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The Pro
Reintroducing the outrageous story of THE PRO in paperback! Just when you thought GARTH ENNIS had gone too far, just when you thought it was safe to walk the streets, just when you thought no one would go near the idea of the world's first superhero prostitute... here comes THE PRO! Plus, in -THE PRO MEETS THE HO, - our plucky heroine faces a super-powered -soiled dove- whose powers of perversion exceed the Pro's own!
72 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2003
About the author
Garth Ennis
2,737 books3,280 followersEnnis began his comic-writing career in 1989 with the series Troubled Souls. Appearing in the short-lived but critically-acclaimed British anthology Crisis and illustrated by McCrea, it told the story of a young, apolitical Protestant man caught up by fate in the violence of the Irish 'Troubles'. It spawned a sequel, For a Few Troubles More, a broad Belfast-based comedy featuring two supporting characters from Troubled Souls, Dougie and Ivor, who would later get their own American comics series, Dicks, from Caliber in 1997, and several follow-ups from Avatar.
Another series for Crisis was True Faith, a religious satire inspired by his schooldays, this time drawn by Warren Pleece. Ennis shortly after began to write for Crisis' parent publication, 2000 AD. He quickly graduated on to the title's flagship character, Judge Dredd, taking over from original creator John Wagner for a period of several years.
Ennis' first work on an American comic came in 1991 when he took over DC Comics's horror title Hellblazer, which he wrote until 1994, and for which he currently holds the title for most issues written. Steve Dillon became the regular artist during the second half of Ennis's run.
Ennis' landmark work to date is the 66-issue epic Preacher, which he co-created with artist Steve Dillon. Running from 1995 to 2000, it was a tale of a preacher with supernatural powers, searching (literally) for God who has abandoned his creation.
While Preacher was running, Ennis began a series set in the DC universe called Hitman. Despite being lower profile than Preacher, Hitman ran for 60 issues (plus specials) from 1996 to 2001, veering wildly from violent action to humour to an examination of male friendship under fire.
Other comic projects Ennis wrote during this time period include Goddess, Bloody Mary, Unknown Soldier, and Pride & Joy, all for DC/Vertigo, as well as origin stories for The Darkness for Image Comics and Shadowman for Valiant Comics.
After the end of Hitman, Ennis was lured to Marvel Comics with the promise from Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada that he could write The Punisher as long as he cared to. Instead of largely comical tone of these issues, he decided to make a much more serious series, re-launched under Marvel's MAX imprint.
In 2001 he briefly returned to UK comics to write the epic Helter Skelter for Judge Dredd.
Other comics Ennis has written include War Story (with various artists) for DC; The Pro for Image Comics; The Authority for Wildstorm; Just a Pilgrim for Black Bull Press, and 303, Chronicles of Wormwood (a six issue mini-series about the Antichrist), and a western comic book, Streets of Glory for Avatar Press.
In 2008 Ennis ended his five-year run on Punisher MAX to debut a new Marvel title, War Is Hell: The First Flight of the Phantom Eagle.
In June 2008, at Wizard World, Philadelphia, Ennis announced several new projects, including a metaseries of war comics called Battlefields from Dynamite made up of mini-series including Night Witches, Dear Billy and Tankies, another Chronicles of Wormwood mini-series and Crossed both at Avatar, a six-issue miniseries about Butcher (from The Boys) and a Punisher project reuniting him with artist Steve Dillon (subsequently specified to be a weekly mini-series entitled Punisher: War Zone, to be released concurrently with the film of the same name).
Taken from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garth_Ennis
Another series for Crisis was True Faith, a religious satire inspired by his schooldays, this time drawn by Warren Pleece. Ennis shortly after began to write for Crisis' parent publication, 2000 AD. He quickly graduated on to the title's flagship character, Judge Dredd, taking over from original creator John Wagner for a period of several years.
Ennis' first work on an American comic came in 1991 when he took over DC Comics's horror title Hellblazer, which he wrote until 1994, and for which he currently holds the title for most issues written. Steve Dillon became the regular artist during the second half of Ennis's run.
Ennis' landmark work to date is the 66-issue epic Preacher, which he co-created with artist Steve Dillon. Running from 1995 to 2000, it was a tale of a preacher with supernatural powers, searching (literally) for God who has abandoned his creation.
While Preacher was running, Ennis began a series set in the DC universe called Hitman. Despite being lower profile than Preacher, Hitman ran for 60 issues (plus specials) from 1996 to 2001, veering wildly from violent action to humour to an examination of male friendship under fire.
Other comic projects Ennis wrote during this time period include Goddess, Bloody Mary, Unknown Soldier, and Pride & Joy, all for DC/Vertigo, as well as origin stories for The Darkness for Image Comics and Shadowman for Valiant Comics.
After the end of Hitman, Ennis was lured to Marvel Comics with the promise from Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada that he could write The Punisher as long as he cared to. Instead of largely comical tone of these issues, he decided to make a much more serious series, re-launched under Marvel's MAX imprint.
In 2001 he briefly returned to UK comics to write the epic Helter Skelter for Judge Dredd.
Other comics Ennis has written include War Story (with various artists) for DC; The Pro for Image Comics; The Authority for Wildstorm; Just a Pilgrim for Black Bull Press, and 303, Chronicles of Wormwood (a six issue mini-series about the Antichrist), and a western comic book, Streets of Glory for Avatar Press.
In 2008 Ennis ended his five-year run on Punisher MAX to debut a new Marvel title, War Is Hell: The First Flight of the Phantom Eagle.
In June 2008, at Wizard World, Philadelphia, Ennis announced several new projects, including a metaseries of war comics called Battlefields from Dynamite made up of mini-series including Night Witches, Dear Billy and Tankies, another Chronicles of Wormwood mini-series and Crossed both at Avatar, a six-issue miniseries about Butcher (from The Boys) and a Punisher project reuniting him with artist Steve Dillon (subsequently specified to be a weekly mini-series entitled Punisher: War Zone, to be released concurrently with the film of the same name).
Taken from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garth_Ennis
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 201 reviews
May 1, 2020
Garth Ennis's dislike of the idea of 'capes' - as in 'superheroes', is given full reign in the form a of a single mother and prostitute, with a lot of opinions and a foul mouth being given super powers and thrust into the world of the 'capes'. Quite a funny book, sees Ennis really get under the concept that the conventional depiction of superheroes leaves a lot to be desired in that they don't really help the downtrodden or genuinely strive to make the world a better place. 6 out of 12, Three Star read.
2011 read
2011 read
January 24, 2015
So this is a comic about a prostitute who gains superpowers.
It might, now that I'm thinking of it, be the *only* comic about a prostitute gaining superpowers.
If you're a fan of Garth Ennis, nothing in here is going to shock you. There's his trademark irreverence and ultra-violence. And there's some cracks at mainstream superheroes that swing wildly back and forth across the spectrum between from clever satire and 3rd-grade potty humor. (Literally. Someone pees on someone else in the comic.)
So why am I giving it five stars?
Well, for one. Because I like any sort of story that takes a bizarre premise, a premise that nobody in their right mind would think was workable, and then just goes for it.
For two, there's actually some good characterization going on in here. The Pro has a kid. And she's a loving mother, even if she isn't an idealized one.
And also, because to point at this comic and say, "This comic would be better if it was more decorous, and less grotesquely violent, and didn't stoop to potty humor" is to kinda miss the point. They obviously set out to write a story that was irreverent, violent, vulgar, and snarky. That's what they were aiming for and they hit it. So. Five stars.
Dealbreakers: Do I even need to get into this? Do I really need to explain this comic is NSFW?
No. No I don't. You're all intelligent humans. Make your own good choices...
It might, now that I'm thinking of it, be the *only* comic about a prostitute gaining superpowers.
If you're a fan of Garth Ennis, nothing in here is going to shock you. There's his trademark irreverence and ultra-violence. And there's some cracks at mainstream superheroes that swing wildly back and forth across the spectrum between from clever satire and 3rd-grade potty humor. (Literally. Someone pees on someone else in the comic.)
So why am I giving it five stars?
Well, for one. Because I like any sort of story that takes a bizarre premise, a premise that nobody in their right mind would think was workable, and then just goes for it.
For two, there's actually some good characterization going on in here. The Pro has a kid. And she's a loving mother, even if she isn't an idealized one.
And also, because to point at this comic and say, "This comic would be better if it was more decorous, and less grotesquely violent, and didn't stoop to potty humor" is to kinda miss the point. They obviously set out to write a story that was irreverent, violent, vulgar, and snarky. That's what they were aiming for and they hit it. So. Five stars.
Dealbreakers: Do I even need to get into this? Do I really need to explain this comic is NSFW?
No. No I don't. You're all intelligent humans. Make your own good choices...
March 13, 2018
This was awful.
So short summary for a 80 page book. A prostitute becomes a superhero, joins the justice league, extremely over the top racist members, dumb as fuck scenes (a blowjob involving cum destroying a plane) and terrible dialog basically just shouting "Fuck this fuck that" all day. Overall this is pretty awful. Skip it.
So short summary for a 80 page book. A prostitute becomes a superhero, joins the justice league, extremely over the top racist members, dumb as fuck scenes (a blowjob involving cum destroying a plane) and terrible dialog basically just shouting "Fuck this fuck that" all day. Overall this is pretty awful. Skip it.
September 2, 2016
It's about a prostitute with superpowers and it's amazing.
February 13, 2020
Other Garth Ennis books (like The Boys or Hitman) do a better job covering the same sort of shock value superhero material. It's a little like someone came up with the premise (a prostitute gets superpowers) and then...that's pretty much it. It's a little like an SNL sketch: once you get the premise, there's not a lot else going on.
I mean, we're not talking about fascinating or new questions here:
+Isn't the whole Batman/Robin-in-little-briefs thing a little...questionable, sexually? Well, yeah.
+Isn't Wonder Woman's costume a little prostitute-y? I guess I don't see a lot of ladies in a bustier, clothing designed to push the boobs up and slim the waist, armored, enchanted, or not.
+Isn't Superman kind of a boy scout? Totally. But...I think I've had my fill of "What if Superman was totally evil?" stories. Superman being a nice guy is part of what makes him Superman. He's better than us. That's sort of the point, and the cleverness of Bad Superman stuff is old. Read Miracleman or Irredeemable if that's what you're looking for.
+Isn't it fucked-up that superheroes don't solve problems like...the need for better healthcare? Yes and no. Yes, sure, if Mr. Fantastic was a real guy, it'd be nice if he could spend a half day on dentistry, fix that whole field and we'd all be walking around with perfect choppers. Buuut he's not a real guy, so watching him do helpful stuff is boring. He needs to make a giant machine that would wipe out Galactus (and the whole universe, side effect), not solve the problem of plastic in the oceans. Because let's say he did solve plastic in the oceans. He's a fictional man with a fictional solution. Earth-616 doesn't have any plastic in the ocean, great, but MY ocean is still packed with the shit. So who gives a shit?
+Isn't it funny how heroes and villains seem to mince around and never really kill each other or, like, break someone's spine? Yes, I guess. You know what I've noticed in movies? When two characters fight, but when neither can die, they do a lot of that thing where they throw each other around. I throw you through a wall, you throw me through a building. And the reason is, I guess if you were Thanos and the movie wanted you to kill me, you'd just crush my skull, right? But that's not cool, so throw him away from you, then he comes back, then another throw, and so on. Nobody just goes HAM with a crowbar anymore.
I mean, we're not talking about fascinating or new questions here:
+Isn't the whole Batman/Robin-in-little-briefs thing a little...questionable, sexually? Well, yeah.
+Isn't Wonder Woman's costume a little prostitute-y? I guess I don't see a lot of ladies in a bustier, clothing designed to push the boobs up and slim the waist, armored, enchanted, or not.
+Isn't Superman kind of a boy scout? Totally. But...I think I've had my fill of "What if Superman was totally evil?" stories. Superman being a nice guy is part of what makes him Superman. He's better than us. That's sort of the point, and the cleverness of Bad Superman stuff is old. Read Miracleman or Irredeemable if that's what you're looking for.
+Isn't it fucked-up that superheroes don't solve problems like...the need for better healthcare? Yes and no. Yes, sure, if Mr. Fantastic was a real guy, it'd be nice if he could spend a half day on dentistry, fix that whole field and we'd all be walking around with perfect choppers. Buuut he's not a real guy, so watching him do helpful stuff is boring. He needs to make a giant machine that would wipe out Galactus (and the whole universe, side effect), not solve the problem of plastic in the oceans. Because let's say he did solve plastic in the oceans. He's a fictional man with a fictional solution. Earth-616 doesn't have any plastic in the ocean, great, but MY ocean is still packed with the shit. So who gives a shit?
+Isn't it funny how heroes and villains seem to mince around and never really kill each other or, like, break someone's spine? Yes, I guess. You know what I've noticed in movies? When two characters fight, but when neither can die, they do a lot of that thing where they throw each other around. I throw you through a wall, you throw me through a building. And the reason is, I guess if you were Thanos and the movie wanted you to kill me, you'd just crush my skull, right? But that's not cool, so throw him away from you, then he comes back, then another throw, and so on. Nobody just goes HAM with a crowbar anymore.
September 17, 2019
Oh god, this was....Ho...sterical!
February 4, 2016
Βαθμολογία: 7/10
Αγορασμένο πριν κάμποσους μήνες με κάτι λιγότερο από ενάμισι ευρώ, το "The Pro." είναι ένα αρκετά διασκεδαστικό και βρώμικο μικρό κόμικ, με μια ιστορία με σούπερ ήρωες, εντελώς διαφορετική από αυτές που έχουμε συνηθίσει. Μια βρωμόστομη πόρνη με μωρό, αποκτά από το πουθενά υπερδυνάμεις και γίνεται μέλος μιας ομάδας σούπερ ηρώων ονόματι Λεγεώνα της Τιμής. Το κόμικ απευθύνεται φυσικά σε μεγαλύτερες ηλικίες και όχι σε παιδάκια, μιας και υπάρχει μπόλικο βρισίδι και αρκετές βρώμικες σκηνές. Προσωπικά μου άρεσε σε πολύ μεγάλο βαθμό, η ιστορία μου φάνηκε αρκετά τρελή και ψυχαγωγική, ενώ και τα σχέδια αλλά και τα χρώματα σίγουρα με άφησαν ικανοποιημένο. Στο τέλος υπάρχει και μια ολιγοσέλιδη ιστορία, με το ίδιο βρώμικο χιούμορ, όπου η Pro συναντάει την Ho. Αν και δεν τα γλιτώνει τα τρία αστεράκια από μένα στο Goodreads, γενικά είναι ένα καλό κόμικ που διαβάζεται άνετα σ'ένα μισάωρο. Όμως σίγουρα δεν είναι για όλα τα γούστα.
Αγορασμένο πριν κάμποσους μήνες με κάτι λιγότερο από ενάμισι ευρώ, το "The Pro." είναι ένα αρκετά διασκεδαστικό και βρώμικο μικρό κόμικ, με μια ιστορία με σούπερ ήρωες, εντελώς διαφορετική από αυτές που έχουμε συνηθίσει. Μια βρωμόστομη πόρνη με μωρό, αποκτά από το πουθενά υπερδυνάμεις και γίνεται μέλος μιας ομάδας σούπερ ηρώων ονόματι Λεγεώνα της Τιμής. Το κόμικ απευθύνεται φυσικά σε μεγαλύτερες ηλικίες και όχι σε παιδάκια, μιας και υπάρχει μπόλικο βρισίδι και αρκετές βρώμικες σκηνές. Προσωπικά μου άρεσε σε πολύ μεγάλο βαθμό, η ιστορία μου φάνηκε αρκετά τρελή και ψυχαγωγική, ενώ και τα σχέδια αλλά και τα χρώματα σίγουρα με άφησαν ικανοποιημένο. Στο τέλος υπάρχει και μια ολιγοσέλιδη ιστορία, με το ίδιο βρώμικο χιούμορ, όπου η Pro συναντάει την Ho. Αν και δεν τα γλιτώνει τα τρία αστεράκια από μένα στο Goodreads, γενικά είναι ένα καλό κόμικ που διαβάζεται άνετα σ'ένα μισάωρο. Όμως σίγουρα δεν είναι για όλα τα γούστα.
September 14, 2017
Confession time: I decided to give this one a shot when I flipped it open and saw the scene of our seedy prostitute-turned-superhero giving a blowjob to a Superman proxy. Just as he is about to cum, he tells her to move her head, and he shoots his wad through a brick wall and high into the sky where it shears the wing off a passing jet. I thought that was hysterical – which may not say great things about me – and I brought the book up to the register right away.
What I admired in that scene was the utter disregard for the pieties of comics. Introducing the idea of sex, raunchy sex and not the soft-focus of puppy-dog love, seemed brilliant. It seemed, in fact, a whole new frontier for third-generation comics. It was an invitation to a comic that would undercut everything you expect a comic to be and then give something urgently fresh as well. And it had a striking, bold art.
Sorry to report that, outside of that one brilliant scene, there isn’t much to enjoy here.
On the one hand, there’s a deep laziness. Our Pro gets her powers simply because an extraterrestrial being decides he’d like to prove that even the lowliest of humans can be a hero under the right circumstances. (He’s a take on Marvel’s The Watcher, called in this case the Viewer – which another character keeps getting wrong as “the Voyeur.” Mildly funny, but an unexplored premise.) There’s nothing at stake in that, no claim he’s making or testing. Yes, I get that it’s a joke, but it’s a joke within comics – a hee-hee, did you get the reference moment – rather than a joke to make some original point about the nature of voyeurism or indifference to the suffering or experience of others.
Then comes the superhero team who welcomes her. Again, it’s an adolescent, fan-boy wink to the comics ‘other people’ are silly enough to enjoy. We have a Superman clone, a Wonder Woman, a Green Lantern. It’s such a Justice League parody that it has nothing to say other than “look at us for treading on Superman’s cape…aren’t we clever.” There’s a reasonably funny moment when the Green Lantern figure gets his ring finger shot off and, mid-flight, crashes horribly to earth. Otherwise, there’s nothing original or thought-provoking to the characters, other than vague (and tired) implications that someone’s sidekick is probably his boy lover.
Beyond that refusal to develop the situation in any way that might reflect a fresh vision, there’s a surly, half-baked libertarian politics in the air. The Pro raises a couple of potentially intriguing points when she notes that real heroes would have stopped 9/11, or when she realizes that a quasi-police force of superheroes is often the wrong security detail for the job. She suggests loosely that we shouldn’t trust the powerful just because they’re powerful – which is a potentially worthwhile inquiry to make in a comic that put more energy into its project – but even that notion sits lazily above the rest of the action. She doesn’t pursue the insight, and the story moves on as if she never said it.
And, in even uglier fashion, the story seems to celebrate that she’s a low-rent whore. Yeah, there’s something potentially funny about the idea that her superpowers – whatever they are, since we never really learn – allow her to give hand jobs at super speed, but other than a raunchy joke, that doesn’t get developed here. There’s a defiance when she defends her choice to turn cheap tricks, but it’s not clear to what effect. She lives an ugly life – even this book acknowledges that – and she does so without apology. But the only thing we seem to take from that is the idea that no one is morally superior enough to judge her.
In context, that feels less like a reasoned argument for the limits of government – as the Pro discusses in her throwaway monologue – and more like a self-defeating, teenage manifesto: I’m 17 and I can make my own decisions even if you think they’re dumb.
So I recommend passing on this. There’s an extra star for its art and for that one funny scene, but the rest of it falls far short of what my first glimpse suggested it could be.
What I admired in that scene was the utter disregard for the pieties of comics. Introducing the idea of sex, raunchy sex and not the soft-focus of puppy-dog love, seemed brilliant. It seemed, in fact, a whole new frontier for third-generation comics. It was an invitation to a comic that would undercut everything you expect a comic to be and then give something urgently fresh as well. And it had a striking, bold art.
Sorry to report that, outside of that one brilliant scene, there isn’t much to enjoy here.
On the one hand, there’s a deep laziness. Our Pro gets her powers simply because an extraterrestrial being decides he’d like to prove that even the lowliest of humans can be a hero under the right circumstances. (He’s a take on Marvel’s The Watcher, called in this case the Viewer – which another character keeps getting wrong as “the Voyeur.” Mildly funny, but an unexplored premise.) There’s nothing at stake in that, no claim he’s making or testing. Yes, I get that it’s a joke, but it’s a joke within comics – a hee-hee, did you get the reference moment – rather than a joke to make some original point about the nature of voyeurism or indifference to the suffering or experience of others.
Then comes the superhero team who welcomes her. Again, it’s an adolescent, fan-boy wink to the comics ‘other people’ are silly enough to enjoy. We have a Superman clone, a Wonder Woman, a Green Lantern. It’s such a Justice League parody that it has nothing to say other than “look at us for treading on Superman’s cape…aren’t we clever.” There’s a reasonably funny moment when the Green Lantern figure gets his ring finger shot off and, mid-flight, crashes horribly to earth. Otherwise, there’s nothing original or thought-provoking to the characters, other than vague (and tired) implications that someone’s sidekick is probably his boy lover.
Beyond that refusal to develop the situation in any way that might reflect a fresh vision, there’s a surly, half-baked libertarian politics in the air. The Pro raises a couple of potentially intriguing points when she notes that real heroes would have stopped 9/11, or when she realizes that a quasi-police force of superheroes is often the wrong security detail for the job. She suggests loosely that we shouldn’t trust the powerful just because they’re powerful – which is a potentially worthwhile inquiry to make in a comic that put more energy into its project – but even that notion sits lazily above the rest of the action. She doesn’t pursue the insight, and the story moves on as if she never said it.
And, in even uglier fashion, the story seems to celebrate that she’s a low-rent whore. Yeah, there’s something potentially funny about the idea that her superpowers – whatever they are, since we never really learn – allow her to give hand jobs at super speed, but other than a raunchy joke, that doesn’t get developed here. There’s a defiance when she defends her choice to turn cheap tricks, but it’s not clear to what effect. She lives an ugly life – even this book acknowledges that – and she does so without apology. But the only thing we seem to take from that is the idea that no one is morally superior enough to judge her.
In context, that feels less like a reasoned argument for the limits of government – as the Pro discusses in her throwaway monologue – and more like a self-defeating, teenage manifesto: I’m 17 and I can make my own decisions even if you think they’re dumb.
So I recommend passing on this. There’s an extra star for its art and for that one funny scene, but the rest of it falls far short of what my first glimpse suggested it could be.
October 8, 2015
I was sitting in the library earlier, and this was just what I needed to brighten up my mood.
You could say it 'blew' my mind.
You could say it 'blew' my mind.
November 27, 2019
Es muy divertido, y es muy diferente a lo otro que había leído de este hombre.
February 13, 2011
A prostitute gains super powers and joins a group of superheroes. A comic for anyone that feels superheroes--people parading in tights--take themselves too seriously (also for anyone that's not easily offended, like Larry Flynt). All the sexual humor, the profanity, the nudity, and the violence makes for a fun and surprising book. The strong statements about vigilantism and being holier- than-thou are overshadowed by the crassness, though, so even the protagonist and thematic points fall short of making center stage. Its shock value is rich, but there could've been more to say. I still recommend it to anyone looking for something different and over-the-top.
December 13, 2018
Garth Ennis me ha demostrado en obras como El Predicador que puede ser un escritor muy entretenido, pero hay algo que me impide que pueda respetarle del todo: su odio enfermizo por el género de superhéroes. Si bien esa insana tirria la demuestra una y otra vez en obras como The Boys o en sus etapas en series de Marvel y DC, es en este cómic donde lo vemos más claro y condensado.
Básicamente la trama va de una prostituta que gana superpoderes y empieza a "trabajar" (sí, me refiero a ese tipo de trabajos) para un remedo de la Liga de la Justicia caricaturescamente idiota, racista y plagada de represión sexual. Para alguien a quien ni siquiera le gusta Watchmen por cómo dejó al género en las décadas posteriores, esto es el equivalente de un energúmeno pataleando en redes sociales porque la gente no le da la razón en un tema en el que no la tiene.
Me da hasta pena que el buen trabajo de Amanda Conner a los lápices y Jimmy Palmiotty a las tintas se haya empleado en esta porquería.
Básicamente la trama va de una prostituta que gana superpoderes y empieza a "trabajar" (sí, me refiero a ese tipo de trabajos) para un remedo de la Liga de la Justicia caricaturescamente idiota, racista y plagada de represión sexual. Para alguien a quien ni siquiera le gusta Watchmen por cómo dejó al género en las décadas posteriores, esto es el equivalente de un energúmeno pataleando en redes sociales porque la gente no le da la razón en un tema en el que no la tiene.
Me da hasta pena que el buen trabajo de Amanda Conner a los lápices y Jimmy Palmiotty a las tintas se haya empleado en esta porquería.
![Profile Image for Keith [on semi hiatus].](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1541020315i/84884940._UX200_CR0,0,200,200_.jpg)
August 23, 2015
Superpowers come in all forms.
This is funny as shit. A completely stand alone comic for the person who wants superheroes and laugh their asses off. A super powered hooker joins a team of heroes, what more do you need to want to read this?
Think about that, what the hell could she do for these guys? Some serious stress relief maybe. Can she lift buildings with her cooch? Why did she have to become a hooker? She could have been a super pole dancer or maybe even the highest paid escort, but a street walker? Leave it up to Garth Ennis to write this masterpiece, will we see this in Marvel or DC universe? Maybe even a movie due to all the popularity the comic movies are getting? Who could play this trashy heroin? Jenifer Lawrence would be great, she can eat more tuna fish and garlic sandwiches before her big hooker scenes.
This is funny as shit. A completely stand alone comic for the person who wants superheroes and laugh their asses off. A super powered hooker joins a team of heroes, what more do you need to want to read this?
Think about that, what the hell could she do for these guys? Some serious stress relief maybe. Can she lift buildings with her cooch? Why did she have to become a hooker? She could have been a super pole dancer or maybe even the highest paid escort, but a street walker? Leave it up to Garth Ennis to write this masterpiece, will we see this in Marvel or DC universe? Maybe even a movie due to all the popularity the comic movies are getting? Who could play this trashy heroin? Jenifer Lawrence would be great, she can eat more tuna fish and garlic sandwiches before her big hooker scenes.
Read
March 17, 2016I have no idea what to rate this book. I like the art, and it is an interesting concept (anyone can become a hero if given super powers, but that hero might look and act a little different than others), but it is just so WRONG. So I'll just quote the back of the book blurb that is attributed to Gail Simone, one of my favorite comic book writers: "This will be the comic that Garth, Amanda, and Jimmy will be apologizing for in Heaven minutes before being sent directly to Hell. But hey, if their eternal damnation is the only downside, then I demand a sequel."
February 21, 2018
Oh my god! What the hell did I just read?! I need to go take a shower after reading this. Pretty funny though. Only Garth Ennis could try, and only he would try, to pull this off. And he did. It really was pretty darn good. Cocksucker! 4 stars.
May 29, 2016
Pulled in by the art style.
But disappointed with the crude and gross humor.
Not my cup of tea.
But disappointed with the crude and gross humor.
Not my cup of tea.
August 31, 2022
Rating 4 out of 5 |B+ Grade: Do not judge a book by it's cover
Graphic Content warning
It's right there in the blurb people. A down on the dumps working girl, and a single mother who is being perved...ahem Observed by the cosmic voyeur...damn it.. I mean the cosmic viewer is given superpowers and is inducted into the League of Heroes to do her due diligence for the greater good. Only, 'The Pro', as she is dubbed, has no intention of going along with these daisy pulling boy scouts and their PG way of doing things. She conducted affairs in her own ways, and is not afraid to drop some truth bombs along the way.
After reading this & The Boys, Volume 1: The Name of the Game, I can say with certainty, that Garth Ennis, f**king hates DC superheroes. In particular the Justice League. After all, this is so far the second group of parodied supes which he has written based on the League.
This does rankle my feathers as a DC guy, but we've been known to welcome healthy criticism or our characters. Unlike Disney-Marvel which denied a four year old fan from having a Spiderman themed burial stone, because they're more concerned with their bottom line https://nypost.com/2019/07/06/disney-.... Hey Garth why not write a story about that, huh?
I digress. Apologies for the rant, just had a lot of get off my chest. And I promise, I'll only use the Spiderman thing, one more time. Because people need to remember what sort of evil company Disney-Marvel has become.
Back to the story, Ennis used the premise of the Pro, a working girl who finds herself in the lofty world of superheroes, to point out some of the incongruities of superhero culture. As well as a meta commentary as to how they are useful only to beat up fictional supervillains, and not real world problems.
He also cracks a joke or few, about the ways in which mainstream comic books authors try and skirt around Superheroes not getting involved in controversial socio-political issues, such as poverty & terrorism.
A few pages are even set aside for the author, through the Pro, rant about what he sees as the contrarian nature and inadequacies of the public's obsession with the 21st century Ubermensch. Granted half of it is airing out his own political views and opinions, but they're enlightening nontheless.
The Pro, who if I remember is never named, is a powerful character in her own right. Despite the shitty circumstances and hand that life has dealt her, and despite the absurd twist of fate which plunged her into the superhero business, she managed to hold onto her personality, and is unwilling to deviate from her principles, how unsavory they might come across to the supes.
And despite all the smoking, cursing, and shouting, she is underneath, a good person. She takes good care of her son, despite living in squalor, she is concerned about the life of other people even when the supes themselves are indifferent, and in the end she doesn't hesitate to make a sacrifice for the greater good. Which gives credence to the Cosmic voyeur...VIEWER's earlier statement, that given the chance, any normal person can be a hero.
This is a mature comic, with nudity, sexual scenes and gratuitous violence. But strangely enough, you don't get invested in it for any of those. Rather for the satirical and absurdist take on men and women who go around fighting crime in spandex and tights. And man, is it entertaining.
So those of you who don't mind, do pick up this short but rich work. You will need a bath after reading, but also get a Sapiosexual palette cleanser along the way.
Graphic Content warning
She curses, she smokes, she breast-feeds and she blows away the competition.
It's right there in the blurb people. A down on the dumps working girl, and a single mother who is being perved...ahem Observed by the cosmic voyeur...damn it.. I mean the cosmic viewer is given superpowers and is inducted into the League of Heroes to do her due diligence for the greater good. Only, 'The Pro', as she is dubbed, has no intention of going along with these daisy pulling boy scouts and their PG way of doing things. She conducted affairs in her own ways, and is not afraid to drop some truth bombs along the way.
After reading this & The Boys, Volume 1: The Name of the Game, I can say with certainty, that Garth Ennis, f**king hates DC superheroes. In particular the Justice League. After all, this is so far the second group of parodied supes which he has written based on the League.
This does rankle my feathers as a DC guy, but we've been known to welcome healthy criticism or our characters. Unlike Disney-Marvel which denied a four year old fan from having a Spiderman themed burial stone, because they're more concerned with their bottom line https://nypost.com/2019/07/06/disney-.... Hey Garth why not write a story about that, huh?
I digress. Apologies for the rant, just had a lot of get off my chest. And I promise, I'll only use the Spiderman thing, one more time. Because people need to remember what sort of evil company Disney-Marvel has become.
Back to the story, Ennis used the premise of the Pro, a working girl who finds herself in the lofty world of superheroes, to point out some of the incongruities of superhero culture. As well as a meta commentary as to how they are useful only to beat up fictional supervillains, and not real world problems.
He also cracks a joke or few, about the ways in which mainstream comic books authors try and skirt around Superheroes not getting involved in controversial socio-political issues, such as poverty & terrorism.
A few pages are even set aside for the author, through the Pro, rant about what he sees as the contrarian nature and inadequacies of the public's obsession with the 21st century Ubermensch. Granted half of it is airing out his own political views and opinions, but they're enlightening nontheless.
The Pro, who if I remember is never named, is a powerful character in her own right. Despite the shitty circumstances and hand that life has dealt her, and despite the absurd twist of fate which plunged her into the superhero business, she managed to hold onto her personality, and is unwilling to deviate from her principles, how unsavory they might come across to the supes.
And despite all the smoking, cursing, and shouting, she is underneath, a good person. She takes good care of her son, despite living in squalor, she is concerned about the life of other people even when the supes themselves are indifferent, and in the end she doesn't hesitate to make a sacrifice for the greater good. Which gives credence to the Cosmic voyeur...VIEWER's earlier statement, that given the chance, any normal person can be a hero.
This is a mature comic, with nudity, sexual scenes and gratuitous violence. But strangely enough, you don't get invested in it for any of those. Rather for the satirical and absurdist take on men and women who go around fighting crime in spandex and tights. And man, is it entertaining.
So those of you who don't mind, do pick up this short but rich work. You will need a bath after reading, but also get a Sapiosexual palette cleanser along the way.
December 24, 2018
What a cracking send up of the world league of super heroes fighting injustice, only for a new recruit to be enrolled, who hampers their mission and sets back their noble cause.
It is beautifully illustrated that provides a sense of grit to the harsh realities of a single Mum struggling to feed her child and maintain their home. She has taken to earning extra cash by working as a street worker, selling sex and fantasies.
In this desperate state barely keeping her life together, she is observed by an alien race. Perhaps through boredom, waiting for the people of Earth to reach an acceptable IQ and the cosmic readiness to take up a role in the wider universe. The watching alien makes a wager that this simple prostitute has the capacity to demonstrate self-sacrifice and an empathy for others. It does not go well, indeed it stumbles from bad to worse.
I loved the irreverence of the story; the basic moral questions that get chewed over and spat out. The Pro of the title, is certainly a survivor and she is feisty, a complete contrast to the liberal super heroes who seem to lack a dose of reality.
The Pro is uncouth certainly, but knows her lot in life, how tough that life can be, and she dismisses the group of do-gooders as a pantomime circus, out of touch with reality, what counts for the poor and their basic needs. To be rescued from poverty and gain a sense of soul and self-esteem.
I enjoyed this banter between her and the Lycra heroes and once she is kitted out, her interpretation of how to address problems and needs. She immediately demonstrates this in a more practical emphasis. A no-nonsense approach, based on her life experience.
While it may offend some with its language and themes, those easily shocked
should perhaps avoid this graphic novel. On first reading I think it works for me, I get the humour and would recommend this book. The book is hilarious and worthy of a read for the more important issues it addresses. That said it is a piece of fun and thoroughly entertaining.
It is beautifully illustrated that provides a sense of grit to the harsh realities of a single Mum struggling to feed her child and maintain their home. She has taken to earning extra cash by working as a street worker, selling sex and fantasies.
In this desperate state barely keeping her life together, she is observed by an alien race. Perhaps through boredom, waiting for the people of Earth to reach an acceptable IQ and the cosmic readiness to take up a role in the wider universe. The watching alien makes a wager that this simple prostitute has the capacity to demonstrate self-sacrifice and an empathy for others. It does not go well, indeed it stumbles from bad to worse.
I loved the irreverence of the story; the basic moral questions that get chewed over and spat out. The Pro of the title, is certainly a survivor and she is feisty, a complete contrast to the liberal super heroes who seem to lack a dose of reality.
The Pro is uncouth certainly, but knows her lot in life, how tough that life can be, and she dismisses the group of do-gooders as a pantomime circus, out of touch with reality, what counts for the poor and their basic needs. To be rescued from poverty and gain a sense of soul and self-esteem.
I enjoyed this banter between her and the Lycra heroes and once she is kitted out, her interpretation of how to address problems and needs. She immediately demonstrates this in a more practical emphasis. A no-nonsense approach, based on her life experience.
While it may offend some with its language and themes, those easily shocked
should perhaps avoid this graphic novel. On first reading I think it works for me, I get the humour and would recommend this book. The book is hilarious and worthy of a read for the more important issues it addresses. That said it is a piece of fun and thoroughly entertaining.
October 3, 2022
This was an interesting one.
A sex worker gets super powers and brings her own form of justice the the world of superheros.
I like the premise, often we are presented with the "Green Lantern" style of super hero orgin story. This is the idea that anyone with a sense of morality (well, a black and white view of morality coupled with a penchant for beating up poor low level thugs), could wield great power for a greater good. What this origin story often forgets is that the average person is just that: an average person. We all work through life with our own unique struggles, attitudes, and approaches to situations.
So when The Pro gets her powers, she doesn't fall into rank with the The League of Honor (a pretty crude, though effective lampoon of the Justice League. I would say that Rick Veitch's Brat Pack did it better), a super hero team that composes of the "bastions of virtue" we are used to seeing in super hero comics. They follow the rules that most popular super heros seem to abide by. They don't devastate and humiliate their opponents. They don't need to work a day (night) job. They don't curse. The Pro could care less, and thats fun to experience.
Unfortunately, instead of a quality satire that questions one's beliefs on morality, sex-work, and the plight of the working class, we are given a pretty superficial parody that settles as an entertaining read.
A sex worker gets super powers and brings her own form of justice the the world of superheros.
I like the premise, often we are presented with the "Green Lantern" style of super hero orgin story. This is the idea that anyone with a sense of morality (well, a black and white view of morality coupled with a penchant for beating up poor low level thugs), could wield great power for a greater good. What this origin story often forgets is that the average person is just that: an average person. We all work through life with our own unique struggles, attitudes, and approaches to situations.
So when The Pro gets her powers, she doesn't fall into rank with the The League of Honor (a pretty crude, though effective lampoon of the Justice League. I would say that Rick Veitch's Brat Pack did it better), a super hero team that composes of the "bastions of virtue" we are used to seeing in super hero comics. They follow the rules that most popular super heros seem to abide by. They don't devastate and humiliate their opponents. They don't need to work a day (night) job. They don't curse. The Pro could care less, and thats fun to experience.
Unfortunately, instead of a quality satire that questions one's beliefs on morality, sex-work, and the plight of the working class, we are given a pretty superficial parody that settles as an entertaining read.
January 5, 2020
Comic of comedy and sinister value
I love the comic but it won't be for most!
Love how the characters are easy to follow and the storyline is for everyone. Sadly if you are easily offended them this ain't for you!
I love the comic but it won't be for most!
Love how the characters are easy to follow and the storyline is for everyone. Sadly if you are easily offended them this ain't for you!
June 16, 2022
Menuda burrada que se casca aqui Ennis poniendo tal gamberra de profesion meretriz, vaaale prostituta, con super poderes! Pero nada de hacerse educada y caballerosa sino que a su estilo hasta el fin del mundo. Te vas a reir muchisimo, pena que sea tan cortito
February 23, 2024
Garth Ennis is what these mordern political writers wish they can be. What he does best is to let us experience a story he has envisioned and let us make the judgment, let us walk away with our feelings on it. Which is the best form of political storytelling. It's not trying to preach nor educate the reader. It is simply his thoughts explored through this medium and shared to the readers. And it was pretty great. The art complements the tone very well. Ultimately, It is cynical but there's still hope at the end of the day, if you chose to see it.
December 21, 2021
Una crítica a los superhéroes de toda la vida.
Está divertido, personajes muy locos, pero (son haberme leído el comic, solo he visto la serie) The Boys lo have mejor.
Está divertido, personajes muy locos, pero (son haberme leído el comic, solo he visto la serie) The Boys lo have mejor.
September 16, 2017
https://osrascunhos.com/2017/09/28/th...
Garth Ennis, o autor de Preacher, The Boys, Just a Pilgrim, Punisher, entre outros, construiu, em 2002, uma paródia aos super-heróis, colocando uma prostituta a receber poderes sobrenaturais e a ter de enfrentar vilões à sua maneira, pouco digna, própria de quem se habituou a fazer pela vida e a aproveitar os poucos momentos em que se pode defender.
A história começa com esta mulher, indefesa, a tentar obter o dinheiro acordado previamente com o cliente. Sob a ameaça de uma arma foge para casa e recolhe o filho na ama, uma velhota irascível e mal-educada. Nesta altura uns alienígenas que fazem experiências com os terrestres atribuindo-lhes super poderes resolvem seleccioná-la com o objectivo de provar que qualquer um é capaz de acções nobres:
Any human can be a hero, my faithful robot assistant. For if there is one thing i have learned in my ceaseless vigil, it is that these strange creatures hold within them the potencial for endless evil and ultimate greatness.
Nessa mesma noite acorda com um esquadrão de super-heróis à janela, prontos para a enquadrar no novo ofício, nobre e honrado, mostrando-lhe que a remuneração associada é vantajosa. Aceita. Claro. Mas na sua primeira missão humilha o vilão urinando-lhe em cima o que levanta sérios problemas para a imagem polida dos super-heróis.
Cada um dos super-heróis é uma paródia a um conhecido, quase personagens de papel encarnando o cliché que lhe está associado, tornando-se imberbemente cómicos perante a profissional que desmancha, com cinismo, os pudores de quem se dá ao luxo de combater os vilões de forma suave.
Entre missões a profissional volta ao ofício original, aproveitando os poderes para rentabilizar as horas de trabalho e para se vingar, e às colegas de profissão, de clientes afoitos que gostam de usufruir sem pagar ou que recorrem à violência. Sem sonhos românticos e sem restrições morais, a profissional contrasta e corrompe o verniz heróico, conseguindo mostrando-se mais correcta e verdadeira nas suas intenções.
Cínico, divertido e violento, The Pro parodia a banda desenhada de super-heróis, carregada de feitos nobres e mentes honradas, confrontando a dura realidade das ruas com as batalhas épicas dos heróis e criticando a forma como os super-heróis se distanciam dos problemas reais dos comuns mortais.
É um livro curto mas divertido, com uma história extra que apresenta uma mulher a quem os novos super poderes impossibilitam de um futuro universitário e, por essa razão, se vira para a prostituição. Ambas trocam experiências num pequeno episódio visualmente mirabolante.
Garth Ennis, o autor de Preacher, The Boys, Just a Pilgrim, Punisher, entre outros, construiu, em 2002, uma paródia aos super-heróis, colocando uma prostituta a receber poderes sobrenaturais e a ter de enfrentar vilões à sua maneira, pouco digna, própria de quem se habituou a fazer pela vida e a aproveitar os poucos momentos em que se pode defender.
A história começa com esta mulher, indefesa, a tentar obter o dinheiro acordado previamente com o cliente. Sob a ameaça de uma arma foge para casa e recolhe o filho na ama, uma velhota irascível e mal-educada. Nesta altura uns alienígenas que fazem experiências com os terrestres atribuindo-lhes super poderes resolvem seleccioná-la com o objectivo de provar que qualquer um é capaz de acções nobres:
Any human can be a hero, my faithful robot assistant. For if there is one thing i have learned in my ceaseless vigil, it is that these strange creatures hold within them the potencial for endless evil and ultimate greatness.
Nessa mesma noite acorda com um esquadrão de super-heróis à janela, prontos para a enquadrar no novo ofício, nobre e honrado, mostrando-lhe que a remuneração associada é vantajosa. Aceita. Claro. Mas na sua primeira missão humilha o vilão urinando-lhe em cima o que levanta sérios problemas para a imagem polida dos super-heróis.
Cada um dos super-heróis é uma paródia a um conhecido, quase personagens de papel encarnando o cliché que lhe está associado, tornando-se imberbemente cómicos perante a profissional que desmancha, com cinismo, os pudores de quem se dá ao luxo de combater os vilões de forma suave.
Entre missões a profissional volta ao ofício original, aproveitando os poderes para rentabilizar as horas de trabalho e para se vingar, e às colegas de profissão, de clientes afoitos que gostam de usufruir sem pagar ou que recorrem à violência. Sem sonhos românticos e sem restrições morais, a profissional contrasta e corrompe o verniz heróico, conseguindo mostrando-se mais correcta e verdadeira nas suas intenções.
Cínico, divertido e violento, The Pro parodia a banda desenhada de super-heróis, carregada de feitos nobres e mentes honradas, confrontando a dura realidade das ruas com as batalhas épicas dos heróis e criticando a forma como os super-heróis se distanciam dos problemas reais dos comuns mortais.
É um livro curto mas divertido, com uma história extra que apresenta uma mulher a quem os novos super poderes impossibilitam de um futuro universitário e, por essa razão, se vira para a prostituição. Ambas trocam experiências num pequeno episódio visualmente mirabolante.
December 1, 2013
A back-alley prostitute gets zapped into superpowerdom by a voyeuristic alien and drafted by the Ennis version of the Avengers or Justice League or whatever; it's comprised of The Saint (Superman), The Lady (Wonder Woman), the appropriately-clad Speedo (Flash), The Knight and The Squire (Batman and Robin), and Lime (Green Lantern). And now, The Pro.
She swears and smokes, has rashes, pops out of her spandex and maims bad guys and basically upsets everyone's delicate sensibilities. Like when she pisses on a fallen foe. In front of the UN General Assembly. On "Bring Your Children to Work Day".
There's not much story here. The Pro is basically a short, funny, offensive essay by Ennis on how screwed up the idea of superheroes is, how useless they would be, how bad they'd be for society if they really existed. It's a big double-bird to Marvel and DC.
Lime talks exclusively in some over-the-top version of urban hip-hop language. I think. I guess maybe it's a comment on how DC/Marvel treat black heroes? I don't follow the big-ticket heroes so I wouldn't actually know. But it was...uncomfortable.
She swears and smokes, has rashes, pops out of her spandex and maims bad guys and basically upsets everyone's delicate sensibilities. Like when she pisses on a fallen foe. In front of the UN General Assembly. On "Bring Your Children to Work Day".
There's not much story here. The Pro is basically a short, funny, offensive essay by Ennis on how screwed up the idea of superheroes is, how useless they would be, how bad they'd be for society if they really existed. It's a big double-bird to Marvel and DC.
Lime talks exclusively in some over-the-top version of urban hip-hop language. I think. I guess maybe it's a comment on how DC/Marvel treat black heroes? I don't follow the big-ticket heroes so I wouldn't actually know. But it was...uncomfortable.
June 20, 2015
So if you like or have read any of Garth Ennis, you have a good idea of his writing style. So if you read this anyway you know what your are getting into, if you read Preacher then you absolutely know, I mean he has a guy get his "junk" chewed of by a dog, then the guy has to pee through a straw. Back to the Pro, it is there in the cover. A hooker super hero, and Garth is the best at doing scummy style story telling. This chick joins the "Justice League" or rather a Garth Ennis knock off, and at one point she even gives the superman guy a hidey-ho that ends up taking out a plane that he has to now go save. So this whore also has a kid, cause what what hooker with a heart of gold ain't doing it for their kid, and she has to leave it behind with the League so she can go off and die to save the earth. Nice job Garth, you always seem to get me to laugh.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 26, 2018
A vulgar trashy profane prostitute gains super powers via alien intervention. League of Honor wants her to join, but she's not really their type (including parodies of Superman/The Saint, Batman/The Knight with loincloth chainmail, his Robin/Squire - a prepubescent boy that is always clasping his bare legs, Wonder Woman/I forget her buxom name, Green Lantern/Lime who was incredibly annoying and I'm glad he was killed off, and Flash/Speedo who wears a thong thing like Borat).
If you can stand the crass and vulgar, this is a pretty funny book. She ends up using her super speed to make money in her current profession at record breaking speed hand jobs. She blows the Saint and his jizz knocks an airplane out of the sky. The League eventually realizes she's not really their type. The artwork fits perfectly.
If you can stand the crass and vulgar, this is a pretty funny book. She ends up using her super speed to make money in her current profession at record breaking speed hand jobs. She blows the Saint and his jizz knocks an airplane out of the sky. The League eventually realizes she's not really their type. The artwork fits perfectly.
June 1, 2016
Once again Garth Enis illustrates how
much he desperately needs his medication upped.
I loved this book
It was depraved
Hilarious
Depraved
And it even managed to work in
saying something important
The Voyeur( err VIEWER sorry)
Watches humanity
and gives those WORTHY
super powers to fight injustice with
This time he gives them to a prostitute
Let that sink in
Super Powered Prostitute
And then the fun really starts.
Ennis has an amazing gift for being
profane
and
profound
all at the same time
Always brilliant
Always amazing
Always kinda nasty
Ennis is one of the best
much he desperately needs his medication upped.
I loved this book
It was depraved
Hilarious
Depraved
And it even managed to work in
saying something important
The Voyeur( err VIEWER sorry)
Watches humanity
and gives those WORTHY
super powers to fight injustice with
This time he gives them to a prostitute
Let that sink in
Super Powered Prostitute
And then the fun really starts.
Ennis has an amazing gift for being
profane
and
profound
all at the same time
Always brilliant
Always amazing
Always kinda nasty
Ennis is one of the best
May 9, 2017
Edgy for the sake of edgy, this just felt like a mean-spirited parody of itself.
The acts depicted didn't bother me, nor the language, and I even went into it thinking the premise could be fun and maybe even empowering, but the whole thing had a feeling of "fuck everyone, even you for reading this" and how do you enjoy something that expresses total disdain for you and all of existence?
If you know the secret to that, maybe you'll enjoy this.
The acts depicted didn't bother me, nor the language, and I even went into it thinking the premise could be fun and maybe even empowering, but the whole thing had a feeling of "fuck everyone, even you for reading this" and how do you enjoy something that expresses total disdain for you and all of existence?
If you know the secret to that, maybe you'll enjoy this.
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