THE PRO

                                                                       THE PRO 

Written by Garth Ennis and drawn by Amanda Connor and Jimmy Palmiotti. Published by Image Comics. 

Garth Ennis' disdain for the superhero genre is not a secret and the few ventures that he has made into it, certainly shows his feelings on his sleeve.

In The Pro, a decidedly less visceral approaches is taken and Ennis drives his point about the genre with humor and, dare I say it? A certain melancholy. 

The Pro tells the story of a prostitute who gains superpowers and joins a super team. It contrasts two very different worlds, one very much set in the comic book world of a Justice League of America circa-1965 and the gritty reality of a woman who has chosen prostitution to make her way through what was without a doubt a very difficult life. The book would be depressing if it wasn't for the protagonist's "that's just life" attitude and Ennis' clever handling of the situations and humor.

Published in mid-2002, this was a relatively early work of penciler Amanda Connor. While not as polished as some of her later works, it does present clear visual storytelling, well rendered figures that convey body language and emotions.

The humor is crude, but in many places, laugh out loud funny.

Get the book in print, here:

UNKNOWN SOLDIER

                                                              UNKNOWN SOLDIER 

Written by Garth Ennis and drawn by Kilian Plunkett, published by Vertigo/DC Comics

Over the years, writer Garth Ennis has shown a love for both the western and war genres. One of his first forays into war stories, was this revival of the old DC Comics character, The Unknown Soldier. Having read a few stories from its original iteration, this particular story certainly doesn't look at its subject matter in the same manner and infuses decades worth of political cynicism into it. 

A tale that doubles as a mystery and war story, Ennis' take on the character is at times horrifying and rings unfortunately true in many of the scenarios it presents. Surprisingly, he is still able to introduce jokes and farcical situations that only make the story that much more powerful.

Artist Kilian Plunkett's scratchy art style imbues the various tableaux with the necessary gravitas, verve and visual flair to make this story one that will stay with you long after you've finished it.

Get the trade paperback here: