Luchaverse: Catalyst, a new comic series launching in July, features famous luchadores (Mexican wrestlers) battling monsters and aliens in a genre-blending action story.  Published by Massive Publishing, in collaboration with live event, merchandising, and media organization Masked Republic, which focuses on lucha libre (Mexican wrestling) outside the borders of Mexico, The Luchaverse is planned as three 48-page issues, with the first issue launching in July.

Each issue will have two connected stories, each starring a different star luchador.  The first issue is written by Ivan Plaza and Marco Lopez.  The first part of issue #1 stars WWE star Rey Mysterio, with art by Ben Harvey and colorist Bryan Magnaye.  In it, Mysterio and the secret military group “The Ambassadors” head into the jungle to an ancient temple to find the Mask of the First Mysterio.

The second part stars Legends of Lucha Libre Champion Tinieblas Jr., with art by Diego Simone.  The story follows Tinieblas Jr., the supreme monster hunter, as he and his assistant Ramona race to solve a mystery.

“As a kid, my mother introduced me to the work of the classic Lucha Libre film actors Mil Máscaras and El Santo,” Massive Publishing CEO/Co-Publisher Michael Calero said in a statement accompanying the announcement.  “I loved their larger-than-life pulp hero personas that transcended the ring. It's awesome to see Masked Republic giving that treatment to the modern stars of Lucha Libre and getting to debut with a story featuring Rey Mysterio feels special as I remember obsessing over his early matches and to this day consider him one of my favorite wrestlers of all time.”

Covers on issue 1 are by Francesco Tomaselli (A), Leo Colapietro (B, Connecting), Ben Harvey (C), Andrew Belanger (D, Superman vs. Ali Homage); plus a Blank Sketch Cover (E, limited to 2000 copies), Wrestling Belt Gatefold Cover (F), and a 1:10 incentive cover by Diego Simone (G).

MSRP on all the base covers and the incentive cover is $5.99, $8.99 on the Sketch cover, and $9.99 on the Gatefold cover.

Click Gallery below for cover images!