Wrestling is full of larger-than-life greats, but the sheer number of rumors, secrets, controversies, and myths that surround them make them even more special. Canadian wrestler Vampiro is perhaps one of the most complex wrestlers of all time. He fought in essentially every promotion in existence at some point, was the subject of his own documentary (Nails in the Coffin: The Rise and Fall of Vampiro), and was in the ring with The Misfits and Insane Clown Posey. He has partnered with Guardian Angels, a citizen crime patrol organization.
It’s no exaggeration to say that Vampiro is a legend. He was a phenomenon that took the Mexican wrestling world by storm throughout the 1990s, and continued to eat, breathe, and bleed wrestling for years to come. Now, he’s able to add action-horror comics to his ever-growing resume, thanks to Headlock Comics’ Michael Kingston, artist Dr. El Terorifico Napalm, and letterer Jacob Bascule, with the title: Vampiro: Rockabilly Apocalypse.”
The comic tells the story of an amateur podcaster named Everitt Holden who tries to get a mysterious and elusive rock guitarist (whose skills rival Hendrix) to appear on his podcast. That musician is Vampiro, a regal presence befitting the classical monster his name suggests. When an Elon Musk-like tech buddy called Maddox Mars reveals himself to be a kind of demon who uses his social media platform to sow anger and division among users, Everitt is quickly bombarded with blood and violence. You will be thrown into the world.
Vampiro, Everit, and a masked luchadora called Estrella go in search of Mars, but some important facts are revealed that make the stakes even higher for everyone involved. A chase scene ensues, the monster is decapitated, and the fate of the world begins to become a more serious concern.
Rockabilly Apocalypse is not a wrestling cartoon in the fullest sense of the word. It is an action-horror comic featuring wrestlers along with visual elements related to Lucha Libre. This does not affect the story in any way. It’s like when Roddy Piper starred in John Carpenter’s 1988 classic, They Live. The difference is that Vampiro keeps his name in the comics, and he’s also a full-fledged vampire (I mean, why wouldn’t he be?).
Carpenter’s references apply well to comics. Like They Live screenwriter Michael Kingston makes Rockabilly Apocalypse play out like an epic horror blockbuster, featuring memorable action sequences and badass jokes, both with plenty of gory violence. It has gender. There’s a sense of playfulness in the excesses, and the story unfolds with the ferocity of a hardcore wrestling match between big men and daredevils. Kingston keeps the dialogue tight and lean to keep things moving, without letting up on the excellent pace established early on.
Additionally, hot rod muscle cars, leather jackets, and old rock and roll guitars invoke some of the most famous elements of rockabilly style to great effect in the story. Artist Dr. Napalm does a great job of showing the defining character traits that separate the good guys from the bad guys. The villains are more modern, tech-style men in suits, representing not only a clash of styles but also a clash of values. It’s an approach reminiscent of the way heroes and villains were represented and coded in ’90s action movies. One look and you’ll know who’s on which side of the struggle. This, combined with the amazing monster design by Dr. Napalm, completes the essential celebration of wrestling, high-octane energy, and horror.
Vampiro: Rockabilly Apocalypse ends with the promise of even bigger battles to come, building up a lot of anticipation. Kingston and Dr. Napalm have created an explosive world filled with characters you’ll want to root for, whether you’re a wrestling fan or not. He also has a huge debt of gratitude to wrestling legend Vampiro, who takes on real monsters when necessary.
Headlocked Comic will be at NYCC ’24, booth 1034. Copies of Vampiro: Rockabilly Apocalypse are available for purchase. Vampiro only appears on Thursdays.
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