Post: #1

WARNING! Mild spoilers for the Garth Ennis bibliography are contained in this post, and everything following it assumes that you've done your reading.



Here at RVF the term "Red Pill" is bandied around quite often, especially in reference to media. Sometimes I think this gets in the way of enjoying fiction, as it can simply be an escape to a world unlike our own. Other times I believe it puts an unrealistic expectation on a writer, who typically has to meet certain standards and also appeal to as many people as possible to be successful. Garth Ennis is unique in that his acclaim is largely generated by the fact that he bravely confronts and vividly portrays the darkest and most disturbing aspects of the human condition, all while supplying a story which captivates the reader. This is not to say that you will agree with everything he writes, but like Bill Hicks (who gets an entire chapter dedicated to him in Preacher), his conviction and delivery deserves your respect.

Seth Rogen, who I'm sure you know, is a huge fan of Preacher. A lot of really famous and influential people are. Hell, Kevin Smith wrote gushing praise about the series which made it onto the cover of the trade paperback. But getting back to Rogen, he is almost entirely responsible for AMC's adaption of the comic series seeing the light of day. And it isn't because he's the highest paid actor in the world, although I'm sure that certainly didn't hurt. It is because he (and his writing/directorial partner of many years, Evan Goldberg) demonstrated to Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon (the latter being the artist for Preacher) that they would do the source material justice. The pilot has been ordered and the cast list is just being announced, featuring actors such as Dominic Cooper as Jesse, Ruth Negga as Tulip, and Joseph Gilgun as Cassidy. But who are these characters and what is the actual story about? Here is the official AMC synopsis:

‘Preacher’ follows Reverend Jesse Custer, a tough Texas preacher who has lost his faith, and has learned that God has left Heaven and abandoned his responsibilities. He finds himself the only person capable of tracking God down, demanding answers, and making him answer for his dereliction of duty. Accompanying Jesse on his journey is his former girlfriend and a friendly vampire who seems to prefer a pint in the pub to the blood of the innocent. On his tail is one of the most iconic bad guys in print – an immortal, unstoppable killing machine named the Saint of Killers —a western lone gunman archetype whose sole purpose is to hunt and kill Jesse.

And while that is a unique premise, what is the actual show going to be like? Rogen tweeted a picture of some of the movies he's using for inspiration:



With the original author/artist co-signing the project, which is in the hands of actual fans with the resources and connections to make whatever project they want, it is safe to assume that this show will be unlike anything ever seen on television before. But, you might ask, isn't this thread also about comic books?



I'm not going to go over every detail of the bibliography of Garth Ennis, you can find it here and investigate from there, or keep reading this thread as I will be continuing to post in it as I attempt to read everything he's ever written and comment on it here. I will, however, briefly describe his projects that I've already read and why you should read them as well. We've already covered Preacher somewhat, which was released on DC's Vertigo imprint. If that doesn't mean anything to you, basically it is how DC releases mature comics without having to include them in the DC universe. But before we continue there, let's look at some of his work for Marvel. He's written stories about Nick Fury and Punisher, both in the standard universe and the MAX imprint, which is essentially the same concept as DC's Vertigo. Punisher Kills the Marvel Universe is the first place I tell everyone to go when they're new to Ennis, as the one-shot comic is summarized very well in the title, all while managing to showcase many of the reasons why Ennis is so beloved as a writer. Go ahead and read everything he's written for these two characters, and expect to understand both in a new way. His Fury MAX storyline has a heartbreaking conclusion that left my mouth open but refused to allow me to have dry eyes. I am not ashamed of those tears, as it was for a manly, honorable statement that you must not allow to be spoiled for you. Continuing back to his work for Vertigo we have Hitman, a character created by Ennis, who has an uproarious time making a huge mess and seeing Catwoman naked. He also did extremely acclaimed work on Hellblazer, a series featuring John Constantine, who was created by the legendary Alan Moore, who you may recognize as the writer of V for Vendetta and Watchmen. Finally the first six issues of The Boys were released on Wildstorm, another DC imprint, until DC's cock shrank into their corporate body and they decided that it wasn't a good fit for them. This project was then released on Dynamite and is nothing but the most intense and emotionally painful story I've ever read. I'll briefly summarize it as an accurate depiction of what the world would actually be like with a Superman, and how quickly everything could go wrong. No wonder the concept scared the shit out of DC. So, you've got all that? Read everything I mentioned as soon as possible. Here's my recommended order:

Punisher Kills the Marvel Universe
Preacher
Nick Fury
Punisher
Hitman
The Boys
Hellblazer

His work is most conveniently (and legally) found here.

So, what is his actual writing style like? He has a few themes that are in everything he's ever written. Male camaraderie is central to everything he's ever touched. This is perhaps best explained with "Wee Hughie", the protagonist from The Boys, and how Butcher, the badass in the page above who "looks a bit like a panda", takes him under his wing following the traumatic and tragic event that destroys Hughie's life. Acting as his mentor, friend, and older brother, Butcher pushes Hughie to do things that he would never have thought he was capable, and the resolution of the relationship is not something you will be able to guess until it happens on the page before you. Ennis fundamentally understands the honor and loyalty between men and depicts it brilliantly. In stark contrast is how he writes women, specifically the women who love and are loved by the men in these stories. They are certainly capable, but they are absolutely women, and are feminine and beautiful. They are never treated like an equivalent to the men who lead them, instead they are a supplement to the lives and motivations of the men they follow. Garth Ennis has said that his two favorite characters he's ever written are the ones in the page above, and I would agree with him. Their love story is written honestly and with a real tenderness and joy, which makes it hurt all that much more. This is what explains the monster that Butcher becomes, and the extreme violence and terror that he inflicts is portrayed exactly as such. That is another reason why Ennis is so respected, he almost never glamorizes violence, specifically war (the history of which he is an expert). He also showcases the corruption of power, specifically what it can permit people to do within government, religion, and corporations. The final theme that I want to describe is the most important to me, and it is a man's honor. He writes about many men who do awful, but necessary things. These actions are justified by their experiences and their beliefs, and sometimes the right thing to do isn't as clear as the only thing to do. I can't think of another writer who creates stories and characters like these, but I am glad that he was brave enough to write in such an honorable way.

Ennis has upcoming projects for both Marvel and DC and is also at the point in his career where he has the influence and reputation to direct projects. If Preacher is a hit, it is very likely that we could see an adaption of The Boys, which would probably explode heads all over the United States. There isn't anyone else in the world like Garth Ennis, and I look forward to discussing his work with you here.

WARNING! You have now reached the point where spoilers will be openly posted so GO DO YOUR GODDAMN READING!

Post: #2

And because I'm so kind, I'll also give you a preview of his twisted sense of humor. From the Hitman comic:

Post: #3

Preacher was the only comic series I ever collected. Have the trade paperbacks as well. This could be either great or a colossal mess. Some really out-there stuff in Preacher...just can't see it shown on television.

Post: #4

I don't know how they're going to handle preacher without butchering it, honestly. It's so dark. I am excited to see who will play Herr Starr

Post: #5

A british actor playing a southerner again? AMC loves to do this if you look at Walking Dead. The show could still be good though.

Post: #6

OP you forgot about Crossed. That is some of the darkest shit I've read. The last page of Crossed #1 was so dark and graphic that I had to take a walk. He is by far the best writer in comics, and graphic novels right now.

Post: #7

(04-22-2015 01:24 PM)vinman Wrote:  OP you forgot about Crossed. That is some of the darkest shit I've read. The last page of Crossed #1 was so dark and graphic that I had to take a walk. He is by far the best writer in comics, and graphic novels right now.

Yeah, the Crossed series is some twisted hellish post-apocalyptic shit. It made the Walking Dead look like child's play by comparison. I actually felt tense reading Crossed at times because everyone is in danger all the fucking time with no reprieve.

Post: #8

(04-22-2015 01:24 PM)vinman Wrote:  OP you forgot about Crossed. That is some of the darkest shit I've read. The last page of Crossed #1 was so dark and graphic that I had to take a walk. He is by far the best writer in comics, and graphic novels right now.

Thank you for reminding me, Crossed was very difficult for me to read because of how extreme it was. And yeah, that last page made me set down my tablet out of revulsion. I never read past issue #10 though, has anyone here read the whole thing? Also there is a recent interview with Ennis here that is very much worth reading. He talks about lots of stuff, including how he will be writing and directing a Crossed webseries and returning to the comic for an eleven issue arc.

Post: #9

(04-22-2015 01:48 PM)Honorable Man Wrote:  

(04-22-2015 01:24 PM)vinman Wrote:  OP you forgot about Crossed. That is some of the darkest shit I've read. The last page of Crossed #1 was so dark and graphic that I had to take a walk. He is by far the best writer in comics, and graphic novels right now.

Thank you for reminding me, Crossed was very difficult for me to read because of how extreme it was. And yeah, that last page made me set down my tablet out of revulsion. I never read past issue #10 though, has anyone here read the whole thing? Also there is a recent interview with Ennis here that is very much worth reading. He talks about lots of stuff, including how he will be writing and directing a Crossed webseries and returning to the comic for an eleven issue arc.

I've read most of them. The ones he wrote were the best, but the rest weren't all that bad. Crossed: Psychopath is some twisted shit with moments of hilarity.

Post: #10

I still like to read his Punisher run. That was some of the best writing in Marvel Comics hands down. That whole McGinty plot twist had me rolling on the floor laughing.

Post: #11

I liked the ending of that Arc, Vin. Eben-ezer scrooge Status.

I've actually read every crossed arc out there. Not exactly something you can talk about in public, though. That shit is intense, but I'm a lovecraft reading, heavy metal listening person, So crossed (and many mature comics) are right up my alley.

Post: #12

Post: #13

I fucking love the comics and have been reading them for years. I wonder who will play the saint of killers. Not a fan of Seth Rogan, hopefully he does well with the source material.

Post: #14

Fuck it, I'm going to reread The Boys.

Post: #15

(04-23-2015 08:19 AM)Honorable Man Wrote:  Fuck it, I'm going to reread The Boys.

I just started reading it for the first time last night. Good shit so far. Butcher and his dog are funny as hell.

Post: #16

Oh man, you are in for the ride of your life. It is gonna hurt though, keep that in mind. Please keep us updated with your reactions. And yeah, Butcher and Terror are hilarious.

Post: #17

Aside from the fact that Seth Rogen is at the helm, I'm eagerly anticipating this adaptation.

Post: #18

Keep in mind that Seth Rogen is almost certainly the only person alive who could have actually got this project rolling. I understand how some people find him annoying, although I personally enjoy him quite a bit, but I would rather have a potentially flawed Preacher than nothing.

Post: #19

So far I'm loving The Boys. Awesome stories, funny ass dialogue and the typical Garth Ennis humor.

I laughed so hard when Hughie (who looks kind of like Matt Forney) took a dump in Tek Knight's cave. Tek Knight's redemption was great too.

Post: #20

So I've decided to read one chapter of The Boys each weekday and briefly comment on it here.

#1 The Name of the Game

The first cover and it is easily one of my very favorite in the entire series. Before the series actually introduces "The Boys" you get a chance to see them, and from a perspective that would be absolutely terrifying (and probably the last thing you would ever see). Then the first actual page simply has the title for this introductory arc, "THE NAME OF THE GAME", and has a black boot curbstomping a fucking superhero. This communicates so many things, so I'll make a short list:

- "The name of the game" is the perfect idiom for setting the tone of this series immediately. It prepares the reader for the fact that no punches, or stomps, will be pulled here.
- Notice the prominent "M" on the mask and the color combination and remember that this was initially released on a DC imprint. This is no accident, that dead fucker represents Marvel and their heroes are pussy bitches compared to DC. There are many references to the Marvel universe in The Boys, but this is also a world where DC exists, and never forget that Superman could kill the entire Avengers team in less than a minute.
- That said, a black boot is the one doing the crushing. You don't want to fuck with The Boys, even if you're a supe (superhero).

THE NEXT FUCKING PAGE GODDAMMIT. I apologize in advance for this gushing review, but this official introduction to Butcher, maybe my favorite comic book character ever, is absolutely brilliant. In four simple panels and two short lines of dialogue the justification for literally every single fucked up thing that happens in the following chapters is presented, as you will understand on your second reading. I love the inclusion of his dog Terror, the demonstration of power differences between the supes, and the expressive close-up of Butcher.



I love that Hughie is officially introduced as "Wee Hughie" and that his first batch of dialogue is telling his girlfriend a conspiracy theory about gay pink aliens trying to probe humans. And again, after hearing this girl say that she loves him, we're shown another close-up, one just as important and relevant to absolutely everything that follows.



Because, FUCK, what an awful way to end the perfect date. The violence of her being physically ripped from his arms is disturbing enough, nevermind that he is left holding her severed arms as A-Train rushes past him.

Ms. Rayner is one of my favorite characters in the series, she reminds of Hillary Clinton, except this fictional portrayal of her is actually bangable.



WYB?

"WAIT'LL YOU SEE WHERE I WIPE ME DICK, LUV--" is easily one of the most hilarious lines of dialogue in any comic book ever. And even though he can't talk, Terror is just as funny panting outside the door and staring at Rayner's secretary.

A-Train's dialogue with the cops communicates perfectly the disconnect supes have with regular humans, as he is expecting them to be impressed. He's a complete asshole and takes off as soon as Hughie begins to scream, and even yelling his ridiculous catchphrase "CAN'T STOP THE A-TRAIN--" as Hughie is sedated against his will.

Butcher's post-coital exchange with Rayner establishes him as a genius politician, in his own way. Hughie's severe depression while faced with the suits pressuring him to sign a release showcases exactly what this trauma has done to him. Butcher encounters Monkey and immediately knees him in the balls, which is absolutely deserved.



Now that Butcher has the authority and intel he needs to set everything in motion, as seen with the last page: Hughie with tears in his eyes and his head in his hands, Butcher confidently sitting next to him with Terror at his feet.

I fucking love this chapter. I will be commenting on chapter 2 on Monday, which will end the first arc. After finishing The Boys with commentary, I plan on going through Preacher in the same way. Hopefully by the time I finish both we will be discussing the show in this thread.

Post: #21

That is excellent, Honorable Man. After I'm done with The Boys I'm going to read Preacher.

And you're right, it is very telling that the first chapter is The Name of the Game. Butcher is fucking unbelievably good at playing it and witnessing Hughie's slow evolution from a loser to someone with balls is quite fun.

One thing I'd like to see is some sort of collaboration between Garth Ennis and Martin McDonagh, the director of In Bruges and Seven Psychopaths. Two red pill Irishmen who are cynical as hell and have a warped sense of humor working on something together would be great.

Post: #22

What, you've never read Preacher??? Oh man, I am sure glad I made this thread.

And yeah you don't even know half of what Butcher is up to yet. Just you wait, The Boys is one of the few comic book series that is better with the second reading.

I haven't actually seen either of those movies, although I believe at least the former is on Netflix. I will add them to my list of films to watch.

Post: #23

(04-24-2015 01:02 PM)Honorable Man Wrote:  What, you've never read Preacher??? Oh man, I am sure glad I made this thread.

And yeah you don't even know half of what Butcher is up to yet. Just you wait, The Boys is one of the few comic book series that is better with the second reading.

I haven't actually seen either of those movies, although I believe at least the former is on Netflix. I will add them to my list of films to watch.

You'll like them. They have a very Ennis-y feel to them. Seven Psychopaths has a lot of extreme violence but also plenty of dark humor and funny ass dialogue, plus a great cast and story. I'd start with that one. I'll be watching In Bruges either tonight or tomorrow.

Post: #24

Excellent, I'll let you know what I think. I really hope that Ennis directs a feature film someday, I can't even imagine the chaos it would cause.

Post: #25

This looks great. I've never read graphic novels before.

Crossed sounds awesome. Is Preacher better overall?