The Hero and the Villain, the good and the bad, the fight for what’s right over what’s wrong. A simple theme that has lent its ideology to almost every form of entertainment throughout history. Movies, music, books, and even the theater do their best to display characters that portray both “good” and “bad” people. The best place to find a premise like this is in our favorite Comic Books, and in the world of Professional Wrestling. So what happens when these two entities join forces? You have the greatest form of entertainment written on paper. In Wrestling, you have fans that love to cheer for the good guys and boo the bad guys. In any sport, the plan is always to support your local teams. But in wrestling, you have to support the guy that reminds you of yourself in some way. “OVER THE ROPES” is a great marriage of both character and story.
Its 1992, enter Jason, the person who you understand is talking, but you’re not sure why just yet. As you see a main event match taking place, you understand that someone is trying to explain the situation. We cut to our would be hero, Jason Lynn, a wrestler known for being a “mid card” talent. For those who are not familiar: mid card talent refers to performers that are great, but not good enough yet to be a main star attraction. Jason is a guy who is fighting an extreme uphill battle. Trapped between the failures of both his professional and personal life, Jason struggles on to hopefully one day reach his goals of being successful, as well as, no longer single.
Stuck in a world where his dreams are handicapped, Jason is indirectly given the opportunity of a lifetime. A chance at not only participating in the main event, but a guaranteed win for the championship. This is the dream come true for every person that has ever laced up a pair of boots, dawned a pair of tights, and thought that they could become the next Hulk Hogan. However, as we’ve all learned by the numerous documentaries made surrounding the secret “ins and outs” of the real wresting business, that everything comes with a heavy price in this industry.
Its funny how a bad date turned even worse led to amazing opportunities and new levels of inspiration. To fully understand what I mean by this, you will have to tune in and find out for yourself. This first issue of OVER THE ROPES is pretty good. You have a great introduction to the main characters, followed by interesting set ups to future plots and twists. If this were a real feature film or a series on Netflix, I would be immediately hooked into a binge watch weekend.
Southern Fried Wrestling is the place to be, and Phoenix verses “Ramblin” Ricky Radison is the match to watch. What happens after the bell rings is what we all what to know. Is all hell going to break loose? How will Jason overcome the odds? And what challenges await his inevitable future? Mad Cave is easily becoming the new standard in Comic Book Entertainment. They have been very consistent with their release of hit after hit Comic series. Please don’t just take my word for it, check out this great start to a fantastic story.
Over The Ropes #1
Mad Cave Studios
Written by: Jay Sandlin
Edited by: Giovanna T. Orozco, Brian Hawkins, and Chris Fernandez
Art by: Antonello Cosentino
Colors by: Francesco Sagala
Letters by: Justin Birch
Reviewer: Adrian Richardson
Summary: Step Over the Ropes and into 1990s wrestling. Set in a fictional world, Over the Ropes dives into sports entertainment’s biggest era. A young high-flyer named Jason Lynn goes off-script in a match to win the world title and sets the southern territory on fire as the face-painted wrestler, Phoenix. Jason’s battles between the ropes are only outperformed by his struggles outside the ring. First dates. Crooked promoters. Cage matches. Factions and families. No matter what problems smack him with a steel chair, Jason lives by his catchphrase: I. Will. Rise.
Over The Ropes #2
Mad Cave Studios
Written by: Jay Sandlin
Edited by: Giovanna T. Orozco, Brian Hawkins, and Chris Fernandez
Art by: Antonello Cosentino
Colors by: Francesco Sagala
Letters by: Justin Birch
Reviewer: Adrian Richardson
Summary: Fresh off his unexpected victory over Ramblin’ Rick Radison, Jason now has a major bounty on his head. And Jessie Presley, the sumo wrestling, Elvis impersonator, is known nationwide for collecting as many bounties as he can. Will Jason rise like a Phoenix or will Jessie leave him all shook up?
After reading the very first issue of OVER THE ROPES, I absolutely could not wait to get my hands on the second installment. We learn that our unlikely hero Jason Lynn has won the Championship Title. The problem is that he did it in a way that did not sit well with the former champ, who also happens to be the boss of the entire organization. The plans have been set in motion to destroy Jason, and teach him a lesson the “hard way” in wrestling.
As the SFW tour takes its show to Memphis, there is a deadly opponent waiting for Jason Lynn aka Phoenix the newly crowned champion. With a bad reputation and an extra incentive to hurt, this Tennessee native has big plans for his match against Jason in the main event. How will our hero overcome this new challenge? Is it possible that a “smoothing over” of the past events have had any effect on the former champ who holds Jason’s entire career in his hands? What will be left of the new champ after this next exciting encounter?
OVER THE ROPES #2 delivers action, and picks up from right where the first issue left us. You will not be disappointed! There is plenty of story and character building in this second issue. More twists and plots are coming your way as you continue to read on in this series. At the end of this issue, you will be asking yourself who are these three mystery men and what is their connection to Jason’s Spanish partner.
I loved the two books I’ve read now in this series. It gives you a great comic book feel, while maintaining a true reality in the world of Pro Wrestling. And no, you do not have to be a fan of comics or wrestling in order to enjoy this series. You just have to love a great story of good verses evil.
Over The Ropes #3
Mad Cave Studios
Written by: Jay Sandlin
Edited by: Giovanna T. Orozco, Brian Hawkins, and Chris Fernandez
Art by: Antonello Cosentino
Colors by: Francesco Sagala
Letters by: Justin Birch
Reviewer: Adrian Richardson
Summary: With their past coming back to haunt them, Phoenix, Blue Bomba, and Barbwire face off against Mexi-KO, Uno, and Ricky Radison in a six-man tag match where whoever gets the pin, gets the win.
OVER THE ROPES #3 is spectacular! Wow, I definitely did not see any of that coming. Shocking twist after surprise twist! It was a brutal rumble in the ring. Weapons and double crosses only scratch the surface of what went down in this latest main event match. We start with a six-man tag but the end results are something you just have to see for yourself.
Once again, Jason Lynn the champion known in the ring as Phoenix has his back against the wall, as he looks at the steep uphill battle in front of him. Did the “boss” finally forgive our hero for going “against the script”, or does Ramblin’ Radison have bigger plans for his new champ Phoenix?
Now with the threat of this Mexican Trio death squad, Jason has to rely on his trainer and best friend in order to overcome this menacing foe. What will happen both in the ring and outside of the ring? Will there be any repercussion after the match is over? How can you be successful when your own boss is out to get you?
The end of this third installment is going to leave you with more questions than answers. You might even shed a tear or two for what happens at its conclusion. Just think, we are only into issue #3 of this series, and it is performing at a “Super Bowl Level”, and I really am at the edge of my seat waiting to see what happens next. We are now at the biggest cliffhanger so far, and the results will have a devastating and long lasting impact.
Over The Ropes #4
Mad Cave Studios
Written by: Jay Sandlin
Edited by: Giovanna T. Orozco, Brian Hawkins, and Chris Fernandez
Art by: Antonello Cosentino
Colors by: Francesco Sagala
Letters by: Justin Birch
Reviewer: Adrian Richardson
Summary: After being betrayed by his best friend, Blue Bomba, Jason is out for blood. Fully committed to his heel-turn, Jason storms the ring as the ultimate badass; “Death Phoenix”, and challenges Billy Radison to a steel cage match for the SFW title.
If you have been following along with me on this wrestling journey so far, then you already know how much this story has been heating up. After reading the first three issues of OVER THE ROPES, we’ve seen our hero Jason Lynn experience a roller coaster of a ride with his professional career and personal life. After hitting the top and winning the championship, it would seem that his real problems were only now starting to begin. A back and forth battle with his boss aka “Ramblin” Radison” who is also the former champion. A new relationship that has bloomed from a blind date. Constantly facing brand new enemies along this wrestling tour from city to city. Every corner seems to be met with an increasingly dangerous opponent. Yet through it all, Jason aka Phoenix has kept a positive attitude and a great smile to match it.
This fourth issue seems to have brought our hero Jason to a fork in the road. Will he choose the path of light or turn to the dark side of the road. Seeking revenge, it almost becomes obvious what will happen. The question is, will Phoenix be making a life-threatening mistake? We also get to see into the past, a special look at an incident that took place in Mexico between Phoenix, his partner, and the major promotion that is now currently looking for retribution.
This is the first issue in this series that is actually more story than action. But what is happening here is we are getting some of the long awaited answers we’ve desperately been craving. We have been wondering about Jason’s personal life and relationship with his father. And we’ve also wanted to know about the past career in Mexico. What made it turn out so bad, and how were they able to survive it all. This fourth book also sets us up for a major big time main event match that will take place in OVER THE ROPES #5. I can’t wait to see what will happen, who will win, who will get hurt, and most importantly, who will get “screwed”.
As a fan of wrestling, this comic series is awesome. Mad Cave did their homework! They are using official “Pro Wrestling Terminology”, and they have a great way to visually catch and display the action as if you were watching live in an arena, or at home on television. If this is the first time you are hearing about this comic book series, then you need to find issue #1 and start this journey for yourself. It is well worth the effort!
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