Diego Valenzuela: Guiding an Exciting New World
“We're bringing back stories from the 60s and 70s where luchadores would fight monsters and werewolves outside the ring. These aren't really stories about wrestling at all, but a celebration of the closest thing we have to real-world superheroes.”
-Diego Valenzuela
To say Diego Valenzuela is a man of many talents and achievements would be an understatement. His career includes writing a novel titled, The Armor of God, being a screenwriter for Cartoon Network, working as a narrative designer for a real time strategy game from Gearbox, and now, comics. (Oh, and he was also a vocalist/lyricist for a progressive metal band called Watercolor Butterfly.)
In 2023, Masked Republic named Valenzuela Head of Storyworlds for their various media such as games and comic books. A fan since he was 9 years old, Valenzuela is spearheading one of the most exciting comic books to hit stands.
Released on July 17, 2024, Luchaverse Catalyst #1, distributed by Massive Publishing, has kicked off an exciting universe of larger than life stories with Mexican wrestlers, or luchadors, at the helm. Inspired largely from stories in the 70s, this series isn’t meant to highlight wrestling so much as it is meant to utilize heroes in Mexican culture to build new and fantastical worlds full of possibilities. The first issue earned an impressive 9.1 with Pages and Panels, and it is clear there is a lot to get excited about with this franchise.
Valenzuela was kind enough to talk about what comic book fans can expect from Luchaverse Catalyst and beyond.
Seth Adrian Romo: Beginning with your introduction to comic books, what got you excited about this medium?
Diego Valenzuela: I remember when I was a kid I was curious about the story, Batman: Knightfall, and I was told the comic book was too violent for me. I didn’t care, and once I started looking at the art and the character of Bane, I fell in love with him as opposed to Batman. After that, I was hooked.
Fast forward in the years, you’re now the Head of Storyworlds with Masked Republic. Your background shows there is a love of storytelling, where did that come from?
I kind of like to think that we all, as human beings, are storytellers. We are always telling stories to ourselves in our heads. Someone telling a joke is a storyteller. It's something so natural and human. When it began for me, wanting to do this on a more personal level, it really started when I was a kid, around 12 or 13. I love telling this story because the first story I ever wrote was based on a dream I had. It was set in a fantasy setting. I had this clear image of it, and when I woke up, I wanted to finish the dream. I wrote it down on a stack of papers while I was at Study Hall at an academy in Ireland. I finished it, gave it to friends to read, and it felt great. That feeling of completing a story, of getting it out, has never left. It always feels the same, whether it's a story, a script, a comic book, or a novel.
For readers who may not be familiar with wrestling or luchadors, what are you most excited for them to experience?
These comics are written in a way that is extremely accessible for new readers while also being challenging and exciting for others. Seeing people who aren't familiar with these characters get to know them as new heroes is exciting. Despite the fantasy elements, there’s a very human component to them. We will see flashbacks and glimpses into these heroes' lives. Luchadores are the closest we have to real-world superheroes. If you love Batman, Superman, or Spider-Man, you'll find something to enjoy here. The stories have action, heart, and everything that makes comics great.
As one of the guiding forces being the Luchaverse from Masked Republic and Massive Publishing, what can readers expect from this series?
It's like chapter zero of the Luchaverse. This is going to be three issues, each with two stories featuring some legendary luchador. The first one features Tinieblas Jr. and Rey Mysterio, probably the most famous luchador on earth. These stories were created and written by Ivan Plaza and Marco Lopez. They did an incredible job creating this base for something huge. The idea is that each of these stories is very big. It's the kickoff, the catalyst. It's just the beginning of a huge story world. What I'm excited for people to see is how these two stories, which seem completely disconnected at first, are part of the same story world. The climax of the catalyst will bring everything together. We're really excited about doing all kinds of transmedia stuff, from comics to animated series, TV, and live-action films. There's a lot coming, and I can't wait for people to see it.
Issue #1 had a blend of fantasy and monster fighting—elements you don’t see often in wrestling stories. How is it balancing different genres with luchadors as the leads?
The exciting point here is that these aren't really stories about wrestling at all. We're bringing back stories from the 60s and 70s where luchadores would fight monsters and werewolves outside the ring. Each luchador character featured in the Luchaverse Catalyst has their own genre. Some are involved in conspiracy political thrillers, others in horror, fantasy, sci-fi, and martial arts. Despite how different each comic is, they all feel like they inhabit the same story world. There’s something for everyone, whether you like superheroes, action, or lucha libre.
Given the rich history of Mexican storytelling, are you incorporating elements of magical realism into your stories to maintain that tie to Mexican culture?
Magical realism is an important part of Mexican culture, influenced by religion and the way we tell stories, jokes, and gossip. While magical realism isn't the main genre within the Luchaverse, it does influence certain aspects of the stories, especially glimpses into the childhoods of the luchadores and the parts before monsters attack. It's a significant part of the storytelling.
Aside from Mexican culture, what other influences were there in the stories?
Writers Ivan Plaza and Marco Lopez did an incredible job, and you might see influences like G.I. Joe in their work. Personally, one of my biggest influences is Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It's well-structured and written, and I go back to it for inspiration on storytelling, twists, and character dialogue. Another significant influence is Fullmetal Alchemist. It's probably the greatest story ever told, in my opinion. Both of these shows are versatile, covering various genres, and they offer a lot of inspiration for my writing.
Issue 1 is now on stands, what can readers expect for the future of the Luchaverse?
The catalyst is just a small glimpse into the huge Luchaverse, which is vast. We have certain elements set in stone that we plan to explore far into the future. There are foundational aspects that we want to respect, and we have a general structure for the story world. The challenge is in deciding the order of the stories and how to reveal them to readers. Kevin and I are managing to juggle this well, ensuring we always have something to guide us as we expand the story.
For more information about Luchaverse Catalyst, visit https://massivepublishing.com/collections/luchaverse. Diego Valenzuela can be found on social media at @thedarnbeast. This interview has been edited for clarity.