The Boys (comics)

Infobox comic book title
title = The Boys


caption = Cover of "The Boys" #1. By Darick Robertson and Tony Avina
Clockwise from the lower left-hand corner: Billy Butcher, The Frenchman, Mother's Milk, The Female, Wee Hughie
schedule = Monthly
format =
ongoing =Y
publisher = Wildstorm (Issues 1-6), Dynamite Entertainment (Issues 7-current), Titan Books (Collected Issues)
date = October 2006-
issues = 23 (as of October 08)
main_char_team = See "Characters"
writers = Garth Ennis
artists = Darick Robertson Peter Snejbjerg
pencillers =
inkers =
colorists = Tony Avina
creative_team_month =
creative_team_year =
creators = Garth Ennis Darick Robertson
TPB = The Name of the Game
ISBN = 9133305463
TPB1 = Get Some
ISBN1 = 1933305681
TPB2 = Good for the Soul
ISBN2 = 1933305924
subcat=Wildstorm Comics
sort=Boys

"The Boys" is an American creator-owned comic book series, written by Garth Ennis and illustrated by Darick Robertson. It was originally published by Wildstorm before moving to Dynamite Entertainment

The series is set in a contemporary world very much similar to real one, with one notable exception: a number of people have some form of superpower. The series follows a superpowered CIA squad, known informally as "the Boys", whose job it is to keep watch on superheroes and, if necessary, intimidate or kill them.

Ennis has said that the series will "out-"Preacher" "Preacher" [ [http://www.cinescape.com/0/editorial.asp?aff_id=0&this_cat=Comics&action=page&obj_id=52055 Hanging with the Boys: Ten Questions for Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson] , interview from August 23, 2006] , presumably referring to the extreme violence and sexuality that were that series' hallmark. He has also stated that he expects the series to last for approximately 60 issues.

Publication history

The first six issues were published by Wildstorm, starting in 2006. On January 24, 2007, the series was abruptly canceled with issue #6. Ennis later explained that this was because DC (of whom Wildstorm is an imprint) were uneasy with the anti-superhero tone of the work. [ [http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/02/09/exclusive-garth-ennis-talks-the-boys-and-more/ Garth Ennis talks The Boys and more] , "Publishers Weekly", interview from February 9, 2007] The planned collection of said issues was also canceled. However, Robertson said that "DC is being good about reverting our rights so we can find a new publisher and we're in the process of doing that now". [ [http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=98812 The Boys Ends At Wildstorm] , Newsarama, January 24, 2007] Ennis then released a statement telling of interest from a couple of publishers and that issue #7 and a trade of the first six issues would be available. While Darick Robertson is currently on exclusive contract to DC, he has been given special dispensation to continue working on "The Boys". [ [http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/01/24/so-long-boys-enniss-statement/ So long, Boys — Ennis’s Statement] , "Publishers Weekly", January 24, 2007] In February 2007 the series was picked up by Dynamite Entertainment and it resumed in May. A collected edition of the first six issues was also published, with a foreword by Simon Pegg. [ [http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=100616 The Boys Lands @ Dynamite Entertainment] , Newsarama, February 7, 2007]

Characters

The characters include:

The Boys

*Billy Butcher.

He led the original Boys, who were disbanded for as-yet-unstated reasons. At the beginning of the series, he works to reassemble the old team, with a new member filling in for Mallory. He is physically large and incredibly violent, and, like all of The Boys, possesses super strength. A bulldog named Terror is his constant companion. He is perfectly happy to blackmail, brutalise, torture and murder if it achieves his goals; he can also be very sociable, to the same ends, with Mother's Milk stating every word he says is calculated to that end. He seems to get pleasure from killing superheroes; the slaughter of 150 of them in #14 left him humming "Ode To Joy" all day.

The cause of his campaign against superheroes stems from the rape and death of his wife, Becky. Butcher woke up to find his wife disemboweled on their bed, with her prematurely born, superpowered child crawling out of her. After it attacked Butcher with its heat vision, he killed it by beating it to death with a lampstand. After reading Becky's diary he learned the identity of his wife's rapist, who is described as "one of the big boys". #20 strongly hinted that the rapist was the Homelander, who Butcher has a strong hatred for.

He previously served in the Royal Marines.clr
*Hugh Campbell.

Awards

* 2008: Nominated for "Best Continuing Series" Eisner Award. [ [http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=153595 2008 Eisner Award Nominees Named] (press release), Newsarama, April 14, 2008]

Film

"Variety" report that Columbia Pictures have optioned the comic for a film adaptation, to be produced by Neal H. Moritz. [ [http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117981219.html?categoryid=13&cs=1 Columbia, Moritz call on 'The Boys'] , "Variety", February 20, 2008] According to "The Hollywood Reporter" Matt Manfredi and Phil Hay will be writing the screenplay and their previous credits include "Aeon Flux", "The Tuxedo" and "Crazy/Beautiful". [ [http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3i066557ae265766afc0a702001f757a80 Two men will adapt 'Boys'] , 'The Hollywood Reporter", August 26, 2008]

Notes

References

* [http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=104456 The Boys Continues in June at Dynamite] , Newsarama, March 9, 2007

External links

* [http://www.dynamiteentertainment.com/boards/forumdisplay.php?s=723077eb322c6b3e6cb5a420bd03ac24&daysprune=&f=18 The message board for "The Boys" from Dynamite Entertainment]
* [http://www.silverbulletcomics.com/news/news.php?c=50 Darick Robertson's column Back to the Drawing Board]
* [http://www.dccomics.com/graphic_novels/?gn=6857 DC's page for the trade] , who also have extra material like a [http://www.dccomics.com/media/excerpts/5734_x.pdf seven page sample] and a [http://www.dccomics.com/downloads/popup_downloads.php?i=The_Boys-Darick%20Robertson_Trailer trailer]

Interviews

* [http://www.comicon.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=36;t=004890 Interview with Robertson about the series] , March, 2006
* [http://www.silverbulletcomicbooks.com/features/116416276421795.htm Darick Robertson: Just One of The Boys] , November 21, 2006 interview
* [http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=10342 "The Boys" Are Back in Town: Ennis & Robertson Speak] , Comic Book Resources, April 19, 2007 interview on the changeover in publishers and the future of the title