The Turnbuckle Brigade
Status: In Development / Medium: Screenplay + Graphic Novel / Category: Adult > Action > Humor / Timeline: Feb - Jun 2025 / Job Board: Active
“When the Axis Powers begin searching for a relic that could turn the tide of World War II, General Eisenhower recruits the four greatest professional wrestlers in the world to form a top-secret unit codenamed The Turnbuckle Brigade. ”
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When the Axis Powers begin searching for a relic that could turn the tide of World War II, General Eisenhower recruits the four greatest professional wrestlers in the world to form a top-secret unit codenamed The Turnbuckle Brigade.
Wrestlers Frank Zill, The Borneo Wildman, Breathtaking Benjamin Bradley and El Aguila de la Muerte are deployed on a secret mission: retrieve the Shroud of Turin, a biblical relic that grants the bearer unimaginable power. The Axis powers, led by Dr. Metallgesicht (English – Dr. Metalface) are hunting for it as well. He’s backed by The Brotherhood of the Shroud, an ancient Ninja order dedicated to protecting the relic itself. It’s a race against time with the fate of the world in the balance.The wrestlers infiltrate a gothic castle in an unnamed European area and use their professional wrestling skills to avoid traps, fight through hordes of enemy soldiers and eventually face the Brotherhood itself.
It won’t be easy. Metallgesicht has anticipated the Allied Powers’ plan and has one of his own that includes the Shroud itself.
Creator’s Note #1: The overarching joke here is that Eisenhower believes pro wrestlers possess the superhuman powers and skills they demonstrate in the ring. While that isn’t the case, they still rely on their training in humorous and exciting methods. The other main point is that the Shroud itself doesn’t do anything. It’s just a sheet.
THE CAST
Frank Zill
Frank is based on “good guy” wrestlers from the era. Lou Thez, Frank Gotch, and Bruno Sammartino. Typical trunks-and-boots wrestling getup. Current All-Star Worldwide Wrestling Association Champion. The epitome of the American Hero. De facto team leader.
The Borneo Wildman
Based on “wildman” wrestlers like Kamala, The Missing Link, The Wild Samoans and Bruiser Brody. Behind the façade, he's quite intelligent. The team's master tactician and strategist.
Breathtaking Benjamin Bradley
Based entirely on the flamboyant wrestler Gorgeous George. He never breaks character, so no one (including the reader) is ever certain if he's “acting” or not. The team respects him as one of their own, so his flamboyance is never an issue. Wears an extravagant robe like wrestler Ric Flair or even Liberace. Uses a cane. Insanely manicured with his chest hair shaved into the shape of a heart. During the main fight scene, he ALWAYS uses the head scissors wrestling move. He never mixes it up.
El Aguila de la Muerte
Mexican Wrestler/Luchador. Silent. Terrifying. Cold. Calculating. The team's infiltration and assassination expert. Think Snake-Eyes from GI Joe meets Mil Mascaras or El Santo.
Col. Haverchuck
The team's commanding officer and the guy Eisenhower tasked with recruiting the team. Perpetually behind a desk. Longs to go back into combat and thinks the wrestlers are ridiculous. Middle aged. Wise beyond his years. Tired. So very tired.
Dr. Metallgesicht
Dr. Doom meets Toht from Raiders of the Lost Ark. Long, high-collared black coat like Axis officers wore. Black hat. Scary-cool bad guy metal mask. He only wears it because it's scary and because “Metallgesicht” is his given name, so he figures he should live up to it.
The Brotherhood of the Shroud
Faceless ninjas ready to protect the Shroud. They’ll die for it if they must.
Creators Note #2:Hypothetically, The Brotherhood of the Shroud will be the first story arc. While the stories can stay in World War II for a while, the beauty of the concept is that we can even jump around in time with different wrestlers who are representative of various eras. Think someone like Hulk Hogan and Macho Man Randy Savage literally smashing the Berlin Wall. Someone like Stone Cold Steve Austin behind enemy lines in Afghanistan. Professional wrestling is having another moment right now in the public eye. It’s the perfect time to unleash a bit of fun, historical madness on the public. -Jason
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The Turnbuckle Brigade
Copyright 2024
Jason Baldwin
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