Following the recent launch of the Luchaverse comic featuring Rey Mysterio, Massive Publishing and Masked Republic have announced another title featuring a wrestling legend — Vampiro: Rockabilly Apocalypse.
Although originally from Canada, Vampiro made his name wrestling and promoting in Mexico starting in the 1990s. He has also appeared in WCW, TNA and NWA, and as a commentator on Lucha Underground (which is ripe for a comic reboot *coughcough*).
The comic will be written by Michael Kingston and features art by Martin Pouso, aka El Terrorifico Dr. Napalm, a cartoonist, illustrator, musician and tattoo artist from Montevideo, Uruguay.
“I was featured in dozens of comics in Mexico in the 90s, but it’s always been one of my dreams to have my very own book.” Vampiro said, “The vision for the series Masked Republic and Michael Kingston laid out was right up my alley – fast cars, rock and roll, and an impending apocalypse to fend off. I really think that both fans of mine and comic readers who just love great stories and may be less familiar with who I am are going to love being along for this wild ride.”
Here’s how Massive describes the series:
In the pages and panels of Vampiro: Rockabilly Apocalypse, readers will join Vampiro, luchadora Estrella Nocturna, and underground music vlogger Everitt Holden as they hurtle down Route 66 in a 1955 Pontiac Bonneville on a quest to save the world! It’s a tale filled with monsters, muscle cars, luchadores, cops, clowns, nuns, guns, demons, blood and plenty of BBQ as our heroes race against time -and a whole host of enemies – to try and thwart a secret plan to jumpstart the apocalypse!
“The character of Vampiro is truly one of legend,” Masked Republic President and series co-creator Kevin Kleinrock said. “The too-slick-not-to-be-dangerous, charismatic, silver-tongued devil that Vampiro is in real life was absolutely meant to transcend the lucha libre industry. Michael Kingston has brilliantly captured his personality of dark humor, quick quips and a rock-and-roll lifestyle and crafted one of the most fun comic stories I have ever read.”
The first issue will feature variant covers by El Terrorifico Dr. Napalm and Diego Simone:
Look for it to arrive on stores shelves on Oct. 16. Massive will have an ashcan preview of the first issue at their booth during next week’s San Diego Comic Con.