While WWE's latest foray into comics has died a sudden death with the cancellation of Papercutz's WWE Superstars after 12 issues (they'll try to continue with a series of graphic novels), the fact that Mick Foley was able to write 12 issues without a fill-in says something all by itself.
Foley, whose Mankind persona was the subject of a 1-shot comic back in 1998, simply added another line to an already impressive resume as an author. He's now being joined by other wrestlers in making the transition to writing comics, or, in the case of Jerry Lawler, drawing them.
Lawler famously did the covers for Dynamite Entertainment's ambitious Lone Ranger-Zorro miniseries a few years back, and was already well established as a talented artist before that. He's also involved with the independently published Headlocked series, which, sorry to say, hasn't made its way to my home district as I write. Ring of Honor's Christopher Daniels has contributed as well.
Meanwhile, CM Punk, in between leaving WWE and signing with UFC, made the plunge, and saw his first comics work published nearly 2 weeks ago, in Marvel's 2015 Thor Annual. It's not the first time a wrestler has written for Marvel (Raven has that honor, back in 2002, while with WWE), but Punk is leaving the door open for another gig. He's also working on DC/Vertigo's Strange Sports Stories miniseries, which launches later this month. If his Thor story is any indication, and if UFC doesn't pan out for him, I think the Straight Edge Saint may have his next career ready and waiting.
Here's the thing. Punk's work is being done for a mainstream publisher, as was Foley's. There are infinite possibilities.
Take for example Kevin Nash, who's admitted to being a big Scooby-Doo fan. What if DC asked him to write an issue of their Scooby-Doo book?
I've said all along that WWE, TNA, et al have no real need for outside writers. All they need do is go old school and let the wrestlers cut their own promos. If they continue to stick with the inconsistencies of the current writing teams, then guys like, say for example, Dolph Ziggler, who's one of a few moonlighting as a stand-up comic these days, might be tempted to follow the trail blazed by Foley & Punk and talk to DC, Marvel, or another publisher. It wouldn't hurt, and it's less painful.
