Review by Ian Keogh

The Wrestler is an extremely individual horror story brilliantly told by John Kenn Mortensen, the first graphic novel addition to his profoundly spooky catalogue of monster illustrations. Such is the skilled approach, though, you’d swear Mortensen was an industry veteran.

In Denmark he directs animated shows for children, so has a strong sense of how to tell a story clearly, transmitted by the opening mystery of the man we learn is the wrestler being transported to the netherworld. What brought this about? Well, therein lies a tale…

Mortensen’s art is individual and far from conventionally attractive, yet distinctive and with an appealing wonky style heavy on atmospheric crosshatched backgrounds and creepy silhouettes. The wrestler himself, named as Sledgehammer, is a big brute of a man, bearded and shaven-headed to conform to the wrestling stereotype, but now middle aged and not having fought in the 25 years since his final bout. As drawn by Mortensen, he still exuded power despite his age, yet he alternates between befuddlement and rage.

As his ongoing passage to the underworld continues, Mortensen reveals Sledgehammer’s torment, flashing back to various stages of his past from young hopeful to the night before the current events. We learn early that he quit unbeaten, but through the persistence of the man attempting to coax him it’s revealed there’s a reason for his reluctance to fight once more.

There’s some amusing toying with the trappings of wrestling, especially commentators, but it’s ultimately just a convenient peg required to establish a brute of a man, who’s needed for what follows. Mortensen is the master of monsters, and plenty of them arrive in horrific circumstances, the damned more to be pitied for their condition than feared as threats. Who knows what type of children’s programmes Mortensen makes, but he seems to be purging something from his system via the violence and gore presented here all the way to the darkly funny ending.

You’ll perhaps remember Mickey Rourke starred in a memorable film titled The Wrestler. Perhaps someone should contact him about this.