Mondo Lucha A Go-Go: The Bizarre and Honorable World of Wild Mexican Wrestling
Though its title might suggest an ironic, kitschy treatment of the hyper-colored world of Mexican wrestling, Lucha Libre, Madigan's work makes it clear from the get-go that his love for the sport is true, mad and deep. Author, screenwriter and wrestling TV producer Madigan (See No Evil) answers frequently asked question, "Okay...What is Lucha Libre?", by taking readers through the basics, describing a sport that mixes "combative art forms...with elements of soap opera and dramatic storytelling, physical comedy, incredible athletics, suspense and intrigue." Though equating past wrestling greats like El Santo and the Blue Demon with celebrated muralists like Diego Rivera and Jose Orozco might seem like a stretch ("their goals just as noble and politically minded....Every kick, leap, and punch was a brush stroke in a masterpiece of storytelling"), full-bleed color photos and gorgeous poster reproductions make it easy to see the art in the sport's wild costumes, over-the-top drama and rich history. As much fun as this book is, the level of detail can overwhelm, as in Madigan's endless parade of Luchadore biographies, too many of which run together for lack of a narrative engine. That said, there's a lot to love here, even for the casually curious, and especially for fans of action photography and poster illustration.Copyright &copy; Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.