issue limited series (2022-2023) from Image Comics, created solely by Daniel Warren Johnson (writing and art), was critically acclaimed and won the 2023 Eisner Award for Best Publication for Teens. It's celebrated for its high-energy, impactful artwork and its unique blend of over-the-top wrestling action with deep emotional themes of grief, legacy, and found family.

Fun Fact: A central conceit of the story involves the necromancer organizing the deadly tournament being unaware that professional wrestling on Earth is scripted ("kayfabe"), unlike the lethal combat practiced by many of the tournament's monstrous and alien participants, raising the stakes significantly for the human competitors.

Codename Ric Flair: Magic Eightball #1 (2023, Scout Comics)

Synopsis: This comic series presents a "fact-or-fiction" take on the Nature Boy, suggesting that Ric Flair's famous jet-setting, limousine-riding, wheelin'-dealin' wrestling persona in the 1980s and 90s was actually the perfect cover for his real job: an international secret agent for the U.S. government. The first and only issue, "Magic Eightball," depicts one of these spy missions.

Key Significant: A licensed comic series from Scout Comics starring the legendary wrestler Ric Flair. It blends elements of his real biography (like his infamous plane crash, albeit with a fictional twist) with an original spy-thriller narrative, conceived by Scout Comics' President James Haick III.

AEW Origins Special Edition #1 (2024, DC Comics)

Synopsis: This promotional one-shot special, created in collaboration with DC Comics, explores the "untold origin stories" of six All Elite Wrestling superstars, delving into their backstories beyond the wrestling ring. Stars featured include Swerve Strickland, "Timeless" Toni Storm, Will Ospreay, and Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D.

Key Significant: Released in late 2024, this comic marks a significant collaboration between AEW and DC Comics (fellow Warner Bros. Discovery properties). It leverages DC Comics' platform and creative talent to officially flesh out the backgrounds of major AEW personalities for fans of both wrestling and comics.

Fun Fact: The release of this comic followed increased DC Comics branding appearing at live AEW events and AEW star Swerve Strickland being featured in an issue of DC's Batman, highlighting the growing synergy between the wrestling promotion and the comic book giant.