Broken Frontier

The curtain is thrown back and the past that Proof is often reluctant to talk about is explored. Spring Heel Jack and the most famous of the bearded ladies come into play as Proof visits Victorian Era London.

The best works of literature are marked by the world that is created. Certainly, it is easy to point to the careful development in books like The Lord of the Rings or Dune. But even the most celebrated novels are marked by a story that is broader than just a self contained tale. East of Eden and The Sun Also Rises are just as powerful for what is not displayed concretely on the page. Historical fiction like Patrick O’Brien’s Jack Aubrey novels have an unfair advantage as history provides the back drop. However, all of these works are made more powerful through the careful exploration of a rich and detailed world.

It has become apparent over the last 16 issues of Proof that Grecian and Riley had put just as much care into the world they were building. From hints dropped early in the series being picked up later, their craftsmanship has been the driving force behind a book that has reached a cult status with its fanbase. A fanbase happy to help others hunt down the back issues, a group of people giving their own time making sure that the book reaches new hands through endless pimping of the book’s dense story or the trades’ low price. A rich internet community has built around the title. Here the creators have reached outside the fourth wall bringing in fans to populate issues and add to the cast in a special way.

Like O’Brien though, the creators have accessed the stories of the real world. The Bigfoot is the center character, but we have seen the Dover Demon, Fairies, and the chubacabra. Along the way the cryptids have given the reader a sense of the texture that the urban myths provided for the background of the series.

Then comes this issue. Beginning here, the story arc titled "Julia" is as good a jumping on point as the first issue was. Through a quick historical perspective, the first page lets you know who Proof is and what he does. Then we see the big hairy star standing in front of a frightened lady running from some untold danger. The rest of the characters are new or like in Willingham’s fantastic 1001 Nights of Snowfall are shown in a context so removed from the stories that have existed before this issue, that it is irrelevant if you know their current history.

What is more remarkable is the new member of Team Proof. Oh, there is not some agent from the Victorian London, although that is clearly possible. There is, however, a new colorist. Dave Casey debuts as part of the creative team. Riley should be sure to hold on to this guy. The first scenes (as the rest of the scenes in London) make the art pop more than it ever has before. Rossmo’s distinctive art is still as powerful as ever, but Casey decides to use a rich bright red pallette for a setting that is usually colored in a dark and washed out manner. Instead of a creepy London, we see a rich and violent one. One that is befitting of the care given to the rest of the world created in this police procedural fantasy that has now turned historical period mystery.

If Watson and Holmes showed up they would not be out of place. That is how well written the piece is. Beyond just the historical cryptids used in the past, we see glimpses of Proof in Oslo showing that Alex has done his research and speaking of research, the backups in this arc feature new material from one of the foremost scholars on Spring Heel Jack. A coup for sure that speaks to the audience of this fine book.

I’ve said before that Proof is the work of two creators who are emergent masters. With this issue, all that changes. Grecian and Rossmo have more than proved their ability. Proof has never failed to entertain and be thought provoking. However, with this issue we get a glimpse at exactly how rich the world they have put together is. With the leaps the book has made in quality over time and the new start here, one can only hope that this book is entering into The Walking Dead or Fables territory. That elusive land where sales increase with each issue. Steady steam is building and it is set to explode on the comic scene as the rest of the community realizes what the book’s loyal following has known all along.