They say when one door closes, another opens. Well, that’s exactly what goes down in The Masked Macher #2. Fresh off losing the part that could have been his big break, Tony Hollywood decides to lean hard into his wrestling gig as The Masked Macher. But before Tony can steal the spotlight, issue #2 takes a little detour and tells another story that needs to be told first.
Dark Horse
While The Masked Macher #1 gave us a glimpse into Tony’s journey, issue #2 flips the script and makes Tony the co-star, diving deep into the backstory of his in-ring opponent, a talking grizzly bear named Benny. Benny talks about his past, including some wild shenanigans with Tony, like a publicity stunt gone wrong that was supposed to hype the wrestling promotion but ends up with Benny getting shot.
What makes The Masked Macher #2 great is that Benny the bear gives us more than just his side of the story – we also get a fresh look at Tony. Sure, Tony’s stubborn and sometimes arrogant, but this issue shows there’s more to the guy. Tony’s not just out for himself, he’s trying to get the wrestling company some serious attention by staging a showdown with a bear in broad daylight. What could go wrong?
In addition, issue #2 gives us some awesome, hilarious moments, like Benny and Tony’s in-ring clash and the friendship blossoming between Tony, Louisa, and the rest of the wrestling crew. Writer David A. Goodman has crafted a magnificent story. It’s got humor, heart, and great commentary on real-world issues, like how women still can’t get a fair deal in the wrestling business compared to their male counterparts. He weaves it all into the story without missing a beat and keeps the narrative feeling genuine.
Alex Andres crushes it with the artwork. It’s even better than the first issue, and any comic that starts off with a talking bear sitting in a chair, pouring himself a drink? You’ve got my attention. Andre’s panels are sharp and concise, letting every joke land just right while making sure every story beat hits. Some of my favorite pages are where Benny the bear tells us about his early days in Hollywood.
Overall, The Masked Macher #2 is even more fun than the first, and you can just feel there’s more in store for readers, which is awesome. The characters are likable, and the jokes land on every page. If you’re a fan of the golden age of cinema and wrestling, like myself, then you’ll love this book.
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