By Harrison Stewart — It bears repeating: Daniel Warren Johnson is an absolute treasure to the comics medium. Oftentimes working as writer/artist, he's produced quite the impressive body of work, each more ambitious and visually stunning than the last. Whether handling Big Two properties or his own creative endeavors, the man simply doesn’t miss. Do a Powerbomb #1 — which is due out June 15 — continues that upward trajectory with an electric, emotionally resonant start to a promising new miniseries.

Lona Steelrose is a hard-nosed amateur wrestler with the gumption to be one of the greats. The only problem: her mother, Yua Steelrose, was the best to ever do it. That shadow looms large over Lona’s budding career, frequently leading others to withhold opportunities in the hopes of preserving Yua’s legacy. But everything changes when a mysterious necromancer offers to restore the greatest loss of Lona’s life. All she needs to do is win a super powered, Mortal Kombat-style tournament held in a hellish realm known as the Barren Bastion. No biggie, right?

This book is a masterclass in suspenseful stage setting. Johnson’s seasoned, steady-handed pacing is brilliantly suited to single issue storytelling, offering enough to maintain momentum while still playing it close to the vest. Several times, I found myself genuinely shocked by twists and turns, even audibly gasping at one moment in particular. It’s thrilling to watch a gifted artist at play, always in full control of his craft even while appearing to go completely off the rails. Like seeing a gymnast tumble through the air, the feeling of excited anticipation is palpable.

As with most successful remixes, Powerbomb is at once an homage and deconstruction. It comes with all the camp and melodrama pro wrestling demands, but with a heightened emotional intelligence akin to The Wrestler. Johnson utilizes the sport’s inherently blurred line between reality and performance as a vehicle to explore tragedy and growth, both of which are frequently recurring themes in his work. That intersection provides plenty of opportunity for character study within relatively limited space. We’re one issue in and I’m already deeply invested in the outcome.

Generally speaking, I’m not a fan of wrestling comics. As a largely experiential sport, translating the raw kinetic energy of wrestling onto the page has proven difficult, if not impossible in most instances. Apparently no one told Johnson, who effortlessly captures lightning in a bottle page after page. You can hear the roar of the crowd, the taunting bravado, the haunting crunch of broken bodies. Action explodes across the panels, gleefully embracing absurdity without minimizing the human cost of violence. That’s a remarkably tight rope to walk, but Johnson finds his footing with utmost grace.

Do a Powerbomb #1 is a passion project in every sense. Johnson’s affinity for bombastic visuals paired with character driven story finds a most comfortable home in the world of super powered wrestling. As a reader, you feel like a fly on the wall of determined imagination, joining in a unique, self-assured extravaganza. This was not a book I expected to love, but the final result is irresistible to anyone who enjoys a solid story and dynamite art. I cannot wait for the next issue.

Overall: Lovingly written and masterfully drawn, Do a Powerbomb #1 is the rare wrestling comic that is so good it will appeal to fans and critics alike. 10/10

REVIEW: Do A Powerbomb #1

Do A Powerbomb #1
Writer/Artist: Daniel Warren Johnson
Colorist: Mike Spicer
Letterer: Rus Wooton
Publisher: Image Comics/Skybound
The creator of MURDER FALCON and Wonder Woman: Dead Earth is launching a brand-new limited series!
Lona Steelrose wants to be a pro wrestler, but she’s living under the shadow of her mother, the best to ever do it. Everything changes when a wrestling-obsessed necromancer asks her to join the grandest pro wrestling tournament of all time, which is also the most dangerous! It’s The Wrestler meets Dragonball Z in a tale where the competitors get more than they ever bargained for!
Price: $3.99
Buy It Here: Do A Powerbomb #1

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Harrison manages a comic shop by day and writes comics by night. You can find more of his writing at @stewart_bros