Ennis' "The Boys" cancelled for "out Preachering 'Preacher'!

[jack_babalon]

Newsarama reports THE BOYS has been cancelled:

Newsarama has learned that Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson’s Wildstorm series, The Boys has been cancelled by DC, effective with issue #6 of the series, which is currently on shelves. Issues #7-#10, as well as the trade collection – all of which have been solicited – will not ship.
DC declined to comment on the series or even confirm that the series has indeed, been canceled.

As the story pointed out, THE BOYS’ sales had been strong, one of the better performing recent Wildstorm launches. However, content issues were the problem, according to insiders close to the situation—the book that promised to “out-Preacher Preacher” indeed included plenty of extreme violence and potty humor.

I just don't get it sometimes.

Sure the series certainly did 'Out-Preacher Preacher' (the hamster scene alone still makes me wince) but it was a lot more than that. It was a wonderful statement about the spandex & powers culture that dominates the American comic book market and it was an extremely well produced one at that. When you get beyond Ennis' shock tactics and sight gags, you realize that the man has an amazing sense of narrative pacing along with one of the best ears in comic books today. Throw in Darrick Robertson's (most of you will recognize him from Transmetropolitan) pencils and you had an instant classic.

What DC & Marvel need to understand is that there is an audience out there, that on the one hand still enjoys reading about costumed vigilantes, but on the other are also adults with adult sensibilities and sometimes we like our superbeings to reflect those before mentioned sensibilities. The fact that the sales were strong in a market that's dwindling down by most accounts should attest to the strength of the series.

The other thing is i'm not sure I understand the 'Content Concerns' angle. I'm a bit of a DC geek and in the last two years i've seen:
~Sue Dibny get raped by Dr. Light in Identity Crisis.
~Batman get down and dirty with Talia in a flashback scene, where he gets buck naked except for the cowl & cape for one of my favorite WTF moments of 2006.
~Superboy Prime rip a guys arm of, punch a guy in half and gruesomly wipe out half the Teen Titans over in Infinite Crisis.
~Mirror Master snort blow off one of his magic mirrors during Geoff John's Flash run.
~Black Adam tear Terra Man in half on live tv in 52.

I dig that this is a matter of context (though why it's taboo to show consenual sex, but ok to revel in the most visceral exploits is one of those things that annoys me about TV & movies as well). But the thing is the above mentioned comics are aimed at kids. The Boys wasn't.

Anyway, enough of my geek rantings, time to brave the storm and go home.

Ciao!

Comments

[lytbryt.livejournal.com]

Don't forget Wonder Woman snapping Maxwell Lord's neck.

[jackbabalon23.livejournal.com]

Good call.

Though gruesome I actually liked that scene. I think people often forget that she was raised to be an amazon warrior not a superhero. I don't picture her acting like the Punisher per say, but I always imagined her going for the kill when she battled especially dangerous superbeings rather just tying them up with a lasso.

[lytbryt.livejournal.com]

I completely agreed with her motives. The same with Kingdom Come. Casualties are a consequence of war. I don't have the issue but apparently the big three spoke of the Dr Light mindswipe and she disagreed with raping his mind like that. When asked what she would do, she said kill him. LOL. That he was beyond rehabilitation and that his death would protect the ones they love.

BTW....I'm a huge Wonder Woman fan.

mOTHER FUCKERS!!!!!!!!!!!

[destructodeluxo.livejournal.com]

Well no more DC for me,I guess our "soccer mom cultures" fucking illiterate (aware I spelled that wrong,making a point)"Mature readers" means,Not for your sensative lil twat kid! Nor your politiclty correct fuck tards.
Sad we got all this freedom,and some moral oral fuck tits gotta save us from it.
Oh and all the "Dark" stuff DCs been doing,Thats "deep story lines".
Make fun of it? CANCELED.
Ahh well hopefully Garth Ennis can publish it elsewhere,wouldnt be the first time hes had to do it,Fuck DC comics in their stupid ass"s.Ill start with the money I wouldve spent on their titles.
Too angry to spell check!!
NIK

[destructodeluxo.livejournal.com]

Asked for comment, writer Garth Ennis provided the following statement:

It’s become obvious to all concerned that The Boys should never have been published at DC, and to their credit they’re working hard to release the rights so that Darick and I can find the book a new home. We’re already looking at offers from a number of publishers, and plan to return with #7 and the first trade collection in a matter of a few months.
Thank you to everyone who’s bought and supported The Boys to date. I’ve gotten a real kick out of the response we’ve gotten over the first six issues, and I’m looking forward to getting stuck into the next fifty-four. Believe me, what we’ve got coming up will make #1-6 look like a quiet evening on Sesame Street.

One other thing: I want to say thank you to Ben Abernathy, Scott Dunbier and Jim Lee for all their help and support. Good guys, pleasant to deal with, never anything less than gentlemen. I’m going to miss doing the book with them.
Ha! all is not lost.