As you know, I’ve been writing about crime for 26 years. What you may not know is that I’ve also been a pro wrestling fan for 44 years and a comic book fan for even longer, going on 50 years now. So imagine my surprise when I discovered a comic book that combines all three of those interests: Wrestle Heist.

Wrestle Heist is a five-issue limited series published by Image Comics and written and illustrated by Kyle Starks.

For crime fans, this is not a gritty or grounded crime story. Much like professional wrestling itself, it’s colorful, bombastic, and completely over the top.

For wrestling fans, the series works as both a love letter to and a critique of professional wrestling history. The book is packed with references to real-life personalities, scandals, and infamous moments from the business. There are so many that you probably won’t catch all of them on a first read.

I also loved the visual style of the covers and back pages, which resemble the old wrestling magazines published by Bill Apter. The fake advertisements scattered throughout the series perfectly parody the sketchy ads that used to fill those magazines. Every page proudly reflects Kyle Starks’ obvious love of and deep knowledge about professional wrestling.

I’d love to see a sequel someday, or at least another story that expands on the world of Wrestle Heist.

If you only read the trades, that is scheduled to be released this coming August. You can help out me and the website by pre-ordering it or purchasing it here. (affiliate link)