My exposure to this property before reading this comic book was limited to seeing the occasional commercial on Teletoon (Canada's version of The Cartoon Network), so I really didn't know what to expect. Mind you, the appeal of masked Mexican wrestling eludes me, so I doubt the folks behind Mucha Lucha had small-town guys like me in mind when crafting this cute but bizarre world and characters. This is a wonderful comic book to give to kids who are just getting into reading, as it delivers a clear moral in an action-packed way.
Young masked wrestler-in-training Rikochet loves his favorite action figure, El Rey, but when a new plastic hero -- Ultimo Bandido -- takes the toy Market by storm, Rik just can't resist. He spends his allowance money, and he inadvertently sparks a bitter rivalry between his new toy and his old standby, El Rey. Ultimo Bandido bullies his way through the gathering of toys in Rikochet's home, and then even causes trouble for his owner. Only a pure hero like El Rey, toy or not, can save the day.
The house style of Mucha Lucha is a stiff one, an exaggerated approach that's a step above the simplicity and crudeness of South Park. It reminds me of the style of an adult cartoon I've caught a few times called Ahhh! It's the Mr. Hell Show!. Here, the exaggeration brings out the young characters' innocence. My one qualm with the art here -- and it holds true for many of DC's titles for young readers -- is that the brightness of the colors is lost, due in part, I believe, to the lower grade of paper. The colors should be bright and garish and fun, but they're often muted and dull.
The story is a spin on Toy Story, in which a child's playthings come to life and compete for his love. But writer Eddie Mort takes it further. The toys reveal themselves as living things and interact with their owner. Though the story is predictable, Mort's plot sets itself apart by going that extra step.
The most interesting and perplexing aspect of the property is the surreal notion of a society made up entirely of masked Mexican wrestlers. The designs are simple but inventive, and I'm surprised to find that the premise isn't as limiting as I might have expected. Still, this weird niche in popular culture isn't my thing, and the tone of this book is clearly aimed at much younger readers. This isn't an all-ages book, but it should help draw some rugrats away from the tube and into some actually reading.
