Summary
- Like most successful authors, Garth Ennis struggled to find his voice and break into the industry when he was just starting out, but today he’s a standout example that can serve as inspiration for aspiring authors.
- In an interview with fellow author Mark Millar, Ennis talked about the challenges of breaking into the comic book industry and encouraged aspiring authors not to give up and to produce works even if they do not meet their own standards.
- Ennis emphasized the importance of continually producing work, even if it is far from perfect, in order to achieve a certain level of success as an artist or author.
It is a rare feat for a once-cancelled, creator-owned comic like The boys to become a global pop culture phenomenon. Appropriately, says the author of the series, Garth EnnisHis journey from writing a subversive anti-hero story for a small publisher to becoming the man behind one of the most popular superhero franchises has been a challenging but rewarding experience.
Ennis was a guest on his podcast with fellow comic Mark Millar. Millar time, in the run-up to the highly anticipated fourth season of The boysHaving known each other for decades, the conversation between Millar and Ennis moved at a rapid pace and covered a variety of topics, including Ennis’s account of the hardships of his early professional life.
It will be encouraging for any aspiring writer to hear that The creator of one of the biggest franchises in the world today, like all great artists, had difficulties at the beginning.
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Garth Ennis’ account of his formative years as a writer is encouraging for all artists at the beginning of their careers
The boys‘ Creator about his initial ups and downs
Although his writing may not have been great, Ennis noted that it was “
different enough from what was around him that it at least caught his attention.
”
During their conversation, Millar and Ennis talked about their first experiences as British writers entering the mainstream American comics industry and working for DC. The two agreed that the British influence on mainstream American comics was real and spectacular for a few short years. Millar then recounted how he developed admiration and respect for Ennis’ work, pointing in particular to Ennis’s development as a writer, which was reflected in his series. True Faithwhich Millar saw as a significant improvement over his previous work.
Millar’s comment gave Ennis the perfect opportunity to discuss his creative development and how – when he was just starting out – he did not feel he was writing anything of significance, impact or valueEnnis admitted:
I don’t think I wrote anything good for the first two or three years after I started… I felt like I was just muddling through.
Although his writing may not have been great, Ennis noted that it was “different enough from what was around him that it at least caught his attention.“While Ennis’s response is a polite retort to Millar’s compliment, it also contains a number of practical tips that other young writers and artists entering the comics business should take to heart.
True artistic greatness develops in those who keep showing up and doing the work
Growth takes time, especially for authors
As Ennis’ example shows, young authors and artists must not be upset about their lack of success, but must continue to produce new work – even if it is average at best.
In other words, no author or artist has already reached his or her peak at the beginning of his or her career; It will take some time for an author or artist to find what Ennis calls “the person they are meant to be.” Furthermore, it is common for a writer or artist to experience failure and subpar performance in the early stages of development. This is a normal step in the development process and not an experience that should discourage or upset one.
As Ennis’ example shows, young writers and artists should not dwell on their lack of success, but continue to consistently produce work – even if it is mediocre at best. Because, as Ennis mentions, content is the only way to get noticed – and getting noticed is the key to top-notch opportunities that launch careers. As with any creative endeavor, writing a successful comic takes much longer than you might expect. Garth EnnisIt took him years of writing mediocre stories until he finally wrote a masterpiece like The boys.
The boys
3.5
The Boys is a superhero/black comedy satire series created by Eric Kripke and based on the comic book series of the same name. It is set in a “what if” world where superheroes are worshipped as celebrities and gods who face minimal consequences for their actions. However, a group of vigilantes led by a vengeful man named Billy Butcher will fight back against these superpowered “heroes” to expose them for what they are.
- Character(s)
- Billy Butcher, Hughie Campbell, Homelander, Annie January, A-Train, Mother’s Milk, Kevin Moskowitz, Frenchie, Kimiko Miyashiro
- Release date
- 26 July 2019
- Franchise(s)
- The boys
