15 Wrestling Comic Book Covers

Pro Wrestling is often described as a live-action comic book. Both mediums are prime destinations for bombastic storytelling with larger-than-life characters. It’s not a surprise that the two genres often intersect.

Batista and John Cena have earned critical acclaim for their big-screen superhero roles as Drax and Peacemaker, respectively.

Marvel and DC Comics use wrestling as a vehicle to produce the next great issue, with a cover providing a peek of the body slaming goodness within its pages.

Get out your long boxes and search those spin racks. It’s time to look at 15 pro wrestling comic book covers.

Marvel Comics

Cover Artists: Jose Delbo & Danny Bulanadi

Publication Year: 1989

Comic book covers often depict a true narrative, from a certain point of view. Here, an angry-looking human named Jake “The Jackhammer” Johnson is bench-pressing Transformer autobot Roadhandler inside a wrestling ring. The physics of that description sounds insane, and the intriguing visual is enough to pull the book off the rack to see how this is possible and who will survive this interplanetary duel to the death.

Batman’ 66 #27

DC Comics

Cover Artist: Mike Allred

Publication Year: DC Comics

DC Comics’ continuation of the Adam West-helmed Batman series allowed fans to see how characters who didn’t exist in 1966 would look and feel in that world. Enter Bane. A steroid-infused (venom), masked Goliath who looks like the ultimate pro wrestler became a pivotal DC villain in 1993 when he broke Batman’s back. The cover shows the Caped Crusader trapped over Bane’s massive shoulders as Riddler is maniacally laughing in the corner. Mike Allred’s cover uses a pro wrestling setting to tease an alternate version of a pivotal tragedy in the Batman mythos through the lens of the zany 60’s television show.

The Thing #28

Marvel Comics

Cover Artist: Ron Wilson

Publication Year: 1985

I appreciate a good pro wrestling event poster since I’ve made and hung up enough of them for two lifetimes. CM Punk’s favorite superhero is shown posing in front of an event poster advertising his pro wrestling debut for Unlimited Class Wrestling’s roster of superhuman athletes. The event poster tells the reader everything you need to know about the comic. The Thing is competing in a wrestling match as the main event act, where it will most assuredly be clobberin’ time!

Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen #82

DC Comics

Cover Artist: Curt Swan

Publication Year: 1964

Curt Swan is silver-age comic book royalty and the definitive Superman artist for generations of readers. Swan created many iconic serious and no-so-serious covers featuring the Man of Steel. Professional wrestling is a theater of the absurd. Nothing is more absurd than the Daily Planet’s resident goofball Jimmy Olsen tapping out Superman with an ankle lock in the center of the ring. Olsen adds insult to injury by cutting a promo on Superman bragging about being able to beat him without Kryptonite. Perry White eagerly betting on Jimmy is the cherry on this absurd sundae of wrestling awesomeness.

Venom #28

Marvel Comics

Cover Artist: Kael Ngu

Publication Year: 2020

For better or for worse, variant covers are all the rage in comic books right now. Here, Kael Ngu illustrated one of several covers by different artists for this particular issue of Venom. The imagery has nothing to do with the story of the book but a gorgeous shot of the “Lethal Protector” standing over his webbed rival while holding his championship up high. Ngu made excellent use of the wrestling genre with a striking depiction of a victorious Venom.

Thor Annual #1

Marvel Comics

Cover Artist: Rob Guillory

Publication Year: 2015

A variant cover features Thor battling a mystery-masked foe inside the squared circle, who is under the mind control of Loki. A mystery opponent or partner is one of the most popular tropes in professional wrestling. What makes this cover so charming is the notion that we don’t know the identity of Loki’s mystery wrestler. There are also a couple of clever easter eggs, including a fan in a Spider-Man mask holding a sign that says “I pinned Bone Saw,” along with a fan who looks an awful lot like CM Punk holding a “Logan 6:16” sign as an ode to quite the combo of Wolverine and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin. While there is no wrestling in this issue, the book does mark the comic book writing debut of CM Punk.

Do A Powerbomb

Image Comics

Cover Artist: Daniel Warren Johnson

Publication Year: 2023

Daniel Warren Johnson’s love of professional wrestling shines in this series, which follows an aspiring wrestler living in the shadow of her mother, who happens to be the GOAT. The cover exemplifies the visceral energy Johnson brings to the series. The depth of field exhibited as Cobrasun comes off the top to splash crossbody on Yua Steel Rose is tremendous. Cobrasun jumped super high, and the distance he’ll travel to splash Rose is captured remarkably well. Even if you’ve never heard of or don’t care about reading the book, the cover is still a great piece of art that effectively depicts the electric and compelling nature of pro wrestling.

Captain America #271

Marvel Comics

Cover Artist: Alan Edward Kupperberg

Publication Year: 1982

Captain America’s outfit screams professional wrestling. Heck, New Japan Pro Wrestling even paid homage to the star-spangled man with their character, Captain New Japan. Of course, he always lost, unlike Steve Rogers. The cover shows the mysterious Mr. X dropkicking Cap. Many comics change up the authenticity of the squared circle to fit a specific narrative. One issue of a series could exhibit wrestling being real, and a few years later, another issue could show wrestling being fake. Here, wrestling is as real as it gets when Captain America takes on Mr. X in the ring after the masked menace killed an opponent with the controversial Flying Four Flusher dropkick.

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic #29

IDW

Cover Artist: Jay P. Fosgitt

Publication Year: 2015

Wrestling is home to ridiculous, insane, and zany tropes and ideas, with the volume turned way up. So, when IDW produced an issue of their My Little Pony comic wrapped up in pro wrestling shenanigans, it was a match made in equestrian heaven. Don’t let the fact there are only two sets of ring ropes on the cover. It’s the same in the book as well. After all, they’re ponies. They don’t need no stinking third rope. The cover shows Cheerilee, who donned the mask of the lucha libre-inspired Mystery Mare, being dragged out of the ring by her fellow ponies. It’s Ponymania XXIX at Madisoat Square Garden, baby!

Superman #155

DC Comics

Cover Artist: Curt Swan

Publication Year: 1962

Antonino Rocca is shown throwing Superman out of the ring, under the billing “Antonino Rocca in the DOWNFALL OF SUPERMAN,” with Jimmy Olsen calling it the greatest upset in sports history. Rocaca’s popularity in the 1950s and early 60s can’t be overstated. He was Bruno (Samartino) before Bruno was Bruno. Superman’s battle with Rocca predates his legendary showdown with Muhammad Ali by 16 years. The fact that a comic book was created where Rocca was stronger than the Man of Steel speaks to his imprint on the era. Of course, not everything is as it seems, which comes into play as the how and why of it all is too fun to spoil here.

The Flash #787

DC Comics

Cover Artist: Taurin Clarke

Publication Year: 2022

It’s Monday night, and Wally West wants to enjoy an episode of Wrestling Across the Multiverse (WAM) with his family. It turns out a match involving two intergalactic wrestlers is happening in downtown Central City. Wally suits up and races to save the day, and everyone sees it on television. Unfortunately, so did Omega Bam Man, the reigning WAM Champion, who now wants to lay the smackdown on the Flash. The story and artwork are fun from beginning to end, using a pro wrestling setting to highlight Wally West. Artists Pasarin and Ryan created an interactive cover for this issue. The Flash calls for the reader to tag in before he gets pulverized by a double axe handle smash.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures #7

Archie Comics

Cover Artists: Ryan Brown, Steve Lavigne & Ken Mitchroney

Publication Year: 1989

If there was ever a superhero team that lends itself to the hijinks of the squared circle, it’s the ninjutsu reptiles known as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The cover sees the turtles, who already wear masks, sporting different masks to hide the identity of their identity. Sounds silly, but if one wants to embrace all the quirky aspects of professional wrestling, then even masked ninja crime fighters must go all in. Raphael is wearing a full facemask, while Leonardo’s mask has boomerang-style horns with white trim. Looking at the ring, Stump and Sling, the intergalactic wrestling promoters in the book, clearly don’t care about their wrestlers’ safety or any regulations. Two ropes instead of the standard three-roped ring include a spiked turnbuckle pad with an alien skull atop.

Hellboy #46

Dark Horse Comics

Cover Artist: Richard Corben

Publication Year: 2010

Hellboy’s battles take him across all plains of existence, including the wrestling ring. The story occurs in 1956 on Cinco De Mayo, where Hellboy searches a Mayan temple to rescue the youngest of three luchador brothers. However, before Hellboy saves anyone, he must fight the demonic luchador Camazotz. Richard Corben’s cover shows the titular hero launched into the air amidst a fiery hellscape. Zombies and other such monsters surround the ring and seemingly distract the masked assailant as Hellboy is ready to lower the boom with the indestructible Right Hand of Doom. All in all, another comic book showing how pro wrestling can lend itself to any genre.

The Honeymooners #7 of 24

Triad

Cover Artist: Jack Davis

Publication Year: 1988

Those familiar with the classic 50s sitcom The Honeymooners know of the comedic dilemmas Ralph Kramden and Ed Norton regularly found themselves in. Hall of Fame cartoonist, Jack Davis of MAD Magazine fame, illustrated the cover of this adaptation titled On the Ropes, depicting Ralph’s unenviable position. The Turk, inspired by the late Iron Shiek, looks to put the squeeze on Ralph, but not if guest star Captain Lou Albano has anything to say about it. The referee stands idly by while Norton is beside himself on the ring apron. Davis took inspiration from the famous Superman vs. Muhammad Ali cover with audience cameos Archie, Frankenstein, White Spy (Spy vs. Spy), W.C. Fields, and more. Overall, a gorgeous wrap around cover exhibiting the in-ring zaniness of this Albano/Kramden team-up.

Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #6

Marvel Comics

Cover Artists: Mike Wieringo & Karl Kesel

Publication Year: 2006

Our finale boasts a basic cover featuring Spider-Man trapped in a crushing side headlock from El Muerto under the arena lights. This book is a key issue, serving as El Muerto’s first appearance, where he wrestles Spider-Man in a match promoted by the Daily Bugle’s hot-tempered editor J. Jonah Jameson. However, unbeknownst to Spidey, it’s a mask versus mask match. The special significance of a luchador’s mask makes its permanent removal the most infamous stipulation in Mexican wrestling. Here, the match type is used as a scheme for Jameson to unmask the wall crawler finally. Music mega-star and occasional WWE wrestler Bad Bunny is set to star in an El Muerto film in the lead role. It’s another example of how Spider-Man and professional wrestling are forever linked due to the sport’s role in the hero’s origin story.