WARNING! Mild spoilers for the Garth Ennis bibliography are contained in this post, and everything following it assumes that you've done your reading.
![[Image: preacher_comic_book_cover_01-390x600.jpg]](http://cdn.collider.com/wp-content/uploads/preacher_comic_book_cover_01-390x600.jpg)
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:
![[Image: B7bUDyYCYAE9kS1.jpg]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B7bUDyYCYAE9kS1.jpg)
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?
![[Image: Butcher031.jpg]](https://dynamite.com/previews/C725130176622/Butcher031.jpg)
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!
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!
![[Image: catsignal1.jpg]](http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/catsignal1.jpg)
![[Image: catsignal2.jpg]](http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/catsignal2.jpg)
![[Image: catsignal3.jpg]](http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/catsignal3.jpg)
![[Image: PreacherIssue27page16of24.jpg]](http://www.hoodedutilitarian.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/PreacherIssue27page16of24.jpg)
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![[Image: NAVftlt.png]](http://i.imgur.com/NAVftlt.png)
![[Image: Ff0b2XY.png]](http://i.imgur.com/Ff0b2XY.png)
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