HELL IS A SQUARED CIRCLE $7.99 / 48 pages / Color / On Sale 09.21.22
Writer: Chris Condon
Artist: Francesco Biagini
Colorist: Mark Englert
Letterer: Dave Sharpe
Cover: Jacob Phillips
Incentive Cover: Francesco Francavilla
Is Wrestling Noir a genre? It is now!
Ted “The Irish Mooska” Walsh is a third-tier wrestling heel with a problem — himself. He’s behind on rent, child support and his career, but he thinks he can change things. As he attempts to take control of his life, his actions leave him with blood on his hands. Ted finds himself on the run from the authorities and the darkness of his past. As Ted tries to escape his former self and build a new, better future, his mistakes come back to haunt him — in the ring and out of it.
HELL IS A SQUARED CIRCLE is a 48-page Prestige Format ONE SHOCK from Writer Chris Condon (That Texas Blood) and illustrated by Francesco Biagini (Dingo, 18 Days). Don’t miss out on this body slam to hell from such an electrifying creative team.
CHRIS CONDON ON WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT AND WHY HE IS EXCITED FOR IT TO COME OUT:
“This book is about a guy who just can’t seem to get out of his own way – you know, classic fodder for any noir tale. Our story could be described as “wrestling noir” but for me it’s wrestling noir filtered through the two-fisted tales that William Gaines would have published for EC Comics way back when.
I’m so thrilled that this book found a home with AfterShock Comics and in their gorgeous, oversized One-Shock format to boot. So yeah, I’m excited. Who wouldn’t be? It’s a big, cool book filled with gnarly, action-packed artwork!”
CHRIS CONDON ON SOME OF HIS INSPIRATIONS BEHIND CREATING THE BOOK:
“TALES FROM THE CRYPT and its various sister books from EC Comics as well as the recent television show THE DARK SIDE OF THE RING which I would likely credit with kickstarting the idea. I grew up with wrestling, so once I got the kernel of the idea to make a crime book that existed in that world, it all sort of felt like coming home. The two aliases of our main character were both inspired by WWE video games that my buddy Mike and I played when we were kids. My character was Irish Mooska, his was Tombstone. It’s just so much fun to finally see those names get used in something like this. They now exist in a larger world, no longer confined to a dusty N64 cartridge.”
CHRIS CONDON ON THE SINGLE PIECE OF ADVICE HE WOULD GIVE TO UP AND COMING COMIC BOOK CREATORS:
“Two things: do the work and don’t give up. It’s that simple. If you’re doing good work, keep putting it out there. Someone will eventually find it, like they did with my stuff.”
CHRIS CONDON ON (3) REASONS WHY COMIC BOOK READERS SHOULD PICK UP THIS BOOK:
“It’s just an absolutely gorgeous book. My three reasons are my three collaborators: Francesco, Mark, and Dave, all of whom knocked the ball clear out of the park. And look at those two stellar covers we have by Jacob Phillips and Francesco Francavilla. What’s not to love?”
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