Writer Joanne Starer once owned and operated a women’s wrestling promotion; now she’s a professional comics writer who is taking a deep dive into that world in her new graphic novel, Total Suplex of the Heart, co-created with artist Ornella Greco and letterer Nathan Kempf. The story follows a freelance journalist who goes undercover to investigate her local hardcore wrestling scene and finds plenty of drama, some new friends, and perhaps romance as well. The 150-page paperback will go on sale on March 5, 2024, with an MSRP of $22.99.

“Total Suplex Of The Heart is an incredibly personal story for me,” Starer said in a statement accompanying the announcement. “It borrows from my formative years as a teenager, navigating my way through eating disorders, toxic relationships, and my own self-worth, all while working in the wild world of pro-wrestling. I can only hope it strikes a chord with readers who have experienced some of these same struggles.”

Starer has written another wrestling comic, The Gimmick, published by Ahoy Comics (see “Patton Oswalt, Jimmy Palmiotti, Pia Guerra, and Joe Casey All Like This Upcoming Ahoy Series”), which will be published as a collected edition in September 2023. She is also the writer of the six-issue Dawn of DC series Fire & Ice: Welcome to Smallville (see “Power Girl, Fire & Ice to Get Standalone Series”), which will launch on September 5.

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