GARTH ENNIS ON ‘THE BOYS’
Ennis talks origins, events and future plans for the
superhero-hunting conglomerate.

It’s a big month for “The Boys” over at Dynamite with Issue #36 wrapping up the origin story of fan-favorite character Mother’s Milk, the first-ever crossover event “The Boys: Herogasm” reaching its final issue and the limited edition anniversary hardcover hitting shelves. With all of our questions, there was only one man to turn to: comic book legend and master writer Garth Ennis. We’ve picked his brain about the upcoming origin stories of the Frenchman and The Female, the consequences of “Herogasm” and his new work on Dynamite’s “Battlefields” – and even the possibility of other major events in the future of “The Boys”.

Issue #36 of “The Boys” is the conclusion of the two-issue arc of Mother's Milk's origin story. What has it been like getting to reveal the origin of this character?

Ennis: Enjoyed it. A quieter, more restrained story, in keeping with MM's methodical nature. He's the heart of the team, in a lot of ways.

Many fans up to this point have seen the role of Mother's Milk as the group's most goodhearted member of the team. However, in his origin story, readers have learned that his personal past is teeming with tragedy. How will his past come into play in future arcs?

Ennis: Only in the sense that it formed his personality. There'll be references to what we've seen in #35-36, but I don't know that we'll be revisiting it much- except, maybe, the Brooklyn Bridge sequence.

The next two issues of “The Boys” will touch on the origin of two of the most popular members of the team, The Frenchman in Issue #37 and The Female in Issue #38. It's obvious that these are two characters you enjoy writing - what has it been like to reveal what makes them tick?

Ennis: A lot of fun. Frenchie's crazy up to a point, but he is ultimately a rational person who can relate cause and effect. With the Female, all bets are off.

Will we finally get to hear The Female speak in her origin story?

Ennis: Nope.

What about The Frenchman? He's not as certifiable as The Female, but he's certainly got a few screws loose - will we get to see what pushed him over the edge?

Ennis: As you'll see from the story, he's always been that way, although you do get to see him start out on the path that led him to The Boys. When you see his background, you'll realize he's always had one foot in a very strange place, mentally speaking.

In addition to the origin stories, “The Boys: Herogasm” hits its final issue ending the first ever crossover event for the series. Now that the first ever crossover is ending, what kinds of consequences will this have for the series proper?

Ennis: You'll see the Homelander get closer and closer to the destiny he's  been denying up to this point- or at least that's how he might see it.  You'll see Hughie dealing with the fallout from his encounter with Black Noir. Further down the line, the secrets that the Boys uncovered regarding the 9/11 disaster will begin to come to the fore.

Do you think there's another event in the future of The Boys? If so, will it be on the same level as Herogasm?

Ennis: In terms of more miniseries, no, the other two will feature Hughie and then Butcher in their own origin stories and will be more introspective - though Butcher's in particular will be a doozy, as I've said before. In terms of scope, there'll be stuff coming up that will make “Herogasm” look like a quiet night out. The next time the world's supes get together, they won't be out for fun and games.

Readers will also get a chance to revisit the first arc of “The Boys” or read it for the first time with the limited edition hardcover coming out this week commemorating Dynamite's 5th Anniversary. The Limited Edition Hardcover has 50 pages of additional bonus materials. Looking back to the first arc, is there anything you wish you could change or would do differently?

Ennis: Probably should have taken it to Dynamite in the first place. Then again, all that free publicity didn't exactly hurt.

What's in store for “The Boys” following “Herogasm” and the next few issues of origin stories?

Ennis: Next is Frenchie, then it's the Female. After that we begin the next arc, "The Innocents", which is four issues preceded by a prologue.  That has some of the threads from the first three years of the book starting to unravel, as Hughie's romance with Annie January takes centre-stage. It also features something that few people thought they'd ever see in The Boys- genuinely good superheroes. The real thing.

In addition to “The Boys”, you've also got the return of “Battlefields” coming down the line next month. It seems like a very different experience than “The Boys” - how has the experience been for you writing historical fiction? What do you think your fans will be most excited about for the title?

Ennis: “Battlefields” represents the best work I'm capable of and the stories I enjoy writing above all others. This second series features the return of The Night Witches and The Tankies, both drawn by their original creators, Russ Braun and Carlos Ezquerra, and a new story called “Happy Valley”, about an Australian bomber crew operating over Germany in 1942- that's drawn by PJ Holden, a talented British artist. Check 'em out.

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