Even before craftingThe Boys, writerGarth Enniswas well-known for the richly satirical vein that runs through his comic book work – but the author has warned about the pitfalls associated with stories that are solely designed to satirize something. According to Ennis, there is a short-term value to satire, but in truth, it is a hollow center to build a story around.
In an interview with CBRto promote the latest issue of his new seriesBabs the Barbarian– written by Garth Ennis, with art by Jacen Burrows –the creator ofThe BoysandPreacher, and author of Marvel Comics' most legendaryPunisherstories, was asked about satire, and gave a response that might be a surprise to long-time readers.
Despite what fans might think,Ennis explained that satire is not the “be-all and end-all” of his work; instead, it is one dimension of the complex, multi-faceted stories he strives to tell.
Garth Ennis Explains The Misunderstood Role Satire Plays In Stories Like “The Boys”
The Author On The “Driving Force Behind Any Story”
The Boysis more than just satirical; its satire was caustic, oftentimes abrasive, and unrelenting. Yet as much as Garth Ennis set out tosavage Marvel and DC superheroesalike withThe Boys, satire was not the story’s true raison d’etre, its reason for being. Like any great story, as complex as it might be, its purpose was simple: to be a great story. In other words, to take the reader on an emotional journey – to make them laugh, but also to make them cry.
As Ennis describes it,pointing out the absurdities of the superhero genre was never an end in itself, but rather one means of achieving a reaction from his audience. In fact, in spite of his reputation as a satirist, Ennis was quick to argue that its impact is not as great as some might suggest – at least not for him as a writer.
Satire is rarely my number one imperative when I develop a project. The word seems to get thrown around as if it’s the be-all and end-all, somehow elevating any story beyond mere entertainment. I think the driving force behind any story has to be the belief that it’s a good one, that it’s worth telling, and any satirical elements are just one part of the whole. At most, taking a swipe at things you don’t like makes you feel a bit better, and hopefully does likewise for people who agree with your point of view.
Ennis' comments offer a prompt for both readers and other writers alike to reconsider the nature and the value of satire in fiction.That is to say, it isn’t that the role of satirein Garth Ennis' work– in particular,The Boys– should be devalued in reaction to the author’s comments. Rather that readers, and viewers, should reappraise how they understand his use of satire, in relation to the other aspects of the series, such as its political commentary, and its perspective on mass media. Both of these delivered satirically inThe Boys, for example, but they ultimately represent more than just “taking a swipe” for its own sake.
Babs The Barbarian#2 – Written By Garth Ennis; Art By Jacen Burrows; Color By Andy Troy & Lee Loughridge; Lettering By Rob Steen
“At most, taking a swipe at things you don’t like makes you feel a bit better,” Garth Ennis told CBR, discussing how satire manifests in his work. For any author, to some degree or another, there is an element of dissatisfaction within them, motivating them – something that is especially true of those who utilize satire in their work to the degree that Ennis does. The satirical aspects of his writing, as he explained,come as a reaction to real-world frustrations, but his stories are guided by these frustrations, rather than defined by them.
As Ennis noted in his interview with CBR, and elsewhere, the antagonists ofBabs the Barbarian’sfirst story arc are inspired by the increasingly fractious and hostile political climate of both the U.S. and Britain over the past decade.
That is because, in Ennis' estimation, there is something ephemeral about the effect satire has. Certainly, fans and literary scholars alike will have their own opinions on Garth Ennis' description of satire’s value, but it is hard not to find his position fascinating, given his association with it as a storytelling mode. Most readers will agree, however, that in essence, as the author stated, being satirical is not a shortcut to profundity. Satire is one way to deepen a story’s meaning, but it does not automatically “elevate” a piece of fiction, as Ennis put it.
Satire Included
The focus of Garth Ennis' conversation with CBR wasBabs the Barbarian#2; the new series findsEnnis taking his familiar, patented styleto a new genre, the “sword and sorcery” epic. Through its first two issues, Ennis' humor – and his characteristic satirical subversion of familiar tropes and conventions – has been on display, and he’s certain to continue pulling at these threads asBabscontinues. With that in mind, it was the interviewer’s suggestion that the genre is “ripe for satire” that prompted the author to caution against overemphasizing that aspect of the book.
The Boys Creator Embraces High Fantasy with Sarcastic Take on Swords & Sorcery
Superheroes already got their just desserts in Garth Ennis' The Boys - and with Babs, a new series freshly debuted, fantasy is next on the list.
Readers should check outBabs the Barbarianbecause they want action, adventure, and humor, as well as emotional weight, all wrapped up in a plot that has surprises in store for them as it progresses. Without a doubt, satire will permeate this project along the way, but it won’t be the operating principal of the narrative, so to speak. Instead,Garth Ennis' satirical impulse will be one of the many rich pieces of fabric that the author weaves togetherto produce a unique tapestry of ideas.
The Boys#1-72 – Written By Garth Ennis; Art By Darick Robertson & More
Whatever Garth Ennis feelsabout satire and its effects in the abstract, it is safe to say that satire is one of the most memorable aspects of his writing. It appears in his different stories to different degrees, withThe Boysbeing the most prominently satirical title in his ouvre – and, in the long-run, having ultimately proven to be the most widely acclaimed and commercially successful story of his career, thanks tothe Amazon TV adaptation. However, with his comments in mind, it is worth looking back at why the satire ofThe Boyswas so effective.
The story ofThe Boyswould not function without its satirical dimension, but in the end, it was always in service to crafting a startlingly effective emotional arc for the series' characters.
Of course, in part, the over-the-top nature ofThe Boys' satire, and the familiarity of its subject, are responsible for part of its appeal. More importantly, though, wasthe way Ennis used the satirical elements of the story to craft a singular fictional world, in which the darkest potential of a world with superheroes is exploredin every horrifying detail. The story ofThe Boyswould not function without its satirical dimension, but in the end, it was always in service to crafting a startlingly effective emotional arc for the series' characters.
The Boys
The Boysfranchise is a satirical and dark superhero series based on the comic book by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson. It explores a world where superheroes, or “Supes,” are corrupt, violent, and morally bankrupt, all controlled by the powerful corporation Vought International. The story centers around two opposing groups:The Boys, a vigilante team aiming to expose and defeat the corrupt heroes, andThe Seven, Vought’s elite team of Supes led by the ruthless Homelander.
Though the “good guys” won at the climax of the story,The Boyswas unequivocally a tragedy. It began with a tragedy, and ended with more than one – and at the core of each character’s backstory was trauma, inflicted upon them, and left untreated until it had disastrous consequences. This is the true nature of what has madeThe Boysappealing to audiences, in different mediums, for decades now, even if the story’s satirical take on superheroes dominates the conversation about the franchise.
