Words: Patrick Hickey Jr
Art: Steve Cange
Letters: Josh Adams
Publisher: Legacy Comix
If Joey Janela and Penelope Ford had guns and a criminal mind before signing with AEW, you’d have Dan Dero and Bev.
The world of independent wrestling is filled with stories of struggle and heartbreak, and Dan Dero’s journey is no exception. In “The Job – Vol. 1” by Legacy Comix, we follow Dero and his partner Bev as they turn to a life of crime to make ends meet. This gritty story asks, “What are you willing to do to succeed and survive?”
Donning a Lucha mask and holding a bag of money, Dero is the star of this bank heist, and Bev is his ravishing co-star.
A homage to the likes of Miss Elizabeth, “Sensational” Sherri Martel, and Terri Runnels, Bev acts as the brains behind all the operations and as Dero’s valet for his in-ring career.
In the realm of professional wrestling, it is customary to have a female valet who employs her cunning and expertise to ensure that her managed competitor emerges victorious. Similarly, Bev uses her tactics outside the ring by stating, “The DDT that you perform with the Dragon Sleeper transition is remarkable; it just needs to be seen by more people…”. It appears that she is trying to help her wrestler gain more exposure by showcasing their moves.
“This is what makes us money. This is what supports us. Not wrestling,” Dero states as they prepare for the next heist.
Dero enjoys thoughts of being a big star, yet he focuses on the present situation instead of Bev’s planning for the future.
The comic does a good job of throwing subtle references to real-world pro wrestling. For instance, Dan Dero “goes into business for himself” and proceeds to perform a “shoot” promo, which ultimately gets him “over”.
Steve Cange developed Dero’s superkick in a way that distinguishes it from other live-action pro wrestling moves. While it is referred to as the “sexy superkick,” paying tribute to the “Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels, the artwork demonstrates that Dero has personalized it as his own move, as shown on pages nine and ten.
Bev wears an all-purple spaghetti-strapped buttoned crop top and pants similar to Ivory in WWE Smackdown: Shut Your Mouth. Cange snuck in this cool reference on pages 12 and 14.
The couple gets over with the crowd and becomes Bodacious Bev and Delicious Dan, allowing them to break away from breaking into banks.
The comic does a good job of focusing on the uprise of Dan and Bev, that you almost forget that these two are bank robbers.
A police officer and detective investigate the bank that was robbed, watching the surveillance footage and admiring the robbers’ “SEXY ASS SUPER KICK”.
In the thrilling world of independent wrestling, Legacy Comix introduces readers to the dynamic duo of Dan Dero and Bev, whose journey from struggling wrestlers to daring criminals is depicted in “The Job – Vol. 1.” With their masks and cunning plans, they execute bank heists that rival their performances in the ring. This captivating narrative blurs the lines between wrestling and heist genres, showcasing the lengths individuals will go to in order to survive and thrive. As the story unfolds, readers are immersed in a tale that explores themes of ambition, loyalty, and the pursuit of success by any means necessary. Through its clever nods to wrestling culture and high-stakes action, “The Job – Vol. 1” delivers an exhilarating experience that will leave fans eagerly anticipating the next chapter.
If this were a tag team match, Hickey Jr. and Cange would be the champions due to their great teamwork.
- The Job #1 (Cameron Fulcher Review) - May 17, 2024
This was so interesting that I’m curious to find out more about Dan and Bev inner thoughts about each other as they both maneuver the wrestling environment but the real mystery lies in will someone ever connect their moves in the ring to their past bank heists that would be so tea!
Again, the fact that I keep up with NOTHING wrestling related anymore and I still understand what you’re articles are about show your dedication to the craft as well as your gift of painting a vivid picture through your words! Keep on killing it! Keep on growing! I’m so proud of you!