‘The Boys’ Creator Garth Ennis Reveals His Views on Satire in Fiction

‘The Boys‘ is one of the world’s most popular superhero series. Based on the comic book of the same name, this dark twist on the superhero genre has gained significant traction on Amazon Prime, continually pushing the boundaries of what’s acceptable on television.

As the series gears up for the production of its fifth and final season, we’re revisiting the original comics. Garth Ennis, the author of the comic and currently promoting a new project, recently spoke with CBR.com and shared some intriguing insights.

During the interview, Ennis discussed his views on satire. While ‘The Boys’ is known for its sharp social and political commentary in both the comic and TV series, Ennis’s perspective on satire may surprise you. Read on to discover all the details!

Garth Ennis is currently promoting his new comic book, Babs, a sword-and-sorcery fantasy featuring a female lead. During the discussion about the comic, he was also asked about his views on satire in fiction. Given that his work has elevated political satire in superhero shows to a whole new level, his answer might surprise you:

Almost inherently, sword and sorcery fiction takes itself quite seriously, as some of the concepts are so silly that you HAVE to take them seriously just to get through it (like, for instance, chain metal bikinis), so it’s obviously ripe for satire, but do you think the fantastical nature of it also makes it easier to use it to satirize real world events, like you do quite nicely with Mork and his buddies? Or do you think more “realistic” stories are better equipped for real world satire?

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.

While, in general, Mork and his buddies are fairly similar to the types of fans that you’ve been mocking in comics for thirty years now, there is that extra racial element in their criticisms of Babs’ choice of friends. Is this new element in response to the recent anti-immigration nonsense in England?

That would be tricky, given that the riots in question happened a few weeks before #1 shipped. I wrote the whole series in early 2023. It’s really a reaction to some of the nastier thinking currently doing the rounds, which was of course dramatically accelerated after the Brexit/Maga bullshit of 2016.

Source: CBR.com

One might have anticipated a more open response from the author of ‘The Boys,’ but this perspective is certainly intriguing.

Do you have thoughts to share? Let us know in the comments below!

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