Who’d have thought that an homage to Macbeth set in the mid-80s world of pro wrestling would work so well? And yet with The Crimson Cage, by John Lees and Alex Cormack, it’s proven to be a winning combination.

Chuck Frenzy has made a pact with dark forces in order to get himself the championship that he’s always desired and believed that he deserved. The price for fulfilling the bargain is grim and seemingly not something that Chuck will be willing to go through with – but with his girlfriend egging him on, she may just push him down the dark path, way past the point of no return…

Even the blood soaked cover can’t compare with the gory, very graphic sequences featured in the pages of this comic from AWA/Upshot. It’s a thrilling, vicious and impeccably crafted tale that’ll repulse you even though you won’t be able to tear yourself away from the compelling narrative that unfolds within its all too brief page count.

Another winner from AWA then; and – just like the phenomenal, but far more grounded Ringside – another example of just how compelling the world of ‘sports entertainment’ can be as a backdrop to dark, gritty stories that go way beyond the squared circle.