Line #46 ComicBook/TheCrimsonCage


1	->''Wrestling is magic.''
2	-->--''[[ArcWords Multiple characters]]''
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4	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/thecrimsoncage001_000e4kkv.jpeg]]
5	'''''The Crimson Cage''''' is a horror comic written by John Lees and illustrated by Alex Cormack. The series is a reimagining of Creator/WilliamShakespeare's ''Theatre/{{Macbeth}}'' told through the world of ProfessionalWrestling.
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7	New Orleans, 1984. Chuck Frenzy is the main event star of the local Louisiana pro wrestling territory, but yearns for something greater. A fateful encounter with a trio of terrifying beings in the Bayou gives Chuck a glimpse of championship glory beyond his wildest dreams...if he is willing to do something terrible to achieve it.
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9	----
10	!!''The Crimson Cage'' contains examples of:
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12	* AdaptationalAbomination: The assassins hired by Macbeth in the original story are just regular human killers, but here they're supernatural, deformed HumanoidAbomination types in Luchador masks.
13	* AdaptationalExplanation: In the original play, Macbeth suspect's that Banquo's son will try to get his revenge but it never comes to pass. Here, his equivalent returns [[spoiler:to help kill Chuck Frenzy]].
14	* AdaptationalSexuality: "The Outlaw" Emmett is the story's equivalent of Macduff, and in this story he seems to be either a closeted homosexual or bisexual (given he carries an affair with a man while being married with kids).
15	* AdaptationalVillainy: In comparison to the benevolent King Duncan in the original play, Van Emerald is a {{jerkass}} who humiliates Chuck after promising to help him become champion.
16	* AmbitionIsEvil: As in the original play, Chuck Frenzy resorts to murder to achieve his dreams of becoming champion.
17	* AllThereInTheManual: The trade paperback edition includes some extras which give some insight into the more secondary and tertiary wrestlers in the story (as well as their names).
18	* ArcWords: Multiple characters remark that "Wrestling is magic", a statement that gets increasingly more ominous as things get more murderous and supernatural.
19	* AssholeVictim: Emerald tells Chuck he'll throw a fight to him and help him become champion, only to go back on his word and humiliate him in the ring. He is the first to die.
20	* CarFu: Terry is decapitated after having his car door repeatedly slammed against his head by the assassin.
21	* CheapHeat: Van Emerald is seen directly insulting the Louisiana crowd as inbred hicks to gather some Heat for his match with Chuck.
22	* DecompositeCharacter: Macduff's role is primarily given to "The Outlaw" Emmett Crowe, but part of it is also distributed to the Diamond Brothers (the Malcolm analogue) and Bryan (the Fleance analogue), namely [[spoiler: they all join in actually killing Macbeth/Chuck Frenzy]]. The Diamond Brothers themselves are a lesser case of this as they collectively fullfill Malcolm's role in the narrative.
23	* DeepSouth: This is set in the backwoods of Louisiana. Chuck in particular can't wait to get out.
24	* DemotedToExtra: The Diamond Brothers play a lesser role in the narrative than their loose counterpart in the play Malcolm.
25	* FaceHeelTurn: In both senses of the term. Chuck and Sharlene both become more ruthless across the story and also adopt much darker, more villainous characters as wrestlers as the kayfabe bleeds from the ring to real life.
26	* FrameUp: After killing Emerald, Chuck and Sharlene plant the dagger on Rubie, who is passed out drunk.
27	* GoryDiscretionShot: The death of Crowe’s son is not shown.
28	* TheGiant: The Abominable Grudd's gimmick is that he's a terrifying, gigantic force of nature. Outside the ring, of course, [[GentleGiant he wouldn't harm a fly]].
29	* GorgeousGeorge: "The Fabulous One" Elijah Quince is a minor character who seems directly based on the actual Gorgeous George with his vaguely homoerotic flamboyance.
30	* HumanoidAbomination: The Bayou Sisters appear as this when they’re not completely monstrous.
31	* IveComeTooFar: Chuck justifies the murder of Terry by saying he already damned his soul for the championship to let it go to someone else.
32	* KlingonPromotion: Chuck kills Emerald to take his spot as the wrestling champion.
33	* MaskedLuchador: The Faceless assassins are here portrayed as masked Luchador types in suits (billed as "South of the Border" in the extra material).
34	* ManOfWealthAndTaste: The figure strongly implied to be Satan is seen driving a white limousine and smoking expensive cigars every time he appears.
35	* MouthStitchedShut: The assassin is depicted as having a luchador mask with their eyes and mouth sewn shut.
36	* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: A lot of the characters are directly referencing real world wrestling figures and events.
37	** Chuck Frenzy doesn't have many obvious parallels but his status as a great technician who struggles with charisma follows in the vein of Wrestling/DeanMalenko and his incoherent, ominous and borderline lovecraftian horror-esque promos post Heel-turn are reminiscent of Wrestling/KevinSullivan.
38	** The main promotion featured in the story (GWA, presumably standing for Global Wresling Alliance) riffs on the Wrestling/NationalWrestlingAlliance and their manager Ms. Grusky seems based off on pioneering female wrestling promoter Christine Jarrett with some sprinklings of TNA's Dixie Carter.
39	** The Abominable Grudd is reminiscent of Wrestling/{{Kamala}} in the "monster heel" department.
40	** Van Emerald is very transparently Wrestling/RicFlair as the flamboyant Heel champion with a huge ego.
41	** Sharlene Frenzy takes cues from both Wrestling/MissElizabeth (pre-Heel turn) as a wholesome all-american girl valet and Wrestling/SherriMartel (after Heel turn) in being this darker valet character who aims to be a more legitimate female wrestler.
42	** "The Outlaw" Emmet Cobb is reminiscent of "Cowboy" Wrestling/BobOrtonJr.
43	** Gorilla Gozu is another transparent riff on Wrestling/AjaKong as the japanese tough female wrestler with facepaint.
44	** The Devil may or may not be Wrestling/VinceMcMahon.
45	* NoManOfWomanBorn: The witches promise Frenzy that "so long as the roof stands above the ring, Chuck Frenzy shall never be defeated". During the final fight, Frenzy is slammed against the walls of the Crimson Cage causing it to fall apart.
46	* PatchedTogetherFromTheHeadlines: The story takes inspiration from several sordid tales of professional wrestling. Frenzy's murder of Van Emerald for example calls to mind the murder of wrestler Bruiser Brody, a likewise murky event marred in wrestling politics that has never been properly solved.
47	* ProphecyArmor: Like Macbeth, Chuck thinks he's invincible because of the prophecy he will never be beaten as long as the Crimson Cage stands. Little does he know...
48	* SanitySlippage: As in most Macbeth versions, the two leads unravel pretty badly after their crimes.
49	* {{Satan}}: Chuck is eventually brought before the boss of the Bayou sisters, and it's very strongly implied (though not stated outright) he is the Devil himself.
50	* TheShowMustGoOn: Frenzy demands the final event carry on [[spoiler: despite the fact Sharlene has just ''died'' in the middle of the ring]].
51	* SouthernGothic: The change of setting from Scotland highlands to Louisiana backwoods gives the narrative this feel, particularly with the Weird Sisters being here framed as cajuns swamp witches from the bayou of a Voodoo-esque tint.
52	* TagTeam: The Diamond Brothers (Malcolm's rough counterpart), Van Emerald's associated tag team that quickly realizes Chuck Frenzy is responsible for his death.
53	* ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill: Many of the killings are like this; eyes are gouged out, heads are crushed and entrails are spilled.
54	* VillainousBSOD: Frenzy goes into brief catatonia after his first murder. Sharlene also ends up essentially dying this way when she freezes mid-match.
55	* WhenTreesAttack: One of the Bayou Sisters appears in the form of a tree creature.
56	* WouldHurtAChild: Frenzy kills Emmet Crowe's little boy.
57	* WrestlingMonster: The Abominable Grudd is a animalistic, giant Heel in the ring (and a nice guy outside of it). This is enforced by Chuck hallucinating him post-mortem as even more monstrous and grotesque.

Context ComicBook / TheCrimsonCage