Seven Comics that Prove Garth Ennis is the Best Satirist in Comics

Irish scribe Garth Ennis is the architect behind some of the most iconic runs in comics history: Preacher, Hellblazer, Hitman and Punisher: MAX, to name a few. He wields a rare mastery of the single-issue story (like the classic rooftop conversation between Tommy Monaghan and Superman in Hitman #34) and the years-long arc (the aforementioned Preacher with the late, great Steve Dillon). Ennis’ catalogue sports a wide scope, but one approach dominates even as he surfs genres: he loves to write satires—particularly satires aimed at superheroes, a spandex-clad genre Ennis despises for its dominance of comics.

With Ennis launching a new spy spoof this week—Jimmy’s Bastards, with longtime collaborator Russell Braun for AfterShock—we look back at some of Ennis’ many ludicrous, hilarious, satirical comics.

Adventures in the Rifle Brigade
Artist: Carlos Ezquerra
Publisher: Image Comics

Ennis’ war comics have mostly been serious, like the recent Dreaming Eagles, a wonderful story about a black World War II veteran explaining his experience to his son during the Civil Rights movement. But Ennis’ superpower is taking the piss out of anything, and this series is a giddy dive into wartime shenanigans that would make Monty Python proud. There are only two three-issue arcs, but they’re both a hoot, particularly the second, which involves not only an elephant’s penis but Hitler’s lost bollock.

All-Star Section Eight and Sixpack and Dogwelder: Hard Travelin’ Heroz
Artists: John McCrea, Russ Braun
Publisher: DC Comics

Hitman ended [spoiler alert] with the demise of the title character, a rare, meaningful death that’s been left alone (so far). But the Gotham neighborhood of the Cauldron and the sleazy bar (appropriately called Noonan’s Sleazy Bar) have lived on in two ludicrous mini-series, the first illustrated by McCrea and the second by Braun. Sixpack—the portly, alcoholic, multi-stained loser perpetually wielding a broken bottle and yammering about crises—was always good for a bit of superhero comedy in Hitman, and he proves amusing enough to be a lead character. A highlight of the first series: Sixpack, chatting with Superman in the Fortress of Solitude, attempts to drink the bottle city of Kandor.

The Boys
Artists: Darick Robertson, Russ Braun, John McCrea, Peter Snejbjerg
Publisher: Dynamite, Wildstorm

The Boys is the most thorough decimation of the superhero genre by anyone, let alone by Ennis. The Boys are a CIA team meant to keep “supes” in check. This is an important task, since the supes in this world are a bunch of sexually predatory morons in the pocket of an evil corporation. The Boys features analogues of well-known capes aplenty, giving Ennis a chance to roast superheroes in a way their parent companies would never allow. Can you imagine DC greenlighting a story in which Robin walked in on Batman getting intimate with the Batmobile’s tailpipe? (In fact, the first six issues were originally published by a DC imprint before landing at publisher Dynamite.) Thanks to Tek-Night and Laddio, Ennis included this very plot point, which is one of the least disturbing incidents in this strong series. Ennis is so persuasive in his case against superheroes that he’ll make even the most rabid spandex-lover question their buying habits.