The Pro - R18+

The Pro is a one shot comic written by Garth Ennis art by Amanda Conner and published by Image Comics. I've written reviews on comics that I've deemed R18+ before but I mean it with The Pro, like really really mean it, if you are under 18 why not check out my review on Bizarro #1? A review about a prostitute gaining super powers and using them to give super powered hand jobs isn't exactly what I'd call a wholesome read.

The Pro begins with our hero giving a blow job, I'm not skipping anything it begins with exactly that on the first page, and then being chased from the car while her client shoots at her after refusing to pay the agreed amount. The Pro (who is never named) then collects her son from the babysitter and returns home lamenting over being "fucked again" by life. The Voyeur Viewer, an omnipotent alien being, grants The Pro super powers (without her knowledge) and alerts The League that a new hero will be joining them. When The Pro wakes up she is shocked with her new abilities but not as shocked as she is to see a team of superheroes floating outside her window who welcome her into The League Of Honour.

The Pro, despite being a foul mouthed, crude, and poorly mannered prostitute, is a pretty likeable character. While she isn't exactly winning mother of the year she takes care of her son and despite her lack of doting attitude clearly loves him, this is clearly a woman who has been dealt a bad hand in life she works as waitress during the day and a prostitute at night just to make ends meet. After gaining her super powers The Pro attempts to fight with The League Of Honour but has trouble adjusting to the rules she must now adhere too. The Pro, depending on how deep you want to read into it, is actually a pretty thought provoking comic being a critique on the super hero genre as a whole, on race representation and female representation in the super hero genre. If you aren't up for analysing The Pro is still really enjoyable as a comedy and you can completely ignore any deeper meaning.

Yes, yes it is

The Pro is both beautifully drawn and incredibly gross with an interesting contrast between The League of Honour and The Pro. The panels that involve the heroes are bright, colourful and sharp like any classic super hero comic while The Pro looks worn and shabby in not only herself but her surroundings. Having everything in The Pro's world looking old and overused is an incredibly effective way of emphasising that her life is difficult and a struggle without the character needing to say a single word about it.

I'm not normally one for toilet humour but even I found The Pro funny and, for a comic about a super powered prostitute, filled with symbolism. If you aren't easily offended or mind some excessive sexual content then I'd strongly recommend The Pro, even if the premise puts you off a bit its still an amazing read.

If public breast feeding bothers you The Pro is going to freak you out

I give The Pro 4 out of 5 Pros

Find out more about The Pro here.