Prophet 25 (May 2012)

Prophet #25
Graham seems overjoyed to knock the reader’s expectations for Prophet around each issue. This one, with Giannis Milonogiannis on that art, changes things up once again.

It’s entirely possible Graham and company might have hit on their actual plot, but after two or three change-ups–I can’t even remember how many it’s been–I imagine most readers would be cautious.

Here’s the great thing though.

It doesn’t matter.

I don’t care if Graham changes it up every two or three issues, because each issue is this fantastic comic book. Milonogiannis’s artwork isn’t the best the series has seen, but it’s quite good. His rough on the people–a bunch of other John Prophets–but his alien world work is outstanding. And the ending is a big surprise.

Graham creates these intricate situations, only the decimate them for effect.

I love it.

Teran’s initiate back-up returns with decent success.

A-

CREDITS

Prophet; writers, Brandon Graham, Giannis Milonogiannis and Simon Roy; artist, Milonogiannis; colorist, Joseph Bergin III; letterer, Ed Brisson. initiate, Part Two; writer, artist, colorist and letterer, Frank Teran. Editor, Eric Stephenson; publisher, Image Comics.

Prophet 23 (March 2012)

Prophet #23
Graham does something interesting here–he gives John Prophet a nemesis, but doesn’t dwell on that relationship except a quick reference. Graham charts Prophet’s progress in the narration boxes, marking each day. Occasionally, it makes Prophet feel a lot fuller. Graham never quite encourages the reader to imagine what’s been going on between issues, but it’s always clear something did.

Probably something gross, even though Graham and Roy continue their lack of grossness this issue. The worst it gets here is a dismembered arm.

A dismembered arm isn’t much in the world of Prophet.

One strange thing about Graham’s approach to a future story is the lack of references to modern-day settings. Prophet has to climb an impossibly tall mountain and Graham avoids implying its anything extant in the reader’s modern Earth. It’s a nice, mature move.

initiate, from Frank Teran, backups the feature. Nice art but measly story.

B+

CREDITS

Prophet; writers, Brandon Graham and Simon Roy; artist, Roy; colorist, Richard Ballermann; letterer, Ed Brisson; editor, Eric Stephenson. initiate, Part One; writer, artist, colorist and letterer, Frank Teran. Publisher, Image Comics.