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 .