Garth Ennis: Preaching to the ChoirBy Steven G. Saunders Preacher, some of the best runs on Hellblazer, Battler Britton, Kev, Midnighter, the man who in my mind resurrected The Punisher good and proper, The Boys. All of these comic books have one thing in common: Garth Ennis.
Recently, Garth was kind enough to let me send him some questions via email. In a perfect, non-busy world, I would have loved to have done a career spanning interview with him. However, Mr. Ennis is incredibly busy being one of the best writers in comics out there and so the stars just weren’t right. No worries, though, because being the awesome sport he is, Garth still answered some questions regarding his current, and some of his past, work. Our correspondence occurred just before the Preacher HBO announcement, but unfortunately, Mr. Ennis is not able to comment on it.
Steven G. Saunders (SGS): How many projects are you working on right now, exactly? And what would be the ones you hold near and dear to your heart?
Garth Ennis (GE) : Eight books, a number I’m keen to reduce as soon as possible. My favourites are probably the two monthlies, The Punisher [MAX] and The Boys, as well as the Punisher spin-off miniseries Barracuda.
 SGS: Do you ever reach points with Punisher MAX (or the Punisher in general) where you say “Dear lord, there is only so much I can do with this character”? I have to say, I’m always impressed with what you do with Frank Castle. It’s never boring or tired.
GE: Nice of you to say. No, I never get tired of Frank, because he’s a constant: you always know how he’s going to respond in a given situation. That’s where it gets interesting, creating new characters and situations to bounce the guy off. And I like protagonists who kill their opponents, anyway- I grew up reading characters like that, and it makes sense, it’s more believable than packing the Joker off to Arkham for the millionth time. If nothing else I find it pretty healthy, creatively speaking, because you’re always having to come up with someone new.
SGS: How did you come to work on Midnighter and what insidious plans do you have with this great character and title (that you can/will get into)?
GE: I wanted to do Battler Britton and another series of Kev, and Scott Dunbier suggested I write something a bit more commercial, too- so Wildstorm would get something in exchange for indulging me. A Midnighter series was actually my idea; he’s the best character they’ve got, so it seemed like a no-brainer. I’m hoping to do more with him, actually; he really is the most splendid bastard in comics. Hopefully Scott and I can do another deal of some kind and I’ll come back later in the run.
For now, the “Killing Machine” storyline runs from #1-5, and #6 is an odd little historical story with art by Glenn Fabry.
 SGS: The six issue series Chronicles of Wormwood
is probably one of the most intriguing (and entertaining, from what I’ve seen so far) new titles to be coming out. Can you tell us a bit about it, please?
GE: Danny Wormwood runs an HBO-type TV company in New York City, and also happens to be the Antichrist. His best friend is Jesus Christ, who sadly ended up with brain damage after the LAPD took exception to his views on peace and forgiveness. Danny and Jesus have both told their fathers to fuck off, wanting no part in the forthcoming plans for Armageddon, preferring to let humanity find its own way. God and Satan, of course, are not about to take that lying down. And there’s also a talking rabbit and an Australian pope.
SGS: What is it like to work with John Woo on Seven Brothers? Could you please tell us a bit about the process of working with this legendary film director?
GE: Simplicity itself. I got a two paragraph outline and was pretty much left to get on with it. Suits me down to the ground, plenty of room to manoeuvre.
SGS: You have mentioned before that you love old war comics and westerns. If you could do any western and war comic right now, what would they be? You don’t have to stick to current titles, either.
GE: I’m actually working on a western for Avatar press, a six issue story called Streets of Glory, though it’ll be a while before it comes out. I’ve also got plenty more ideas for the War Story books—tricky to get those going, though, because they tend not to set the world on fire commercially. It’s a question of picking the moment.
The war character I’d drop everything to write would be Johnny Red, who appeared in Battle, a British anthology I read as a kid. British fighter pilot flying for the Russians. Hopefully, one of these days, someone will sort out the rights, and I’ll get a crack at it.
 SGS: Battler Britton seems to be a title you put quite a bit of passion into! Personally, I really enjoy this title a lot, especially since there is a lack of war comics out there. What goes into the process of writing an issue? And will this book run again?
GE: Battler ran its five issues, which is all it was ever supposed to. The collection will be out next May. I’d love to do another mini, but the most I can say right now is wait and see.
I knew the character from reading him in the seventies, and I know quite a bit about WW2 aviation—it’s a chance to use some of the historical material I’ve read over the years. In North Africa, the British genuinely did operate from airfields behind German lines, and American squadrons were attached to RAF units for combat experience—generally with better relations than in the book. The portrayals of the aircraft and tactics are as accurate as I could make them.
SGS: Recently you said you would like a shot at “Rogue Trooper” in 2000AD. Did you mean that? And is there anything you would do differently with the character that you are willing to talk about?
GE: I have a vague idea for Rogue, but I’m up to my eyeballs with other stuff and I doubt I’ll ever get round to it. Also, 95% of everything I do for 2000AD turns out shite, and there’s no guaranteeing this would be any different.
 SGS: The Boys is one of those titles that seems to come together very, very well. Your writing along with Darick Robertson’s fantastic art really paints a grim picture of superheroes. Now, I’m sure you’re sick of answering this question, but what is the impetus behind your treatment and violation of standard superhero archetypes, especially those held in high regard by many Americans?
GE: One, I find them a bit annoying, although that’s more to do with the genre’s domination of the industry than anything else. Two, it’s easy, because they’re all at least halfway to being ludicrous to begin with, and the jokes just cry out to be done. Three, it makes me laugh.
SGS: Is there a chance you will work on Hellblazer ever again?
GE: Never say never, though I’ve no immediate plans.
SGS: Preacher is considered by many to be one of the best comic book series ever written. Will you ever visit that universe you created again? Is there anything you would change with Preacher looking back?
GE: There’s one more Preacher special that Karen Berger refuses to publish because it’s too rude, which it actually isn’t. It’s the Sex Detectives, Bob and Freddy. One day it will see print, because sooner or later everything does.
There’s plenty of small stuff I’d change about Preacher, a line here, a sequence there. But on the whole, I’m pretty pleased with it.
SGS: Will we see you on the new Punisher War Journal in the future?
GE: Doubt it. I’m the last person they’d want for that.
SGS: So, what are your primary influences and sources of inspiration for the work you do? Your stuff is full of violence and black humour… I’m wondering where all that comes from.
GE: Same as any writer: what interests them, what makes them laugh, what pisses them off.
As for violence and black humour, that’s the kind of stuff I grew up reading and watching. That’s what I find interesting or true or amusing, and what the kind of people I know and drink with respond to in the same way.
I doubt I’m the first to respond to the violent world we live in with black humour, is another way of looking at it.
SGS: Like all prolific writers who are held in high regard, you have gained your fair share of detractors. Now, they say things… like your work has become stale or that you just go out of your way to shock people. Is there anything you would like to state concerning this?
GE: I don’t know, I’m rarely aware of it. I don’t go looking for praise or criticism. All I can say is if you like my stuff, keep reading. If you don’t, I imagine you’ve already solved your problem.
SGS: Okay, if you could take any one political pundit to task, who would it be and why?
The obvious ones, really. O’Reilly, Savage, Hannity, Coulter, creatures like that. The liars, the fakes, the ones who propagate the idea that the only way to succeed is to shit all over the other guy.
SGS: Lastly, what is your dream project? Besides any projects you are currently working on, that is.
GE: Johnny Red, as mentioned. Wouldn’t mind a crack at Dan Dare. Be nice to do more War Stories, as I say. And there’s a lot of other stuff, all creator-owned, that I’m going to be doing over the next few years. I’m looking forward to getting stuck into that.
I’d like to thank Garth Ennis on behalf of all the great people at SBC for taking the time to participate in this interview. There’s some great answers to what I think are rather random inquires. I do hope you, dear reader, enjoyed this as much as I have.
I would just like to note: See that part where Ennis says 95% of his material with 2000AD “turns out shite”? I have to respectfully disagree. Especially in the cases of the Judge Dredd arcs “Emerald Isle” and “Judgment Day.” Sorry, Garth! It may cost me some fingers or something in the future, but I had to say it.
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