REVIEW: Undertaker #1 & #2

Writer: Beau Smith
Illustrator: Manny Clark
Inker: SanduFloria
Colorist: Jason Jensen
Review: Art Bee

Since I reviewed WWE #1 a couple of weeks ago, I thought I would evaluate an older comic book inspired by the same corporation. The professional wrestling arena has inspired many floppy-books and other media over the years. Some are worthwhile, while others...not so much. So where does this one fall? That is not an easy question to answer, but I will try.

Within the realm of the professional wrestling circuits each wrestler portrays a certain persona based on a combination of real personality, backstory, and created character traits. Sometimes these personas are well crafted and deeply designed; other times they are shallow and fickle.
The reason Chaos! Comics chose the Undertaker as the central character was because he had the fastest growing popularity, deepest backstory, and most solid character traits.      

The series’ story is centered on the Undertaker as the warden of Hell’s prison called Stygian where the worst of the worst were housed for the ultimate torment for the devil’s entertainment. This entertainment is repeatedly getting pummeled to death by the Undertaker in a fiery ring. There is a prophesy stating that Stygian’s Warden will gather all three Books of the Dead and combine them to rule. Currently Undertaker has just one.

The first issue introduces the first of Undertaker’s rivals, the Embalmer, while the second issue produces the second, Paul Bearer (who just happened to be the real Undertaker’s manager in the WWE). Guess where this rivalry will be decided? You guessed it . . . a wrestling ring on Earth.

The comic book is filled with enough gore to make Jason Voorhees blush right through his mask. The artwork through both issues is very legit. These artists must have prided themselves on detail, since it is hard to believe how much was crammed into these issues. Whether you are looking at flames in the background or the muscles and tattoos on Undertaker’s arms, you are smacked stupid by detail.

You are also bored stupid by the story as it drones on and on. I understand the theme behind this is wrestling, but we don’t need it rammed up our asses throughout the story. The story really just doesn’t flow; it seems very stagnant and one-dimensional. There were many avenues this story could have taken and been very exciting. Mr. Smith chose not to pursue them. Maybe Smith isn’t his real name, and he just didn’t want this following him forever. Unfortunately that is untrue.

For the diehard Undertaker fans this comic series is a must have for their shrines because every cover features the Dead Man in some venue. For the comic enthusiast, this has some of the most detailed artwork you will find in floppy-books. For the rest of us, Undertaker is really not worth the investment. They are not highly valued or sought after, but if you run across them in quarter boxes, check them out. Back in the day I stopped buying them after the second issue, and I am still a huge fan of the Undertaker…the Phenom…the Dead Man…the American Bad Ass…
OK. OK. I will stop now.