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The Boys has made a name for itself as a breakout hit in both comics and television, known for its brutal and unapologetic parody of the superhero genre, with many of its sharpest jabs clearly taking aim at DC Comics’ iconic Justice League. Now, a resurfaced interview sheds even more light on just how The Boys creator, Garth Ennis, really feels about DC’s flagship team, and his take might surprise even longtime fans.
A 2017 interview with Garth Ennis, conducted by Comiccon.com at the New Jersey Comic Expo, has recently resurfaced, offering a deeper look into his creative process. The interview includes insights into his creator-owned works, such as The Boys, as well as his experience writing legacy characters like DC’s Batman.
During the conversation, Ennis was asked, “When you’re writing, what differences affect you depending on whether you are working with characters who are pre-existing, or ones which you have created and you’re writing for the first time?” It was in response to this question that Ennis brought up the Justice League, offering revealing thoughts on how he truly views one of pop culture’s most iconic superhero teams.
Garth Ennis Breaks Down His Bold, Unfiltered Take on DC’s Justice League
Main Cover by John McCrea & Todd Klein for Garth Ennis’ Hitman #34 (1998)
Ennis first approached the interviewer’s question by admitting that not much changes in his creative process when it comes to writing pre-existing characters versus those he has created himself. He did concede that there is obviously more creative freedom when it comes to the characters he personally creates, given that “what he says goes,” but even when writing established characters, he still tends to “write them the way that [he thinks] they should be written rather than what’s appeared before.” He then proceeded to give the example of his Hitman series, which featured various Justice League members.
First published in 1996 and running until 2001, Hitman was a series following Tommy “Hitman” Monaghan, including his encounters with the JLA. Ennis went on to explain that he wrote each JLA member featured in the series in the way he thought they each should be portrayed, not according to what DC thought. He then gave specific examples, saying, “So that’s why Batman is this overpowering pain-in-the-ass.” The implication here is that Ennis viewed the essence or core of the Dark Knight as being an “overpowering pain-in-the-ass,” and that served as his creative direction when it came to writing the character, regardless of how other writers at the time were portraying Batman.
Ennis also offered further insight into other Justice League characters and how he approached writing them, saying, “That’s why Superman is a saint. That’s why Wonder Woman is kind of cold. That’s why Green Lantern is a bit of an idiot. That’s why the Flash is basically irritated by everybody, because everyone is slower than he is, and he’s waiting for them to catch up.” Ennis explained that these were simply his own ideas for the characters, and that is why they are portrayed as such in his Hitman series. There are definitely some character interpretations that stray from the norm in Hitman, and it is now enlightening to hear Ennis’ characterization process for these iconic heroes.
Garth Ennis Rewrote DC’s Icons to Fit His Vision, Not Their Legacy
Main Cover by John McCrea & Todd Klein for Garth Ennis’ Hitman #1 (1996)
Ennis definitely went against the status quo when it came to writing these legacy characters. Most writers who take on these icons typically aim to stay true to the characters’ history and established characterization. Whether they succeed in that or truly follow through is another matter, but in this interview, it becomes clear that Ennis did the complete opposite of what is normally expected. Instead of waxing poetic about the greats that came before him or spending weeks diving into every comic ever written about the character, Ennis portrayed them as he thought they should be.
His take on DC’s Justice League is especially compelling, particularly with characters like Wonder Woman and the Flash. Calling Wonder Woman cold may seem at odds with her core values of love and compassion, but it fits her warrior background. A person can appear emotionally distant while still being deeply driven by love. Flash’s portrayal is equally thought-provoking. Although it departs from typical depictions, it makes sense that a speedster would be irritated by the slower pace of those around him. Whether fans agree with Ennis’ takes or not, his interpretations of these iconic Justice League heroes are undeniably intriguing.
The Boys
The Boys franchise 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, and The Seven, Vought’s elite team of Supes led by the ruthless Homelander.
Source: Comiccon.com
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