Print this article E-mail this article More articles by this author

Publisher: Image Comics Creative Team: · Alex Grecian · Riley Rossmo · Tyler Jenkins Related Sites: · Alexander Grecian's Website · Image Comics Grade: A Read this book and you will believe in Bigfoot, among other things.

Image Comics, which began as a superhero-oriented alternative to DC and Marvel, has in recent years become a more diverse publisher, offering something for almost every genre. I recently discovered a gem of a book that blends elements of horror with mystery and police procedurals. The result is the very satisfying Proof, written by Alexander Grecian, illustrated by Riley Rossmo and colored by Tyler Jenkins.

Proof is the story of John Prufrock, a Bigfoot who is searching for others of his kind while working for The Lodge, a government organization that specializes in cases involving Cryptids. Cryptids are creatures who are considered by the general populace to be myths or urban legends, but are, in fact, very real. The Lodge is home to the Dover Demon, several surprisingly ferocious fairies, dodo birds, gnomes, jackalopes and other theoretical creatures. Prufrock's supporting cast includes his new, somewhat reluctant partner Ginger Brown, his best friend and Lodge keeper Wayne, Lodge overseer Leander Wight, and former sheriff and Lodge newcomer Elvis Chestnut.

The book will inevitably draw comparisons to Mike Mignola's Hellboy, not because of Rossmo's art but rather the use of a "monster" working for the government to find other "monsters." Grecian's first arc, "Goatsucker," feels a little closer to The X-Files than Mignola's B.P.R.D. I don't think the comparisons are necessarily a bad thing, because a lot of folks enjoy Hellboy and I believe those same folks will also enjoy Proof. Rossmo's art seems at times a little frenetic, but I don't find it distracting. The antagonist in the "Goatsucker" tale, a Chupacabra who calls itself Nadine, is suitably scary, and Rossmo's fairies are downright nasty! I hope they get featured in an upcoming arc. Jenkins' colors are suitable atmospheric, perhaps even understated. Everyone loves color comics but sometimes I think certain comics suffer because a garish coloring job distracts the eye from the actual linework. You shouldn't necessarily recognize the colorist by the pages themselves, because that often means the colors are taking over the art. Yes, it means being unheralded -- the bass player to Rossmo's lead guitar -- but it's no less crticial to the success of the group, and Jenkins does a fantastic job of giving this world a depth of color and visual warmth without beating your senses into submission in the process.

Grecian's story plays out in a world I've always enjoyed, the mysterious cryptozoological gray area between science fiction and science fact. I've seen reviews for his early single issues that complained of his use of "Cryptoids," short little narrative bubbles that offer a fun combination of cryptozoological fact and tongue-in-cheek humor. I found them largely entertaining, and a nice change of pace from the typically stale, dry narration employed more often in comics. They sort of reminded me of Joe Casey's "Fun Fact Scrolls" that ran on the bottom of every page of Wildstorm's The Intimates I sometimes wonder why people seem so compelled to use narration in comics at all. While I prefer a "show, don't tell" approach, and would like to see Alexander Grecian go a little less heavy on the "Cryptoids," I appreciate that he's employing a somewhat novel approach to get his information out there.

I heartily recommend this book. I read the whole trade in a single sitting, which isn't something I do very often. The good far outweighs the bad here: interesting characters, tons of potential (I'd love to see how a Yeti or a Sasquatch is classified in relation to Bigfoot), that X-Files/Hellboy vibe that obviously works so well, a fun approach to what could be a potentially dry description of neglected and shunned corner of scientific inquiry, and some dynamic, often creepy artwork. My only real complaint: why didn't I think of this first?