Is Garth Ennis a one-trick pony?

[Brian Cronin]

In the comments to my review of The Boys #1, Pol Rua posted:

Evan Dorkin wrote an incredibly good parody of comic book/fandom called ‘The Eltingville Comic-Book, Science-Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, and Role-Playing Club’ about a series of obsessive, socially retarded nerds/fans.

At one point, he parodies the Eltingville Club with ‘The Northwest Comics Collective’ about a band of equally obsessive, socially retarded comic book fans who don’t realize they are because they obsess over indie/underground comics. Basically the Comics Journal to the Eltingville Club’s Wizard.

One of the NWCC writes parodies of superhero comics which are mostly pornographic versions of existing comicbook superheroes.

Garth Ennis is that guy.

He’s a one-trick pony who seems content with getting paid to write the same two pages of dialogue over and over again.

It’s Micah Wright’s Stormwatch Team Achilles only the team members say ‘cunt’ more.

*yawn*

What do you folks think? Think Pol is correct?

-Brian

[scratchie]

I haven't read enough Ennis to say, but I would like to say that Evan Dorkin is a genius and that World's Funnest Comics is one of the funniest things I've read in my life. You should do a column on that.

[shawnh]

Garth Ennis is not a one trick pony. He's got at least two tricks, because in addition to violence and perversion he's also the one of the few major comic book writer who seem to be interested in writing war stories and modern-day westerns and other things that even the biggest names avoid to do the umptieth "adult" take on the spandex set. In fact, Ennis obviously hates superheroes, almost everything he's written in the genre is dripping with derision for them.

I'm not saying he's a gift from the writing gods, but I've read a lot of his work and despite some recurring themes like male buddy bonding, macho American pop culture and cursing, its diverse enough to say he's a lot more than dirty superhero stories.

[Subotai]

Of note, Ennis has done:
-Preacher ('nuff said)
-Hitman (light, but fun - old school John Woo set in Hell's Kitchen)
-Max Punisher (you dig it or you don't, but once Ennis got over his silly shit like running over Wolverine with a steamroller, it's been *dark* - and great)
-War Stories (possibly the best military comic, ever)
-The Authority/Kev (which started as a bit of a joke, but has become progressively serious)

I really don't get people who say Ennis is a one-trick dog. Yeah, there are some recurring themes - fucked-up visages, mentally disturbed supporting characters, psychotic villains, an extreme distaste for authority, etc. - but I don't think those people are giving him a fair shake. There is clearly depth and substance to a good number of his stories.

People seem to rip him for being left-wing, anti-Conservo, etc. - but he's no more so than Millar, Ellis, or any number of guys.

I'd love to see Ennis do Jonah Hex.

[stealthwise]

If Garth Ennis is a one-trick pony, then it's like having a pony that does back flips through a flaming hoop. Sure, it's just one trick, but it's something people will pay to see again and again.

[ultramandingo]

imagine a ennis book about "a one trick pony "...........im sure it would be a mature readers book set in tiajuana during WW2 . donkeys , nazis and cowboys!

[will_butler]

Ennis obviously has some favored themes, and some of his low points (Dicks, Ghost Rider) are very low, but anyone who can write the best run of Hellblazer of all time, The 303, Preacher, Hitman, Welcome Back Frank, and Punisher MAX (especially The Tyger) doesn't deserve much criticism as far as I'm concerned.

Will

[Pól Rua]

To be fair, Ennis is both more and less than a 'one trick pony'.
Because I've read 'True Faith' and 'War Stories'. Some of his stuff has a lot of heart. Actually, I'd even put 'Hitman' in here, too, because while a lot of it was just straight-up Ennis-doing-what-Ennis-does, he wasn't afraid to occasionally step outside it and actually write for a change.
So he's not a one-trick pony, because he can do better.
Which I think, makes it worse. Because it means he's content with lazy, make-do hackwork.

[Subotai]

To be fair, Ennis is both more and less than a 'one trick pony'.
Because I've read 'True Faith' and 'War Stories'. Some of his stuff has a lot of heart. Actually, I'd even put 'Hitman' in here, too, because while a lot of it was just straight-up Ennis-doing-what-Ennis-does, he wasn't afraid to occasionally step outside it and actually write for a change.
So he's not a one-trick pony, because he can do better.
Which I think, makes it worse. Because it means he's content with lazy, make-do hackwork.

You're making that call based on one issue of The Boys?

[howyadoin]

If Garth Ennis is a one-trick pony, then it's like having a pony that does back flips through a flaming hoop. Sure, it's just one trick, but it's something people will pay to see again and again.That's what I was about to say, but in a much less succinct manner.

[Babylon23]

I don't think Ennis is a one-trick pony, but I do find his humour books to be fairly repetative at times. I think it's just his sense of humour, but it's one that only appeals to me in small doses.

At the same time, he has produced a widely diverse body of work, in different styles and genres. I think anybody who calls him a one-track pony has probably only been exposed to a certain types of Ennis book.

[Joe Rice]

I'd definitely not consider him a one-trick pony. He's capable of some very awful work, but so is everyone else. When he's on, he's in the top tiers. When he's off, he's anywhere between mediocre and just awful. I don't yet know what The Boys will be. There are touches of "This again?" but the inclusion of Wee Hughie (I believe, the issue's in another room right now) ads a bit of geniune emotion that could be the spark of something more interesting. I think if you love superheroes, and Pol really does, then it's easy to get upset with the way Ennis treats them, and to focus on that repeated treatment. But he's written too many great works with too great a disparity in the voices and themes to be a one-trick pony.

[Phobophobe]

The thing is, all the major Ennis works that the Ennis defenders have cited - Preacher, Hitman, Max Punisher, war comics, and Kev - are all the same damn story. These are all, at root, macho power fantasies about Tough Real Macho Men who bond with other Tough Real Macho Men over Blood and Guts and Sweat and Grit and other stuff Ennis has never seen outside of a movie theater, and they are loved by Tough Real Women who shoot guns and smoke cigarettes and lead Hard Hard Lives, and their enemies tend to be weak-willed effeminate men who will be punished for their effeminacy by being <em>hilariously</em> raped at some point.

It's not just that Ennis's characters are cliches. It's that they're the same cliches over and over again.

[Joe Rice]

The thing is, all the major Ennis works that the Ennis defenders have cited - Preacher, Hitman, Max Punisher, war comics, and Kev - are all the same damn story. These are all, at root, macho power fantasies about Tough Real Macho Men who bond with other Tough Real Macho Men over Blood and Guts and Sweat and Grit and other stuff Ennis has never seen outside of a movie theater, and they are loved by Tough Real Women who shoot guns and smoke cigarettes and lead Hard Hard Lives, and their enemies tend to be weak-willed effeminate men who will be punished for their effeminacy by being <em>hilariously</em> raped at some point.

It's not just that Ennis's characters are cliches. It's that they're the same cliches over and over again.

This is a gross misreading of much of his work, one often taken by lazy readers.

[Joe Rice]

To go further, whereas some of the works may have elements of what Fearfear says, that's hardly what they're about, most times. I can't speak for Hitman, it wasn't really for me. But Preacher may have had tough guys etc. etc., but it was more about America as a theme and the nature of friendship. Each of the War Stories had different themes, and very little of what Fearfear says, if any at all. And Punisher Max takes on a different theme with each story, be it child endangerment, global prostitution/slavery, corporate crime . . .Ennis may use a Tough Guy comic to tell these stories, but he's hardly telling the same story.

It sounds like Phobophobe is another "He pissed me off," person who now lashes out.

[Phobophobe]

So he uses the same characters over and over again to tell slightly different stories. This month, the Punisher kills some guys who deal drugs. Next month, he kills some guys... who run Enron! OOOOO!

One of the persistent criticisms of Warren Ellis is that he writes a certain Warren Ellis character and just does minor variations on this character from title to title. Garth Ennis has this for his characters, only all of his characters are variations of the same template. I honestly don't know what people see in Ennis's work, unless it's the chance to project oneself into Ennis's power fantasies.

[Michael P]

Nah, violence and swearing are two separate tricks. :D

[Agentum]

No, it's just the standard angry superhero fanboy talk that superheroes should be respected in the writing and that the writer must be a superhero hater and is immature etc.

I hear this a lot from people and i don't understand it, is there not enough of that fanboy work out there already?
I mean reading superheroes as an adult and wanting to be so grown up doesn't work that well, i'm tired of the talk about that comics is art etc.

I think that Ennis thinks Superheroes is bit stupid (and they are) and just wants so play around with them a bit.

I don't mean that Ennis is the greatest ever, he has been a bit repetive with his Irishmen in every story, and some of his writing is not that intresting.

But i liked this "The Boys" because it's a bit diffrent than the standard Amazing Spider-man or Superman comic, but i have not seen so much of this yet to be able to judge it fully.

AND i like his Max Punisher, it's like an action movie, no deep thoughts and troubled hearts talk, but thats not the point, sometimes i just want action, and this is it.

[Subotai]

One of the persistent criticisms of Warren Ellis is that he writes a certain Warren Ellis character and just does minor variations on this character from title to title. Garth Ennis has this for his characters, only all of his characters are variations of the same template. I honestly don't know what people see in Ennis's work, unless it's the chance to project oneself into Ennis's power fantasies.

Hmmm, I was overdue for some psychological analysis.

Midnighter=Kev=Punisher=Jesse Custer=Tommy Monaghan=Hellblazer=etc.?

[shawnh]

If Garth Ennis characters share some similarities, he's not alone in comics. All of his characters are beautiful unique snowflakes compared to Howard Chaykin's stock Chaykinman, for example. And at least Ennis creates new characters. I'm sure it's a lot easier when Stan Lee developed your character's personality for you in 1963 and it hasn't changed much since.

And besides, the statement that all of his storylines are the same story about macho bonding isn't true. It only works if you leave out True Faith, or Pride and Joy or Unknown Soldier or most of the issues of War Stories or Dicks. And the Punisher, he usually doesn't bond with anyone. Ennis could have brought back Micro for the buddy stuff but didn't.

[JeffreyWKramer]

But Preacher may have had tough guys etc. etc., but it was more about America as a theme and the nature of friendship.

True. But I think the major theme of PREACHER is loyalty.

[ultramandingo]

shawnh
"And the Punisher, he usually doesn't bond with anyone. Ennis could have brought back Micro for the buddy stuff but didn't."

...he did thou , and frank killed him

[ultramandingo]

It's not just that Ennis's characters are cliches. It's that they're the same cliches over and over again.


.....kinda like watching leone , peckinpah , (early) scorsese , tarintino , woo , bond and godzilla movies ......"over and over again"

[Joe Rice]

True. But I think the major theme of PREACHER is loyalty.

Yeah, that one definitely ranks up there.

Fearfear is focusing only one plot, I think, not theme, when it comes to Punisher. Regardless, even if he were right about that, he's nowhere close to proving his point otherwise. That list of characters by Subotai shows a wide variety of character, even in the "tough guy" subtype.

[winterteeth]

I think every view of Ennis has been stated so far but I would just like to weigh in that I like his trick in general. I don't think it can be applied to any old concept (I never read his Thor thing because I don't want to read about postmodern masculine deconstuctionism as applied to an ancient Nordic deity) but when it works, it works really well. Preacher, Hitman, and the first Punisher arc are favorites of mine but they certainly have strong similarities. I would argue most of my favorite writers have a stong suit that they stick to (Rucka does political intrigue like a champ and Brubaker is the king of the super-hero crime writing, sorry Azzarello). The Boys, which I picked up today, hasn't really impressed me much thus far but I am happy to see Shaun of the dead in another series (am I the only one who sees this?). I have a feeling it may be a Supreme Power type slow-grower, best made for trades. We'll see.

[Ryan Day]

Maybe. I'm not a huge Ennis fan, but I do really enjoy some of his work. If he's a one-trick pony - violence and excess - it's a versatile trick, like juggling: Sometimes he just does a couple tennis balls, which is kind of dull, but okay if you need some quick, easy entertainment. Other times, he'll take out some fine china to juggle, which is a bit more suspenseful. And every once in a while, he takes out these giant, sharp, deadly machetes... and sets fire to them... and juggles them while balancing on a tightrope suspended over the Grand Canyon.

And really, most authors operate in a genre or style in which they're comfortable; only the elite, like Alan Moore, have the talent to tell a wide range of stories. Grant Morrison can do a lot of different things, as can Warren Ellis... I can't think of too many more, even among authors I really enjoy like Mike Carey or even Neil Gaiman.

[howyadoin]

Maybe. I'm not a huge Ennis fan, but I do really enjoy some of his work. If he's a one-trick pony - violence and excess - it's a versatile trick, like juggling: Sometimes he just does a couple tennis balls, which is kind of dull, but okay if you need some quick, easy entertainment. Other times, he'll take out some fine china to juggle, which is a bit more suspenseful. And every once in a while, he takes out these giant, sharp, deadly machetes... and sets fire to them... and juggles them while balancing on a tightrope suspended over the Grand Canyon.

And really, most authors operate in a genre or style in which they're comfortable; only the elite, like Alan Moore, have the talent to tell a wide range of stories. Grant Morrison can do a lot of different things, as can Warren Ellis... I can't think of too many more, even among authors I really enjoy like Mike Carey or even Neil Gaiman.Have you read Heartland?

[pennywisdom]

I like "big picture" writers who approach their work conceptually and look at larger themes. Warren Ellis, Alan Moore, Grant Morrison, Neil Gaiman... the kind of guys who can make their readers think differently about the world they live in by generating new ideas.

Action in and of itself is great, but if I had a criticism of Garth Ennis, it would be that his work doesn't really make me ask questions. THAT is what separates a good writer from a great writer. Don't get me wrong, I'm not completely knocking him. In fact, I enjoy a lot of writers/artists/filmmakers who stick mainly to action with limited substance. I could watch Tarantino all day. But in the end, those works really aren't the ones that I value.

Also, I haven't read the complete Ennis canon. If anyone here has read a really high-concept, noteworthy, and thought provoking book by Ennis, let me know... I'm sure I'm missing something.

As for his hatred of superheroes, I'm ambivalent. On one hand, I think the rigid doctrine of superhero comics needs to be busted up by forward-thinking and revolutionary writers on a very regular basis. On the other, I think the "I hate superheroes but I love leather-clad tough guys" ethos can become knuckle-headed dogma really, really quickly and has the potential to devolve into garbage just as juvenile and sophomoric as the lamest Superman comic.

So, the "Superhero vs. gun-toting badass" debate really just becomes a question of superficial presentation and the REAL question becomes "Is it well-written or not?"

[JeffreyWKramer]

Also, I haven't read the complete Ennis canon. If anyone here has read a really high-concept, noteworthy, and thought provoking book by Ennis, let me know... I'm sure I'm missing something.

That would be PREACHER. It's one of the high marks of modern-day comics, as great in its own way as SANDMAN, or any of Moore's masterworks.

[cactusmaac]

He is an exceptionally good writer, although he does have the tendency to coast and fall into ruts, and I can see why his tendency for fairly gross stuff turns a lot of readers off.

I thought War Stories was allright but I remember the theme of "officers are all bastards, regular soldiers are the salt of the Earth" coming up a bit too often.

Calling his work "macho power fantasy" is symptomatic of somebody who's heard about his work but hasn't read any of it.

[Valmore]

If Garth Ennis is a one-trick pony, then it's like having a pony that does back flips through a flaming hoop. Sure, it's just one trick, but it's something people will pay to see again and again.

As in paying to watch a trainwreck? Ennis is a hack. You'd have to pay me to read his drivel again.

[Dan Apodaca]

It's completely invalid to say that Ennis only writes "macho, tough-guy" characters. Most super-comics star that type of character anyway, so any writer who's done work for the big two has probably written quite a few "macho, tough-guy" characters, themselves.

I dare you to name someone who's had a career similar to Ennis', who hasn't written those characters.

You want action in your comics, you're gonna get some testosterone.

[Phobophobe]

A while ago on the CSBG blog (and under my "moose" handle there), I wrote that I'd like to see Garth Ennis write a book about a physically weak, even effeminate man who doesn’t like fighting, reads a lot of books, and is nevertheless a likeable, admirable person.

Can anyone imagine Ennis writing a book like that? Can anyone imagine Garth Ennis writing a character like that?

I would suggest that such a proposition is downright laughable, and the reason it's laughable is precisely because the only kinds of characters Ennis seems capable of writing are hyper-macho Manly Men who spend all their time beating each other into bloody pulps, bonding with each other over their ability to pound each other into bloody pulps, and having embarassingly Freudian sex with woman-shaped fantasy objects after a hard day's pulping. It seems fairly obvious that Ennis either isn't interested in or isn't capable of writing characters that venture beyond this limited framework, just as it's fairly obvious that most of these characters serve as little more than vectors for fairly cliche male power fantasies.

[Subotai]

shawnh
"And the Punisher, he usually doesn't bond with anyone. Ennis could have brought back Micro for the buddy stuff but didn't."

...he did thou , and frank killed him

The lesson is, when the Punisher tells you to run....you run!

[Subotai]

A while ago on the CSBG blog (and under my "moose" handle there), I wrote that I'd like to see Garth Ennis write a book about a physically weak, even effeminate man who doesn’t like fighting, reads a lot of books, and is nevertheless a likeable, admirable person.

Can anyone imagine Ennis writing a book like that? Can anyone imagine Garth Ennis writing a character like that?

I would suggest that such a proposition is downright laughable, and the reason it's laughable is precisely because the only kinds of characters Ennis seems capable of writing are hyper-macho Manly Men who spend all their time beating each other into bloody pulps, bonding with each other over their ability to pound each other into bloody pulps, and having embarassingly Freudian sex with woman-shaped fantasy objects after a hard day's pulping. It seems fairly obvious that Ennis either isn't interested in or isn't capable of writing characters that venture beyond this limited framework, just as it's fairly obvious that most of these characters serve as little more than vectors for fairly cliche male power fantasies.


This is the sort of oversimplified analysis that leaves me shaking my head. It sounds like it comes from someone who has heard about Ennis second-hand, but never read him. Have you talking about? have you read Ennis' work on The Authority? Have you read The Punisher? War Stories? Most writers wouldn't have the balls to tackle a gay character, but Ennis writes one of the very few gay characters in comics very, very well. Those stereotypical red-meat heroes you describe are the ones who wind up humiliated in Ennis' stories.

[Steven Clubb]

The narrator of GODDESS was like that, and while they mocked the hell out of him, he got the girl (for a little while). The macho guy was similarly mocked and was generally considered an ass... he got the other girl, well, he already had the other girl. John Constantine was absolutely useless in a punch up (his girlfriend saved his butt more than once) and read tons of books... and while he had some issues, he was a generally likeable and admirable guy.

And in The Boys, it looks as though Wee Hughie is along those lines. Hitman's best friend in the early issues was a mouthy little guy who died rather than betray Tommy.

But he does action books, those tend to center around gun-toting guys who throw some punches. Most super-hero comics feature the same sort of macho characters. Frank Miller's books are jammed packed with them, more so than Ennis. Ennis like military characters and cowboys... sort of goes with the territory. There's a bit more variety in there than he's given credit for. Sure, he's not a terribly diverse writer, but there's not a lot of those in comics. Warren Ellis falls into natural ruts. Alan Moore has more than a few over-used motifs. John Byrne tends to write the same characters over and over. Grant Morrison hits a lot of the same notes with great frequency.

Ennis is Ennis. He's got a decent bag of tricks. There's certainly writers that have a wider range, but Ennis has a good sense of humor and brings a big heart to his better work.

[Steven Clubb]

Also had Pride & Joy, in which the son was a bit of a girlie man (smart, bookish fellow who was about to go away to college) who was embarrassed by his father. Centered more around the father, but both were portrayed in a pretty good light. The father was obviously proud of his son, although hurt that his son didn't think much of him... but had trouble relating to his son.

[howyadoin]

It's completely invalid to say that Ennis only writes "macho, tough-guy" characters.Keep in mind that that argument invariably comes from people who are afraid of "macho, tough-guy" characters.

[Brady]

The macho, manly tough guy in Preacher, Jesse Custer, has to learn to be not so macho and manly. He gets into a lot of trouble, and nearly loses the love of his life, because he's almost too macho. So it's not like Ennis is writing the same character over and over again, because I can't see the Punisher learning how to cry and then riding off into the sunset with his girlfriend.

[Locue]

I agree, Brady. I also recommend Ennis' Hellblazer run and the Heartland Hellblazer-oneshot. John Constantine mostly get by by acting tough and in Heartland, his old girlfriend Kit stars as she catches up with her family. Heartland is excellent stuff, almost kitchen sink really, but good.

And to answer the question; aren't we all?

[rick]

I'm not the biggest Ennis fan on the planet, lots of his work leaves me pretty cold.

But at the same time, I do have to say that I am a huge fan of his war comics.

And none of them that I have read have been made up of ”hyper-macho Manly Men who spend all their time beating each other into bloody pulps, bonding with each other over their ability to pound each other into bloody pulps, and having embarassingly Freudian sex with woman-shaped fantasy objects after a hard day's pulping.”

Honestly I don’t have the slightest idea what Phobophobe is getting at.

What possible book is he talking about?

[Locue]

Maybe he's read "Fury" too many times? The MAX Nick Fury is pretty much an machismo, chainsmoking, prostitute doing asshole. An entertaining, heroic asshole, but an asshole none the less.

Other than that, I can't think of any other book.

[cactusmaac]

MAX Nick Fury is obviously a parody.

[Locue]

MAX Nick Fury is obviously a parody.
No, it isn't.

[Joe Rice]

No, it isn't.

Uh, yeah, actually, it was. It was a parody that actually sunk to realism in order to make a point by the end. Effective work.

[Locue]

Uh, yeah, actually, it was. It was a parody that actually sunk to realism in order to make a point by the end. Effective work.
My God, this forum has to be the most dense forum ever.

What possible book is he talking about?
Asks what possible book Phobophobe is talking (writing) about.
MAX Nick Fury
Offers a probably, but not certainly, correct answer.
MAX Nick Fury is a parody
Offers nothing in context of the topic at hand. It doesn't mean a thing whether it's a parody on Nick Fury, it's the story about a grumpy, chainsmoking asshole who likes to kill people that matters.

Anyway, is that it, Phobophobo, because other than that book I really don't see anything else?

[dancj]

True. But I think the major theme of PREACHER is loyalty.

I always thought it was a romance comic at heart (with a healthy dose of blasphemy and slapstick violence chucked in)

Dan

[Michael P]

The macho, manly tough guy in Preacher, Jesse Custer, has to learn to be not so macho and manly. He gets into a lot of trouble, and nearly loses the love of his life, because he's almost too macho. So it's not like Ennis is writing the same character over and over again, because I can't see the Punisher learning how to cry and then riding off into the sunset with his girlfriend.
Very good point. Honestly, I ended up liking Tulip more than I liked Jesse.

[shawnh]

A while ago on the CSBG blog (and under my "moose" handle there), I wrote that I'd like to see Garth Ennis write a book about a physically weak, even effeminate man who doesn’t like fighting, reads a lot of books, and is nevertheless a likeable, admirable person.

Can anyone imagine Ennis writing a book like that? Can anyone imagine Garth Ennis writing a character like that?


True Faith is kind of close to this. Honestly, I get the feeling you've read very little of Ennis' work.

[cactusmaac]

Offers nothing in context of the topic at hand. It doesn't mean a thing whether it's a parody on Nick Fury, it's the story about a grumpy, chainsmoking asshole who likes to kill people that matters.



Uhh yeah, and if somebody had read the whole thing they'd realise it's about as far as it could get from macho power fantasy. It's ultimately a story about the impotence and f***ed-up nature of such characters.

[Joe Rice]

Very good point. Honestly, I ended up liking Tulip more than I liked Jesse.

I'm fairly certain we're, at least at first, supposed to.

[Joe Rice]

Uhh yeah, and if somebody had read the whole thing they'd realise it's about as far as it could get from macho power fantasy. It's ultimately a story about the impotence and f***ed-up nature of such characters.

Exactly. I don't think I'm the density here.

[Shellhead]

I realize that they are very different writers, but I still sometimes confuse Ennis with Ellis.

[Pól Rua]

I realize that they are very different writers, but I still sometimes confuse Ennis with Ellis.

Ennis tends to use one syllable cuss words, or Irish variations thereof (feck, arse, shite), whereas Ellis uses polysyllabic made-up cuss words (shiteyes, fuckteeth etc...).
Easy peasy.

[K'Nort]

I realize that they are very different writers, but I still sometimes confuse Ennis with Ellis.

Worse, I told someone today that Grant Morrison writes Nextwave.

[Winslow]

The only thing I've read from Ennis is his War Stories, Enemy Ace, and the new Battler Britton

Even within the same genre, I find his stories and characters diverse, so my limited perspective would be "no."

[Hulkamaniac]

Yes, Ennis has perfected a certain "style" of writing but does that make him a one-trick-pony?
I've read his work on Judge Dredd, Punisher, Enemy Ace, The Demon, Hitman, Preacher, War Stories(and the first issue of the boys) and probably a few others here and there that I can't remember at the moment. One thing I do notice is quality writing on diverse topics and genres. I like to think Ennis is able to find a great character representation and dramatic features within a world of violence and/or war.
And he is able to develope this within other parameters that basically rely on the same issue of struggle. So, with this in mind I see no reason to state that Ennis is a one-trick-pony when it comes to his writing in a general sense. But like all writers one can most likely easily determine a common thread or "style" within the stories and characters that overlap in genre or concept. Like one can find a similarities in the Dredd, the Boys and the Punisher concepts( and yet also realize that there are differences as well).

[Steven Clubb]

Ellis was talking about he and Ennis setting up their Vertigo books (Transmet and Preacher respectively) to be everything they wanted to write about. Neil Gaiman used the same approach with Sandman.

So, if you read Preacher, you do see many of the same beats and themes echoing in his other works, but that's mostly because Preacher is a pretty diverse work. It's a western, a war story, a horror story, a love story, a farce, a political statement, a religious statement, a parody, etc. If you read Dicks, you'll see elements you saw in Preacher. If you read Hitman, you see elements from Preacher. Battler Britton... Preacher. Fury... Preacher. True Faith... Preacher. Troubled Souls... Preacher.

But if you were to read his first three works (Troubled Souls, True Faith, and For A Few Troubles More (aka first issue of Dicks)), you'd see three pretty diverse works. Preacher managed to combine those three themes under one title: a meditation on the Irish troubles, the hypocrasy of faith and authority, and a couple of idiot friends getting in trouble on the town.

[Sadyv]

Ennis is no one trick pony, its simply that, like many other writers, he has his stock bag of tricks that he relies on.

THe problem that plagues his work, is that his bag of tricks tend to be very simple ones, and everyone one seems to show up in his work everytime he starts a new project.

Not to say he is telling the same story everyime or dealing with the same theme (though I would hesitate to label any Ennis work as particularly "deep"), the window dressing, the flash and initial gloss of his work all tends to start to feel very much the same.

You know what to expect from Ennis story after you've read a few. You know how he is going to frame it, you know all the little quirks and tricks that are going to show up. At the center of his stories they might be a brand new person, but Ennis chooses to dress them in the same clothes as he did his last dozen tales.

Could Ennis write stories up to his normal par without using them? Most likely, but its clear he feels most comfortable when putting them to use.

[dancj]

But if you were to read his first three works (Troubled Souls, True Faith, and For A Few Troubles More (aka first issue of Dicks)), you'd see three pretty diverse works.

I wouldn't call Troubled Souls and True Faith diverse. They're practically the same story.

[Steven Clubb]

Same basic plot of young man accidentally finds himself in the middle of someone else's cause, but Troubled Souls was a serious look into the Irish situation, while True Faith brought Ennis' love of farce into play.

[dancj]

I know they're different, but I did think they were a poor choice of books for your comparison.

[Crash-Man]

Keep in mind that that argument invariably comes from people who are afraid of "macho, tough-guy" characters.


Bingo.

Some of these arguments seem a bit too personally motivated.

I'd hate to hang out with Ennis' Punisher or Nick Fury, but they're still deeply intriguing, fascinating characters to read about.

[Grizsly]

Phobophobe seems to have dissappeared. . .

Preacher is without a doubt one of the best goddamn series I have ever read, and I've read a lot. It has everything a real modern day comic lover could want - gritty characters, ultra violence, perverted sex, disgusting villians, hot bitches with guns, Irish alcoholic vampires, JOHN FUCKING WAYNE, French idiots getting their asses beat, Italian mobsters with no dicks, Irish revolutionaries, the SAINT OF KILLERS, mindless goths getting decapitated, tons of whiskey and cigarettes, peyote, angels high on coke, a BIG FUCKIN' SNAKE, inbreds, racists, nazis, soldiers, crazy people, cowboys, indians, faggots and fun. It's a rollicking and savage ride down the highway of the American Dream, complete with every fucked up and ass backwards detour you can imagine. And in the end, when the dust settles and you've shat your pants, you sit there breathless, still too shocked to realize exactly what you read, and out of nowhere Ennis and Dillion give you the be all and end all of endings, a completley flawed character, a former vampire, cruisin' off into the gorgeous sunrise whistling, and a bit of sentiment taboot. Just perfect.

Also of note in the Ennis library should be his Demon run, his Hellblazer run (second only to Preacher), and Hitman. After that, although I loved quite a few of his other books, you take (as far as I'm concerned) a small step down. Again - a SMALL step.

If he's a one trick pony, than sign me up for life. I can't really tell you any other creator in comics who has given me the pure unadulterated SATISFACTION I got from finishing Preacher.

[The Mutt]

I'm a big Ennis fan and I love superheroes. When Ennis writes superheroes it is comedy gold. The Max Punisher is great stuff, but it is not near as much fun as it was when Frank was using Spider-Man for body armor or parking a steamroller on Wolverine's head. And Hitman perving on Catwoman with his x-ray vision heh heh or punking Green Lantern hee and when that guy turned his own ass into a hand grenade bwah hah ha ha....

[Joey Deadcat]

Only person who comes to mind when I think of comics' one-trick pony is Todd McFarlane.

[The Mirrorball Man]

In my opinion, the guy who wrote the John Constanine - Kit Ryan love story in "Hellblazer" can't be called a "one trick pony".

[stealthwise]

Just read PRIDE AND JOY, and as I was going through it I couldn't help but think about this thread. The story deals with the ideas of "macho" and "wussy" and the moral at the end is about responsibility, taking ownership for one's actions.

The pacing was fucked royally and some of the dialogue was cliched, but it was pretty good. Definitely a "Garth Ennis story."

[TomGun13]

I kinda think he is. I got The Boys and was extremely disappointed. Although, War Stories is really, really good.

[FunkyGreenJerusalem]

As long as he stays away from superheroes and company launch books (Pilgrim, Shadow Man) he's usually fine.
And I'm not a big fan of anything he does just for laughs (The Pro, Punisher, Goddess, Rifle Brigade).

But other than that I think he's great - Hitman was a great book, Pride And Joy was an excellent little story just waiting for a film (in the Peckinpah or Milius vein), War Stories is phenomenal and his Hellbalzer was damn near definitive.

I think Ennis may get boring if you only read superhero books, but if you venture out he's put out some real gems.

[howyadoin]

As long as he stays away from superheroes and company launch books (Pilgrim, Shadow Man) he's usually fine.
And I'm not a big fan of anything he does just for laughs (The Pro, Punisher, Goddess, Rifle Brigade).The Punisher is "just for laughs"?

Have you read any of it?

[FunkyGreenJerusalem]

The Punisher is "just for laughs"?

Have you read any of it?

'Welcome Back Frank' and the First trade of the ongoing.
Didn't see a reason to return.

Is the MAX version good?
I was considering the HC the other day.

[Subotai]

Definitely not too many laughs in Max Punny.

[Jack Zodiac]

Is the MAX version good?
I was considering the HC the other day.

I think Ennis's portrayal of Frank is the greatest version of him ever. It shakes off his ridiculous Eighties action movie aura and puts him in a more human position stalking mobsters, Russian gangsters and human slave trade rings. It's a very real, gritty Frank Castle, with some sporadic but deep characterization. Check out The Punisher: Born sometime, and The Tyger to see what I mean.

[FunkyGreenJerusalem]

I think Ennis's portrayal of Frank is the greatest version of him ever. It shakes off his ridiculous Eighties action movie aura and puts him in a more human position stalking mobsters, Russian gangsters and human slave trade rings. It's a very real, gritty Frank Castle, with some sporadic but deep characterization. Check out The Punisher: Born sometime, and The Tyger to see what I mean.

I picked up the first Max Punisher HC, and loved it.
Got two issues to go before the end of the 'Irish Kitchen' story, and I've already picked up 'Born' just so I don't have to stop.

[gorthon616]

Ennis tends to be a one-trick pony. I don't think that HE IS. But I think for whatever reason he is content to be one. He has written some really good stuff of varied styles, but 90% of the time it's the same old violence/pervision/humour bits. To be fair, most writers don't write "differently" and they acquire a certain style, but since his is very gimmicky, I makes him feel very much like a 1-trick pony.

[Subotai]

Can we get some specific examples?

[Mister Mets]

In the comments to my review of The Boys #1, Pol Rua posted:


What do you folks think? Think Pol is correct?

-Brian

nope.
Ennis's excellent work on Preacher, Hellblazer, and the MAX Punisher demonstrates that he's one of the best talents the industry's ever had.

He's written some shit books, and Dogs may one of them, but his best work constantly reminds the reader how surprising, shocking, relevant, and touching he can be.

[Bazooka Tooth]

I think if you can adapt to his style. You'll never get bored offit. But of course, that's how i look at it myself tho. Different strokes for different folks.

[trickster]

Ennis tends to use one syllable cuss words, or Irish variations thereof (feck, arse, shite), whereas Ellis uses polysyllabic made-up cuss words (shiteyes, fuckteeth etc...).
Easy peasy.

LOL, you just reminded of the Barracuda story from Punisher. "You were giving him a blow-job! - I had to distract him! -Funny how that was the first thing that popped into your head!"

[Guppy]

Saw this thread and signed up just to post. I've been a big Ennis fan since I picked up a copt of Hellblazer, in the early #50's (the one with the great Fabry cover of the demon head on the union jack.)

In response to him being one trick, that's so not true. A guy who has written so prodigiously for the last 15 years is gonna double up on ideas. And so what? Even his ideas that get recycled are still enjoyable. I love his no-bullsh!t writing style, great stories and plot twists, politcal incorrectness.

How can you say the guy who came up with the world's most pathetic super team, Section 8, as not being inventive or original? For god's sake one of its members welds dogs to people!

But I do chuckle whenever I read something of his I've seen before so many times. His most recurring themes would have to be (and chime in if I've missed any)

macho friendship
war stories
superhero bashing
vampires
irish themes/history
elite SAS/Delta-type wetwork squads
etc

Last, I'm not saying the man is Jesus or anything. Ghost Rider, The Darkness and that Witchblade mini series stank. Quite a bit of his stuff recently he's phoned in and seems to be doing for the cash. But again, a guy who's written, I dunno, somewhere around 450-500 comics (very rough guess), who wouldn't? And he's still doing stuff he wants to do as well has stuff he gets paid to do. Like Scorsese did in the 90's - "one for them, and one for me."

Oh, and one last thing, I've loved his work on the punisher. Recently I think he's stretching out a story that sould be 3 issues to 6 issues to get his money's worth, but the way he capitalised on the character's darker, psychopathic side is the best representation of the punisher since miller's writing in daredevil. I think the end panel of the first story arc in the current volume is the most I've ever been shocked reading a comic ever (yep, I was a die-hard Punisher fan back in the day)