Disclaimer: This review contains mild spoilers.
Writer: Daniel Warren Johnson
Art: Daniel Warren Johnson
Colors: Mike Spicer
Letters: Rus Wooton
Publisher: Image Comics
Release Date: March 7, 2023
Oftentimes, readers will skim through an author’s note or skip it completely to dive straight into the text. I’m glad that it wasn’t the case for me with “Do a Powerbomb”. While introducing his Eisner-winning seven-issue limited series for Image Comics, Daniel Warren Johnson details falling head-over-heels in love with professional wrestling during the summer of 2018 while up late with his infant daughter via New Japan Pro Wrestling. He also shares that his parents never allowed him to watch it growing up and he missed out on the legendary Attitude Era – a time when mature content got the greenlight by the WWE (then WWF). He credits his daughter Fiona with helping him fall in love with something new.
The Backstory
My own journey with pro wrestling is completely different. Like many kids who grew up in the 90’s I immersed myself completely in the Attitude Era, convincing my fourth grade basketball team to name ourselves the Wolf Pack, sneaking out of bed to flip back and forth between “Raw” and “Nitro”, giving the DX “salute” to anyone and everyone on the playground, and nearly passing out when Torrie Wilson touched my hand while making an entrance at a house show.
Somewhere in the early 2000’s though I stopped watching the product, convincing myself that I was “too old for that stuff”. I saw news every once in a while, or watch The Rock (my personal favorite) become a Hollywood star. It reminded me of days gone by.
That was until a few years ago, when my kids somehow fell in love with wrestling and began watching old matches on YouTube – mostly of Kane and The Undertaker. Before I knew it, they were educating me on the new class of wrestlers and I began watching it regularly once again. I told myself it was my way of bonding with them but, much like Johnson, my kids helped me fall in love with something new.
It’s All About Family
“Do a Powerbomb” perfectly nails the impact of family and the legacy that lies therein. Whether it’s sprawling tree of the Anoa’i family – which includes The Rock, Roman Reigns, The Usos, Rikishi, Yokozuna, Umaga, Naomi, and countless others or Cody Rhodes trying to “finish the story” left behind by his late father, Dusty.
In fact, those storylines have taken center stage in the WWE right now and are without a doubt the most compelling product the industry has seen in quite some time. After a horrific in-ring accident claims the life of her legendary mother, Lona Steel Rose takes on the Herculean task of honoring the legacy and memory of Yua Steel Rose, the greatest champion in the history of Tokyo Grand Pro Wrestling.
The idea of chasing the ghosts of loved ones long gone is actually made textual in “Do a Powerbomb” however, as Lona is presented with the opportunity by a wrestling-superfan necromancer to win a tag team wrestling tournament and resurrect her mother. In true pro wrestling fashion, she enlists Cobrasun (the other wrestler involved in her mother’s deadly accident) as her tag team partner. Reluctant at first, Cobrasun eventually agrees and readers are transported to a world that truly can only be done justice in a comic book.
The Spectacle & Style
The art of Daniel Warren Johnson, the colors of Mike Spicer, and the letters of Rus Wooton form a perfect tag-team trio to bring the spectacle of professional wrestling to life in comic book form. Inject some horror and sci-fi influence and the end result is simply majestic. Not only are audiences traversing planets and galaxies to be introduced to some of the most unique and captivating teams, but the fact that this tournament takes place in something reminiscent of a Mortal Kombat fighting stage is truly captivating.
“Powerbomb” fully embraces the inherent silliness and bravado of professional wrestling in a way that both honors the craft but also gives a wink to the reader. The creative juices were clearly flowing for Johnson & Co. when you have two alien orangutans named Orangabang or a finishing move called “The Coin Pouch of Judas”.
This title also does a fantastic job of paying tribute to the very different styles of wrestling. The influence from Japanese wrestling is a clear and ever-present theme with Yua and Lona Steel Rose. Cobrasun is of Mexican-Canadian descent with clear homages to the lucha libre style. And even though he missed out on wrestling from the 90’s, the hardcore match style used a few times in the title will transport readers to the heyday of ECW (Extreme Championship Wrestling).
The “Oh My God!” Moments
Simply put, “Do a Powerbomb!” is a must read for wrestling fans either current or past. The best types of media – be they songs, films, or comics – will transport the audience to a moment in time and bring back all of the emotions and experiences therein.
Even if the layer of professional wrestling is stripped away, a poignant story about family, loss, processing grief, and legacy remains.
The trade paperback Do a Powerbomb! collects Issues 1-7 and released on March 7, 2023.
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David Allen