Endangered Species: Proof – Endangered #1

Title: Proof: Endangered #1 (of 5)

Author: Alex Grecian

Artist: Riley Rossmo

Publisher: Image Comics

Rating: 14+

Release date: December 15, 2010

Verdict: 9/10

Just a few short months ago the final issue of the monthly Proof series, issue #28, was released. The issue tied up storylines that had been running for the last 3 years, but also set up the next stage of Proof’s life. The ongoing series may be ending, but the new format of “series of mini-series” is just starting. I’ve compared Proof to Hellboy in the past, but now it seems like Proof is going one step further by adopting Hellboy’s publishing method as well.

Riley Rossmo, the artist and co-creator of Proof, is also currently working on the monthly Cowboy Ninja Viking series he co-created with writer A.J. Lieberman, and unfortunately, Mr. Rossmo is not able to keep two monthly series on the shelves. With Cowboy Ninja Viking going monthly, it was decided that Rossmo would still pencil Proof, but the frequency of releases would be adjusted. The idea now is to do one 4-6 issue mini-series a year starring Proof and his amazing all-star cast of characters, while Rossmo tries to get between 9 & 12 issues of CNV on the stands a year. As a huge fan of both series, this is great for me. It truly is the best of both worlds.

Proof: Endangered #1 hit the stands the other day and I couldn’t wait to see what had changed in the world of Proof since issue #28 of the ongoing. At the end of the previous series, Proof had quit working for the US government / The Lodge, and was striking out on his own. When Proof: Endangered #1 opened we are introduced to a trio of Japanese VIP’s, including a Senator, who are just sitting down to a sushi dinner. The method of delivery of the sushi is on the naked body of a lovely lady. What these Japanese men do not know however, is that that beautiful woman is just a Chupacabra in disguise. This chupacabra then proceeds to eviscerate all the members of the dinning group as well as the wait staff. She kills them in truly brutal ways. Once this is completed, the chupacabra tells her master, who is in the shadows, that she has completed her task. That master in the shadows? None other than Mi-Chen-Po, Proof’s sworn enemy. This ended an amazing prologue.

From here we get to see where Proof and most of his closest companions ended up after they left the lodge to search out more proof of “Proof’s” people. The issue also contains a section at the back that acts as a primer for who is who in this series with this issue’s instalment focusing on, who else, the main man Proof. This issue is truly the perfect jumping on point for this series. All that you need to know has been detailed with lots of hints to the other Proof stories that are kicking around out there. If you’ve never given Proof a try, then this is the time. Even going back and checking out the entire ongoing series isn’t out of the question as all 5 trade paperback collections are still in print and are relatively easy to get into the shops for your reading pleasure.

So what did you guys think of the Proof relaunch? Was it your first issue of Proof? Did you find it hard to get into or follow? Sound off in our handy dandy comments section below J .

Countdown to Endangered: Proof #28 (of 28)

 

Title: Proof #28 (of 28)

Author: Alex Grecian

Artist: Riley Rossmo

Publisher: Image Comics

Rating: 13+

Release date: September 1, 2010

Verdict: 9/10

Almost three years ago Image Comics launched an online preview of a new creator-owned comic called Proof, a beautiful looking book starring a sasquatch as some type of secret agent. The premise pulled me in right away as I love stories involving mythical beings with human personalities involved in top secret activity. Comparisons to books like Hellboy and League of Extraordinary Gentlemen came to mind right away.

Much like Mike Mignola’s Hellboy, Proof is a big, strong, smart (and very old) ass kicking investigator of the abnormal. Hellboy has the B.P.R.D. and the eclectic staff of ghosts, homunculi and Icthyo sapiens, while Proof has The Lodge with its human staff and plethora of cryptozoological oddities that call the place home. The similarities between the books pretty much ends right there. Proof is really the only one on the team who is himself an “oddity”.

This week saw the release of the final issue of the first volume of Proof. Much like how Hellboy is set up as a series of mini-series and one-shots, Proof is moving away from the monthly realm of publishing and moving over to the mini-series format. Since issue #25, all the issues have had a counter at the top of the cover counting down to Proof: Endangered, which we learn at the end of this issue, is the name of the December 2010 debuting mini-series that brings Proof back to the comic book shelves. The reason for the format change is due to time constraints as opposed to sales figures, as co-creator/artist Riley Rossmo has also been publishing Cowboy Ninja Viking (also from Image) and only has so many hours in the day to draw.

Not much action really occurred in this issue as it was really the epilogue as opposed to the conclusion to the whole series. We find Proof along with his partners Ginger and Elvis, dealing with the disappearance of their boss Leander, and the installation of the new man, Proof’s former partner Wayne Russet, in the role of leader of the Lodge. We find out why the Dover Demon seemed to be absent from the recent issue that actually took place one year in the future from this issue and we also finally get its origin. I’d say that the biggest thing we learn is the reason that Proof has quit the Lodge after decades of working for them. All in all, this issue really makes me excited to finally get into the next series. Over the last 2 plus years Proof has become one of my absolute favorite comic book characters. Proof: Endangered, which we still don’t have an issue count on, can’t get here fast enough. And the epilogue of this story was wordless and chilling! Is that Proof vs. Wayne in Endangered?! Are you guys a fan of Proof? What did you think of the “season 1″ finale? Let us know by sounding off in our comments section below J .