With issue #3, Profane reached a bold and extra impressive peak. After what I called “practice pitches” for issue #1 and 2, Profane‘s very meta approach to the story of Will Profane figured out its tone and vibe, and it was both a compelling thought experiment in storytelling as much as just a great slice of noir.
And, to an extent, the penultimate fourth issue of Profane is a minor step down in terms of proper accomplishments. But don’t let that fool you into thinking that the creative team (writer Peter Milligan, artist Raül Fernandez, and colorist Giada Marchisio) aren’t still about to crack this whole case wide open.
Don’t get me wrong: we did get some pretty good developments and happenings across issue #4. But after Egbert was attacked at the end of #3, and Will Profane’s time in the Non-Fiction was put into jeopardy, a lot of the issue felt like we were in a holding pattern. Yes, Mr. Profane and Lili’s little connection reached a new peak. (That dynamic being earned continues to be a really great commentary on the whole pulp tradition and this book’s specific meta tinges/approach.) And, Honor and Profane’s, um, “relationship” also reaches new, wonderfully intense heights. (Same for this pairing but to a slightly lesser extent).
Courtesy of BOOM! Studios.
Even the way Lili and Profane go over the facts of the case is solid way to further explore storytelling tropes and get us considering the work of this story tradition. But much like the intro of a brand-new Detective Lopez (is that maybe a touch too late in this series?), it just felt like the true payoff was waiting to happen.
On the upside, though, the art continues to be rich with emotion and mood to spare. Something about capturing the still-dead body of Spud Coltrane that just proves that Profane is very much about the way the art draws you into this rich, intense world and lets the story bust out its meta bag of tricks to get you to really consider your role in this and other stories. And, of course, it’s still-living as well — there’s so much sweaty, slightly gritty glamour abounding that even if not much actually happens, you feel like there’s movement and action galore.
In fact, Profane even comments at one point that he doesn’t care if something helps the plot or character development, and the art continues to be a great source for our own sustained enjoyment in this layered story experience. Maybe there’s something to that lesson, yeah?
Courtesy of BOOM! Studios.
But back to the whole payoff. Because after Ken Kane was offed in issue #3, and Red Glove was still searching for a new writer to finish Coltrane’s last Will Profane novel (likely to finally get that big win), a substitute was introduced in issue #4. On the one hand, said scribe is interesting — they’re a total juxtaposition to what Profane and Coltrane represent in crime fiction, and I’ve got to think that’s another deeply interesting layer to this meta dissection.
And, from that, there’s hints and minor reveals made that could further extend that meta arc, and in a way that I think will prove especially satisfying. But it’s very much a thing where nothing actually happened here, and it was only really hinted at (albeit brilliantly). So, yeah, things are up in the air, and certainly the promise is there. But if Profane has taught me anything so far, it’s that (and I touched on this toward the end of the issue #3 review), this book could go too far. Or, more specifically, there’s always this sense that more layers or happenings can be piled on, and this new author is certainly one of those.
Courtesy of BOOM! Studios.
Could it be a master stroke? Sure. Could it also prove disastrous? Totally. The thing about these stories is they always lean into the next reveal/level, and that means you can’t always know if it’s good or if anything has truly been accomplished until you’ve had time for it to fully resonate. I think that’s the nature of these crime stories — sometimes the fun is working out the aftermath and not always the build and the development process.
So, all in all, Profane #4 was a solid enough entry. Maybe it feels like a little bit of a letdown after the peak performance of issue #3, but I don’t fully see it like that. Yes, the book’s still got some landings to stick if Profane is going to ultimately be a true success. But with the solid visuals and aesthetics, the thoughtful repurposing of meta tropes, and lots of heart and style galore, I already feel like Profane is a winner if only in that it’s shot for the moon and mostly delivered by now.
If Profane is really going to break molds, hearts, and minds, we just need some extra fictional magic for a final sprint toward that beaming “The End” on the horizon.
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