Ringside, which can be purchased here, provides an insight into the wrestling world through the medium of comics. In particular issue 3 provides 3 different scenarios that range from a washed up wrestler, to how the industry works on a creative level, and a wrestler beginning to understand his role in the industry. All the scenarios have a level of realness as many wrestlers had been in similar situations thus it makes the comic semi-biographical. Ringside issue 3 provides an insight through 3 different people into the wrestling industry at different stages.
The Good:
The comic captures a reality about the wrestling business. This is relevant with the scenario that Dan is experiencing due to his age and his friend Teddy. Dan has come to the realization that he has left his friend Teddy, to try to become a big wrestler. This has generated guilt for Dan and he feels that he is responsible for getting Teddy out of trouble. In attempting to do this he is stopped by Terrance, who brings out that Dan only has a bank account that can last him for 2 years, his body is falling apart, he was an average wrestler and the only thing he has left is his friendship with Teddy. This shows how the wrestling business requires sacrifices and is unforgiving when it is done with you as a person, as is the case with Dan. While Dan’s situation is being revealed an interaction between Ragan and Mr. Mayer in a creative meeting occurs. This interaction focuses on Ragan making a suggestion on who should be pushed as a wrestler. This is met with opposition, which shows how tough and complicated booking and writing a wrestling show can be. Furthermore, Mr. Mayer, the head of the wrestling show takes a confrontational approach to do business, which is the current style of booking in wrestling in recent years. Now due to the creative meeting that occurred we see the character Reynolds realize his role of being a jobber. He begins to realize that the key to making it big in this industry is selling your merchandise to the fans. This moment captures when a young wrestler begins to become business smart in this industry.
The Bad:
The comic paints a very bleak picture of the wrestling industry. In particular with Dan as it shows that he is washed up and cannot fend for himself. Furthermore, Dan is barely surviving each day and has sacrificed many things for the wrestling business and is about to lose one more thing, his friendship with Teddy. Now the comic attempts to give an element of hope to this segment of the story as Dan receives a solution, yet that solution implies that he has to kill people to protect his friend, which creates an unrealistic element to the comic. The other two components of the comic are well done but capture a one sided element of how the wrestling industry works creates a negative bias. Issue 3 takes a realistic negative, approach to the wrestling industry as it explores the washed up wrestler, the creative team, and the young wrestler just starting out.
The Verdict:
This inside look into the wrestling industry paints a negative picture on how a rookie, the creative team and the washed up veteran wrestler deal with the consequences of their careers. Despite the negativity the comic generates about the industry it is a well thought out issue that has an over all realistic feel to it that is relatable to all readers.
