Review: Jim Cornette Presents: Behind The Curtain: Real Pro Wrestling Stories

IDW Publishing is no stranger to unique comic books, and this latest release is no exception. In an amazing Kickstarter success, IDW and Jim Cornette teamed up to present to the comic and wrestling world a comic book like none other. Hitting stores this week for the general public, Jim Cornette Presents: Behind The Curtain: Real Pro Wrestling Stories is one comic book that is worth your hard-earned money. When this title was first announced, I wondered how a superhero Jim Cornette would look, but thankfully Cornette and team decided to give you an illustrated history book that is a must-own item for wrestling nerd in all of us.Â Jim doesn’t share the success of this title alone though, with help from writer Brandon Easton, art by Dennis Medri, colors by Jordi Escuin, and letters by Tom B. Long, this book delivers on all fronts to the reader. Now to not spoil anything for those wanting to read this title, I will be doing a spoiler free review of this fine book.

Let’s kick things off by talking about the wonderful writing presented in this fine publication. The stories told in this book are from Jim Cornette, but the actual translation and crafting of those stories into word form for a comic book are done by Brandon Easton. Easton takes these great tales,Â and lets the reader digest the info in a fun and historical way. Using Cornette as a host to buffer between each story is a great idea, and one that keeps you as a reader invested in the tale being told. Brandon Easton really makes this book feel alive. His words create excitement as you keep browsing through each of the nine stories told. Easton’s writing, combined with Cornette’s story are the perfect tag team to tackle the comic book industry. At no point did I find any of the writing dull, and sometimes comic books can have that happen. The biggest compliment I can give is when a writer is able to capture the characters voice in word form, and Brandon has done this with Jim Cornette’s tales of the squared circle.

Speaking of words, lettering is always an important thing when reading a graphic novel, and I am happy to say that Tom B. Long does a great job with the wording. The font choice was fantastic and didn’t hurt the eyes, and the words do pop with the colorful art provided by Dennis Medri. The art choices in this book look amazing, and with the stories involving older wrestlers I have never seen but only heard of, those wrestlers really come alive. The artwork here is the perfect side to the words. It has sizzle that steak needs to wow you! The color choices in this book are really a wonderful treat. The book never looks dull, and the book comes to life better than many highlight reels. Jordi Escuin should be commended for the color choices that make this book breathe.

Overall, this book is the most important comic book wrestling graphic novel any wrestling fan can own. A huge credit goes to the Kickstarter fans who make this book possible. Jim Cornette and IDW team have really given a treasure trove of excitement in print form that should not be passed on. Not only that, it has beautiful news clippings woven throughout it, along with an amazing glossary of professional wrestling terms that help fill in word choices used in the book.Â It’s great to see talented artists and writers coming together to give the wrestling fan a book to be proud of. I really do hope you pick it up, and I also really hope we see more of these talented folks deliver a second book in the future. 5/5!

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(W) Jim Cornette, Brandon Easton (A/CA) Denis Medri