WWE Royal Rumble 2018 Special #1

Writers: Lan Pitts, Kevin Panetta, Ryan Ferrier, AJ Styles, Michael Kingston
Artists: Rodrigo Lorenzo, Dominike “Domo” Stanton, Kendall Goode, Daniel Bayliss
Colorists: Doug Garbark, Jeremy Lawson
Letterer: Jim Campbell
Publisher: Boom! Studios

With WWE’s Royal Rumble PPV around the corner, they’ve released this Royal Rumble 2018 Special. This issue is split into four stories, all written and illustrated by different authors and artists. Each story highlights a different WWE superstar in a different year of the Royal Rumble PPV.

In the first story we see Ric Flair in his dressing room after winning the Royal Rumble. Bobby “The Brain” Heenan and Mr. Perfect warn Ric that there are going to be plenty of other talented wrestlers who are going to be coming for him. The whole story is essentially just a pointless conversation between the three of them. I finished the story puzzled by why this had even made it into the comic book. The dialogue was unrealistic and the art made the characters’ faces look strange. I did not enjoy this story and had trouble thinking I’d like anymore of this issue.

The second story gives us the New Day recalling past Royal Rumble performances by Kofi. Once again, the art is strange but I did appreciate how colorful the artwork was surrounding the New Day’s story. This story was fun as it reviewed several moments in Royal Rumble history that I loved watching live and still remember Kofi for.

The third story is strange, chaotic, and hilarious. Macho Man and Sherri are escaping the stadium as he is supposed to be headed to the ring for his Royal Rumble entrance. They are being hunted down by a crazy cartoonish Ultimate Warrior. This story almost reminds me of a simple over-the-top section of a digest with lots of ridiculous action, silly tropes, and funny dialogue. It also features a great cameo by Jake “The Snake” Roberts that is worth reading the whole story for.

We finally wrap up the issue with A.J. Styles on the night he debuted in the WWE at Royal Rumble. It was an awesome moment in wrestling history and see AJ Styles write his interaction backstage in comic book form was great. We see the start of the Cena/Styles feud that ended up being quite amazing.

I typically enjoy WWE comic books and I think they have put out several great series but I think that this one falls short. It doesn’t come together and make a good solid comic book reading experience and it is slightly disappointing.