When wrestling inspires non-wrestling comics: International Edition

Josh Olsen

mad en mexico and nembo kid

I’ve been writing about examples of pro wrestling stories and references in non-wrestling comic books, off and on, since November 2022, but up until now, I’ve only written about comic books written and published in English, primarily because I only can only read and speak English, not because there aren’t excellent examples published in other countries, and in other languages.

One incredible example I must acknowledge that resurfaces on the internet now and then comes from a familiar source that I’ve referenced multiple times, MAD Magazine, but in this specific case, the issue is from MAD en Mexico, the Spanish language version of MAD published in Mexico. While some issues of MAD en Mexico appear to be Spanish translations of English issues of MAD, in 1993 they published at least one issue that was exclusive to Mexico.

This cover of MAD en Mexico features the Man of Steel, Superman, lying on his back, looking up at the lights, while La Parka stands over him, flexing triumphantly, with a foot on Superman’s chest. Also featured on the cover are MAD mascot Alfred E. Neuman and Spider-Man, as well as a full cast of masked wrestlers who watch at ringside, as well as what appears to be a crying Batman. It’s an incredibly hilarious cover, to say the least, and I’d love to add this issue of MAD to my collection, but it doesn’t appear to be an easy find, so if anybody reading this has a lead on where to find one, please drop me a line.

While I haven’t yet been able to find this issue of MAD en Mexico, I did recently acquire another comic book from across the Atlantic Ocean.

Back in November 2024, Greg Oliver sent me an email with a picture of an Italian comic book called Nembo Kid, featuring a more muscular version of Superman’s young friend, Jimmy Olsen, twisting the ankle of Superman, who looks to be submitting from pain.

I was excited to see this not only because I collect and write about pro wrestling comic books, but because last summer, I had a once in a lifetime opportunity to visit Italy. While I was in Italy, it was a personal goal to find some wrestling collectibles (it is the birthplace of Panini trading cards, after all), but I returned home empty handed … excluding the bottles of wine, olive oil, limoncello, and other assorted non wrestling souvenirs.

Anyway, after striking out in Italy, I eventually purchased a copy of Nembo Kid number 475, published in May 1965, from an eBay vendor in Milan, and I had the pleasure of reading it, with the assistance of Google translate.

It’s a silly little story, with Jimmy Olsen drinking a potion created by a mad scientist that makes him stronger than Superman, who he beats in a charity wrestling match. The funny thing is when Olsen attempts to thwart a couple of ruffians after the match, the potion doesn’t seem to work on them. Jimmy is a weakling again. Eventually, it’s discovered that the potion is fake, and it was the mad scientist dressed up in a very convincing Superman costume who Olsen defeated in the wrestling match.

This is far from great literature, but it’s the kind of fun, one-off story typical of pro wrestling storylines in vintage, non wrestling comic books, and it’s got a vibrant, colorful cover. The fact that the comic book is in Italian only makes it more unique and desirable, in my eyes.

Another interesting detail is that Superman/Nembo Kid appears to have the iconic “S” symbol on his chest hastily edited out, and unrelated to the story within, the back cover features a full page ad for the type of shockingly realistic toy pistol that hasn’t been made for decades, which gives this comic more of an unauthorized/bootleg vibe, but I appreciate those types of things.

After reading this issue of Nembo Kid, the thought occurred to me, was this story of “Imbattibile Muscoli Olsen” an Italian translation of an English DC comic book, and thanks to a quick internet search, I learned that it was taken from issue 82 of Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen, published in November of 1964, which means that I found yet another wrestling related comic book to add to the ever growing wish list of Josh “Muscoli” Olsen.

As always, if you know about a wrestling comic I should write about, leave a comment or send me a message, and check out my archive of articles about pro wrestling in non-wrestling comic books.

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