Originally made as a short film, Mutafukaz is an adapted adult French comic book series that lasted over Five Volumes along with a 600-page worth of context that was created by the artist Guillaume "Run" Renard himself and was published by Titan Comics.
The story follows Angelino and Vinz, as they attempt to get away from The Men in Black after discovering a secret that is beyond their normal society’s understanding. Not only this, but the world is explored through the Guardian Protectors of the Luchador Wresters, the Gangs that ride along across the poverty destruction of Los Angeles, and the history behind the US Government and the Machos.
The 5 volumes of the story were published between 2006 and 2015, with two spin-off books also published between volumes 2 and 3 while Run was too busy working on Wakfu:
- It came from the moon! (2008, art by Bicargo): a Start of Darkness prequel published as "Vol. 0" showing the origins of the Machos and the Lucha Ultima.
- MetaMuta (2009, art and story by Jérémie Labsolu): a Fever Dream Episode happening after Lino was shot at the end of vol. 2 as if it was a Near-Death Experience. Some elements of it, namely Lino's backstory with his mother, was later canonized in vol. 3 by Run.
The success of the comics spawned a feature-length film adaptation produced by Ankama Animations and Studio 4°C in 2017 as well as several Spin-Off series, all still penned by Run but with different artists. Each feature a more-or-less pronounced Genre Shift, and were released in a chapter format over the span of a year reminiscent of U.S./Canadian Comics (which is somewhat unusual in the Franco-Belgian market):
- Puta Madre (2017, art by Neyef): a Prequel centered around the youth of El Diablo from his Prison sentence at merely 12 years old to his wrestling debuts.
- Loba Loca (2019-2020, art by Guillaume Singelin): a Coming of Age Story set after the original story and following the daughter of El Diablo training under Tigre to follow in her father's footsteps.
- Mutafukaz 1886 (2021, art by Simon Hutt): A Spaghetti Western Alternate Continuity.
A Sequel to the main story titled M.F.K.2 started in 2022, announced to be a 3-parter. It is set at the same time as Loba Loca and continues the Machos storyline while delving into Vinz's origins.
The comic series provides examples of the following tropes:
- Adaptational Badass: Angelino actually shows a lot more of his abilities after getting brainwashed by Mr.K and escaping the facility. Where after going back to Willie’s houses and the trio have to face Section 7-z again, Angelino responses by using a samurai sword and his Macho Tentacles to literally slash to bits in the most brutal fashion of them all.
- Ape Shall Never Kill Ape: The Macho Aliens think themselves better than humans because, for all their psychotic impulses on ruling humanity, they refuse to kill each other while humans will go to war over a piece of shitty territory. Of course, considering the guy saying this is a Card-Carrying Villain who has no issue with murdering half-breeds...
- Artistic License – Space: Effectively, antimatter is what Machos are made of, and their secretions can be used as individual pocket dimensions.
- Art Shift: Just about each chapter varies in style, from classic comics to Japanese manga.
- In the movie, there is a montage that more closely resembles the western style used for the majority of the comics.
- Crapsack World: Dark Meat City.
- Creator Cameo: RUN appears briefly at the end of volume 1, giving Angelino and Vinz his car to help them escape Palm Hill.
- Deuteragonist: Vincent "Vinz" Scavo.
- Distracted by the Sexy: As Lino delivers pizza, he gets distracted by Luna, and ends up getting hit by a large truck.
- Eerie Pale-Skinned Brunette: Luna. Despite being half Macho, which are usually portrayed with pitch-black skin. note
- Emotion Eater: The Machos, who thrive off of the negative energy of mankind.
- Evil Feels Good: Whenever Angelino fights, he is surprisingly skilled, even in-universe. At one point, he even admits to enjoying it almost sexually.Marshall: It's sexual, right? It is isn't it? I'm sure it's sexual!Angelino: Yeah, a little...note
- Flaming Skulls: Vinz is a prime example, with a forever flame doubling as his hair.
- Flying Saucer: While they don't use actual machines, the antimatter saucers the Machos use are your typical alien U.F.O.s, complete with elevator and laser beams.
- Gangbangers: Most of the residents of Palm Hill.
- People Jars: These are where the remaining Z-7 units are found when the infantry raid Golgotha.
- Plot Device: In the film, coincidental signs are the only reasons on why the luchadores know where the trouble begins. Though the comics, in a more mystical and ancient sense, the gang are told so directly by a bunch of blue crystal skulls which kick starts their story officially.
- Pocket Dimension: The black hole Angelino and Vinz finds after a Macho MIB agent dies from crashing into a bridge support at the end of the car chase. It's used to store weapons.
- Pumpkin Person: Angelino is based on this, and is occasionally drawn with one. [1]
- Rapid Aging: When as Angelino and Vinz enact their escape plan from Golgotha, one of the guards puts his head inside the black hole they use for storage. As a result, he becomes elderly.Guard: Oh my god! I... I can see... The creation of the world...
- Scary Dogmatic Aliens: Played with. The Machos consider themselves to be supreme beings, and created the basis of Naziism. In-Universe, is a Macho.
- Skull for a Head: Though Vinz is considered a skeleton, and has a jaw somewhere, the rest of his body is normal, albeit grey and incredibly thin.
- Superpowered Evil Side: After Angelino is brought to Golgotha, he is able to transform into form that appears more akin to that of a Macho, complete with tentacles, larger muscle mass and evil eyes.note
- Super-Soldier: Section Z-7 Officers
- Tritagonist: Luna and Willy Pipistrelli.
