Category Archives: Reviews

CM Punk transitions from in-ring to comic book storytelling with “Drax”

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Drax Vol. 1: The Galaxy's Best DetectiveBefore he began his transition from the wrestling ring to the Ultimate Fighting Championship octagon, former WWE Champion CM Punk started writing for Marvel Comics, another of his non-wrestling dreams. Ironically, the Straight Edge Superstar’s first foray into comics was a short story for the Thor Annual #1, released in February of 2015, in which a brash young Thor guzzles gallons of alcohol. Punk’s first ongoing series for Marvel is a solo outing for the character portrayed by Batista in the Guardians of the Galaxy movie (who, in another twist of irony, won the 2014 Royal Rumble match that ended up being Punk’s WWE finale) beginning in October of 2015.

With issue #11 being released later this month, Marvel recently collected the first five issues of Drax into a trade paperback. Co-written with the accomplished Cullen Bunn, Drax Vol.1: The Galaxy’s Best Detective sees the Destroyer going solo as the rest of the Guardians begin their own adventures. With nothing better to do, his first objective, of course, is to find Thanos and exact revenge for the loss of his family.

Despite his tragic motivations, Drax’s journey becomes comical after the Space Sucker — the hunk-of-junk spaceship Rocket Raccoon loans him — crash lands on a desolate moon. Thankfully, Drax soon finds a bar where he can drown his sorrows. It is here that Drax meets an unlikely ally in former foe Terrax, and an equally unlikely mechanic in Ora, the hot pink bartender. Ora offers to repair the Space Sucker if Drax will find out who has been stealing valuable pieces of technology from her and others around town.

Drax, with his impeccable investigative skills, tracks down the thief, who has also been kidnapping the town’s children and using them as slave labor. This monster ends up being a bigger problem than anyone anticipated, but Drax ain’t scared, especially with the help of a disembodied robot head and other new allies. Together, they are able to free the kidnapped children and figure out why this larger-than-life threat has been absconding with random mechanical gadgetry. This story arc comes to a comically anticlimactic climax that is just as quirky as the rest of the story, leading right into the issues that will be collected in a second volume later this year.

Punk and Bunn’s writing is complemented by Scott Hepburn’s illustrations to create a fun new sci-fi adventure serial. Say what you will about his other post-wrestling endeavor, but Punk was always a good storyteller in the ring. Though he wasn’t able to escape a clobbering in his UFC debut, his work here is delightful antihero escapism.

Red Phone Booth provides a speakeasy experience in Downtown Atlanta

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Red Phone BoothAs was the case with the speakeasies of old, getting into the Atlanta’s Prohibition was always a challenge. But if you were privileged enough to obtain the right code and find the vintage red phone booth, you were treated to an experience straight out of the Roaring ’20s. At the end of last year, however, Prohibition’s secret door (along with the doors to every other bar, restaurant and venue in Buckhead’s Andrews Entertainment District) was permanently closed to make way for more development. After months of renovations to the 100-year-old Downtown building formerly occupied by the iconic Dailey’s restaurant, the owners of Prohibition are opening a new speakeasy called the Red Phone Booth tonight, Aug. 26.

As was the case with its predecessor, you still have to dial a secret number on the rotary phone inside the phone booth to gain admittance to this new venue. (And no, Wrestling with Pop Culture isn’t going to reveal that number because we don’t want to end up sleeping with the fishes.) For those fortunate enough to get in, the anachronistic allure continues with extravagant decor such as Italian leather couches, a honey onyx bar top and I’m pretty sure that’s the same backlit, hand-painted ceiling from Prohibition. The drinks aren’t cheap (most are $12), and they might take a while to prepare. That’s because each craft cocktail is made with the highest-quality liquors and requires things like reverse-osmosis ice that is chipped by hand, fresh-squeezed juices, hand-cut garnishes, an absinthe drip, and wood that is torched in the glass to create a smokey flavor. Rather than showing sporting events or other typical bar fare, the TV behind the bar plays a steady loop of silent black-and-white films.

Red Phone BoothThe same attention to detail went into the menu, with classy Italian offerings such as a shrimp martini (featuring plump jumbo shrimp), West Coast oysters, a fresh Caprese salad and beef carpaccio. When Amalfi Pizza opens upstairs in September, Red Phone Booth will also offer wood-fired pizzas baked in ovens imported from Italy. This cigar lounge also features a humidor with an extensive cigar selection. For those who don’t enjoy cigar smoke, Red Phone Booth also has a powerful air filter to prevent you from taking any stuffy air home with you.

Red Phone Booth is likely to become a new landmark for locals and tourists alike. With Dragon Con (and numerous other events) taking over the Downtown area for Labor Day weekend, Red Phone Booth is likely to attract a unique crowd of cosplayers and steampunks looking for an appropriate setting for their period-appropriate attire.

www.redphonebooth.com