Proof (comics)

Supercbbox
title = Proof


caption =
schedule = Monthly
ongoing = y
Horror = y
publisher = Image Comics
date= October 2007 -
issues = 8 (as of May 2008)
main_char_team = John Prufrock
writers = Alex Grecian
artists = Riley Rossmo
colorists =
creative_team_month =
creative_team_year =
creators = Alex Grecian, Riley Rossmo
TPB = Goatsucker
ISBN = 1582409943
subcat = Image Comics
sort = PAGENAME

"Proof" is an American comic book series, published by Image Comics and created by writer Alex Grecian and artist Riley Rossmo. The story concerns John "Proof" Prufrock, a sasquatch, who works for a secret government organization. He hunts cryptids with his partner, Ginger Brown, and seeks clues to his past. The book was influenced by "The X-Files" and characters such as Tarzan. [ [http://communities.canada.com/theprovince/blogs/readthis/archive/2007/10/31/the-x-files-meets-bigfoot.aspx The Province ] ]

The first issue was released on October 24, 2007. [ [http://www.cryptomundo.com/cryptozoo-news/proof-oct07/ Cryptomundo.com » Proof: New CZ Comic Book ] ]

Publication history

The character of Proof first appeared in "Berserker", a short story published in "Negative Burn" #7 (December 2006). The black-and-white story, also created by Alex Grecian and Riley Rossmo, shows Proof's battle with a skinwalker.

Proof also appeared in 2008's "Image Monster Pile-Up", a one-shot anthology comic that also featured The Astonishing Wolf-Man, The Perhapanauts, and Firebreather.

Plot

The first arc, "Goatsucker", concerns a cryptid attack in Minnesota that appears to be the work of a Bigfoot-like creature. The plot also details the transfer of Ginger Brown, a young female agent, from the F.B.I to a secret organization called The Lodge. Once employed, Brown discovers that her partner is John "Proof" Prufrock, a Bigfoot who works in secret for the U.S. government. Brown's first case with The Lodge concerns El Chupacabra, a monster who masquerades as human by wearing the skin of its victims. Ginger and Proof also encounter a number of cryptozoological fauna, including jackalopes, a golem, and the Cottingley Fairies. [ [http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/culture/story.html?id=ebf51ce9-4fb8-4b1f-ae7e-191e053eac28 Proof on paper that Bigfoot exists] , "Edmonton Journal", October 27, 2008]

The second arc, "The Company of Men", follows Proof as he attempts to save a juvenile dinosaur from poachers in the Congo. Proof and Ginger will also encounter creatures such as the Loch Ness monster and The Kraken. [ [http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=11355 The "Proof" Is Out There: Grecian Talks New Image Series] , Comic Book Resources, September 6, 2007]

The third arc is called "Thunderbirds are Go!" and features dual main plots: Ginger and Elvis journey to New York City to find Joe the golem, while Proof investigates sightings of condor-like thunderbirds in rural Illinois.

Characters

*Proof: John Prufrock is a Bigfoot who works for The Lodge, a secret organization located in Washington. As a Bigfoot, he is vastly larger and more powerful than a human being. Proof is exceptionally cultured for a feral beast; he is often seen wearing expensive suits and custom-made shoes.
*Ginger Brown: A young FBI agent, Brown is transferred to The Lodge after a fateful encounter with a golem in New York City. She is young and brash, and does not know what to make of Proof, who is her new partner.
*Leander Wight: The aged and wise manager of The Lodge. He is kindly, but mysterious.
*Elvis Aaron Chesnut: A small-town sheriff who ends up joining The Lodge during the "Goatsucker" arc.
*Wayne Russet: The gameskeeper of The Lodge. Wayne is Proof's best friend, and a surrogate 'mother' to many of the cryptids of The Lodge.
*Autumn Song: The hard-hearted assistant to Wayne.
*Mi-Chen Po: An unidentified antagonist who has plans for Proof and Ginger.
*Colonel Werner Dachshund: A villainous poacher who kills and devours cryptids.

Cryptids

Many fanciful creatures inhabit the world of "Proof". While most harmlessly occupy the free-range habitat of The Lodge, several hostile cryptids run free in the wild and must be captured. These captures drive "Proof"'s main plot.

*Joe: An apparent golem living in New York City, Joe defends the city's Jewish population.
*The Dover Demon: An enigmatic and gangly creature, the Demon can foretell the future.
*Nadine: Also known as El Chupacabra or The Mexican Bigfoot, Nadine skins humans and wears their skins as a disguise.
*Passenger pigeons: Birds, long thought extinct, which live in seclusion in The Lodge's habitat.
*Dodos: The last of their species, the friendly dodos live in The Lodge.
*Jackalopes: These horned rabbits are kept with the dodos.
*The Cottingley Fairies: Vicious beasts that resemble small winged women, they are kept behind glass for the safety of the staff. Three male fairies (gigantic in size) are kept in seclusion.
*Gnomes: Tiny, meat-eating creatures that resemble senior citizens.
*Brownies: Hairy little creatures with hostile intent.
*Mokele-mbembe: Apatosaurus-like dinosaurs that live harmlessly in The Congo.
*Thunderbirds: Gigantic, vulture-like birds that are capable of snatching children.

Collected editions

* "Goatsucker", the first "Proof" trade paperback was released on June 4 2008 (ISBN 1582409943). It collects the first five issues.

See also

* Hellboy, a demon who hunts monsters for the B.P.R.D. a covert government agency.
*B.P.R.D., a spin-off of Hellboy which focuses more on the para-military aspect of the Hellboy world. Team members include: Abe Sapien (a merman), Liz Sherman (a pyrokinetic), Roger (a homunculus), Ben Daimino (a zombie, of sorts), Panya (a mummy), & Johann (a disembodied medium).
*The Perhapanauts, a government-run team of monster hunters, who include a Bigfoot and Chupacabra
*"X-Files" comic
*U.T.F., a government-run team of monster hunters

Notes

References

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External links

* [http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=139470 The first issue of "Proof" online] at Newsarama.