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The Boys (Single Issues)
The Boys #1
Dynamite Entertainment never actually had the honor of publishing issue #1 of the Boys (we started with #7), but now we're going to do it!
24 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 28, 2009
6 people are currently reading
113 people want to read
About the author
Garth Ennis
2,630 books3,190 followersEnnis began his comic-writing career in 1989 with the series Troubled Souls. Appearing in the short-lived but critically-acclaimed British anthology Crisis and illustrated by McCrea, it told the story of a young, apolitical Protestant man caught up by fate in the violence of the Irish 'Troubles'. It spawned a sequel, For a Few Troubles More, a broad Belfast-based comedy featuring two supporting characters from Troubled Souls, Dougie and Ivor, who would later get their own American comics series, Dicks, from Caliber in 1997, and several follow-ups from Avatar.
Another series for Crisis was True Faith, a religious satire inspired by his schooldays, this time drawn by Warren Pleece. Ennis shortly after began to write for Crisis' parent publication, 2000 AD. He quickly graduated on to the title's flagship character, Judge Dredd, taking over from original creator John Wagner for a period of several years.
Ennis' first work on an American comic came in 1991 when he took over DC Comics's horror title Hellblazer, which he wrote until 1994, and for which he currently holds the title for most issues written. Steve Dillon became the regular artist during the second half of Ennis's run.
Ennis' landmark work to date is the 66-issue epic Preacher, which he co-created with artist Steve Dillon. Running from 1995 to 2000, it was a tale of a preacher with supernatural powers, searching (literally) for God who has abandoned his creation.
While Preacher was running, Ennis began a series set in the DC universe called Hitman. Despite being lower profile than Preacher, Hitman ran for 60 issues (plus specials) from 1996 to 2001, veering wildly from violent action to humour to an examination of male friendship under fire.
Other comic projects Ennis wrote during this time period include Goddess, Bloody Mary, Unknown Soldier, and Pride & Joy, all for DC/Vertigo, as well as origin stories for The Darkness for Image Comics and Shadowman for Valiant Comics.
After the end of Hitman, Ennis was lured to Marvel Comics with the promise from Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada that he could write The Punisher as long as he cared to. Instead of largely comical tone of these issues, he decided to make a much more serious series, re-launched under Marvel's MAX imprint.
In 2001 he briefly returned to UK comics to write the epic Helter Skelter for Judge Dredd.
Other comics Ennis has written include War Story (with various artists) for DC; The Pro for Image Comics; The Authority for Wildstorm; Just a Pilgrim for Black Bull Press, and 303, Chronicles of Wormwood (a six issue mini-series about the Antichrist), and a western comic book, Streets of Glory for Avatar Press.
In 2008 Ennis ended his five-year run on Punisher MAX to debut a new Marvel title, War Is Hell: The First Flight of the Phantom Eagle.
In June 2008, at Wizard World, Philadelphia, Ennis announced several new projects, including a metaseries of war comics called Battlefields from Dynamite made up of mini-series including Night Witches, Dear Billy and Tankies, another Chronicles of Wormwood mini-series and Crossed both at Avatar, a six-issue miniseries about Butcher (from The Boys) and a Punisher project reuniting him with artist Steve Dillon (subsequently specified to be a weekly mini-series entitled Punisher: War Zone, to be released concurrently with the film of the same name).
Taken from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garth_Ennis
Another series for Crisis was True Faith, a religious satire inspired by his schooldays, this time drawn by Warren Pleece. Ennis shortly after began to write for Crisis' parent publication, 2000 AD. He quickly graduated on to the title's flagship character, Judge Dredd, taking over from original creator John Wagner for a period of several years.
Ennis' first work on an American comic came in 1991 when he took over DC Comics's horror title Hellblazer, which he wrote until 1994, and for which he currently holds the title for most issues written. Steve Dillon became the regular artist during the second half of Ennis's run.
Ennis' landmark work to date is the 66-issue epic Preacher, which he co-created with artist Steve Dillon. Running from 1995 to 2000, it was a tale of a preacher with supernatural powers, searching (literally) for God who has abandoned his creation.
While Preacher was running, Ennis began a series set in the DC universe called Hitman. Despite being lower profile than Preacher, Hitman ran for 60 issues (plus specials) from 1996 to 2001, veering wildly from violent action to humour to an examination of male friendship under fire.
Other comic projects Ennis wrote during this time period include Goddess, Bloody Mary, Unknown Soldier, and Pride & Joy, all for DC/Vertigo, as well as origin stories for The Darkness for Image Comics and Shadowman for Valiant Comics.
After the end of Hitman, Ennis was lured to Marvel Comics with the promise from Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada that he could write The Punisher as long as he cared to. Instead of largely comical tone of these issues, he decided to make a much more serious series, re-launched under Marvel's MAX imprint.
In 2001 he briefly returned to UK comics to write the epic Helter Skelter for Judge Dredd.
Other comics Ennis has written include War Story (with various artists) for DC; The Pro for Image Comics; The Authority for Wildstorm; Just a Pilgrim for Black Bull Press, and 303, Chronicles of Wormwood (a six issue mini-series about the Antichrist), and a western comic book, Streets of Glory for Avatar Press.
In 2008 Ennis ended his five-year run on Punisher MAX to debut a new Marvel title, War Is Hell: The First Flight of the Phantom Eagle.
In June 2008, at Wizard World, Philadelphia, Ennis announced several new projects, including a metaseries of war comics called Battlefields from Dynamite made up of mini-series including Night Witches, Dear Billy and Tankies, another Chronicles of Wormwood mini-series and Crossed both at Avatar, a six-issue miniseries about Butcher (from The Boys) and a Punisher project reuniting him with artist Steve Dillon (subsequently specified to be a weekly mini-series entitled Punisher: War Zone, to be released concurrently with the film of the same name).
Taken from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garth_Ennis
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
October 20, 2019
As I don't live in US my introduction to graphic novels has been very less and late and though I loved Preacher I only came to know about this series when I came to know about the series and if you read my reviews then you already know that I prefer to read the source material before watching the adaptation so I watched first episode of the series and I have just read the first issue and I can tell that the show is much more changed and I loved the effects and style of the show but obviously since drawing is cheaper than animation the writers can go wild with the graphics and Garth sure did go wild in the very first issue. And I am eagerly waiting to read the entire series now.
I have always loved comics, and I hope that I will always love them. Even though I grew up reading local Indian comics like Raj Comics or Diamond Comics or even Manoj Comics, now's the time to catch up on the international and classic comics and Graphic novels. I am on my quest to read as many comics I can. I Love comics to bit, may comics never leave my side. I loved reading this and love reading more, you should also read what you love and then just Keep on Reading.
I have always loved comics, and I hope that I will always love them. Even though I grew up reading local Indian comics like Raj Comics or Diamond Comics or even Manoj Comics, now's the time to catch up on the international and classic comics and Graphic novels. I am on my quest to read as many comics I can. I Love comics to bit, may comics never leave my side. I loved reading this and love reading more, you should also read what you love and then just Keep on Reading.
November 8, 2021
Finally got the gall to check this series out. Thought I’d hate it, but dang, does it pull you in. I think this series is going to be a nice antidote to the superhero fatigue of 2021.
April 4, 2025
An interesting twist to the usual formula
December 30, 2019
Ni muy muy, ni tan tan...
April 9, 2021
I'm blaming this on Marvel in a roundabout way (or more like the new Captain America who everyone is comparing to one of the super powered assholes in this series??). It's pretty much everything you wouldn't expect in a superhero comic series and I'm interested so far. The idea of superheroes becoming sort of uncaring in the collateral damage they cause has always been an interesting point to me so here we are. So far it's gross, tragic, and something I don't see myself reading all of them but what the heck here we go.
October 11, 2022
Fantastic concept, not overly enamored with the execution or the art style. (Biased by having recently started the TV series, which has just an incredible pilot and feels very aesthetically slick.) I don't think I'll continue with the series unless I can get my hands on multiple comics/volumes at once, since this felt pretty thin for a single issue.
September 1, 2019
I expected this to be gross but it's already exceeded expectations. Clearly this comic was not written for "the females of the species".
December 15, 2019
C'est moins impressionnant quand on a vu la série en premier, mais j'étais curieuse!
September 22, 2025
The TV show is better. I'm reading to pad out my Goodreads quota for the year.
December 31, 2024
upuzun bir seriye başlıyorum şans dileyin
October 8, 2019
I have watched the first season of The Boys on Amazon prime and I liked it very much so I borrowed these comics from Amazon hoping that Ennis had finally come back to write good stories again, and I am glad I have not bought it because although that this book inspired the series it is not nearly as good and the main reason is that Ennis is not a good writer anymore. His characters are all cynical bastards or naive people ready to be preyed by the first type. He hates the establishment, Christians, and Republicans. I liked everything he wrote for Hellblazer and the first 12 issues of Preacher and although his cynical view was present there it was very well written and creative.
Fortunately, the series didn't follow his stupid insights on religion and the human race. Very happy to not read this and will look forward to the show.
Fortunately, the series didn't follow his stupid insights on religion and the human race. Very happy to not read this and will look forward to the show.
July 5, 2025
The Boys #1
This debut issue hits hard — literally and emotionally. Hughie’s life is shattered in one shocking moment, and the tone is set: superheroes aren’t gods, they’re corporate disasters in capes. The violence is graphic, but it serves a purpose. You feel Hughie’s pain, and the rage that drives Butcher. That said, the cynicism might be a bit much for some. It’s dark, even for a “dark comic.”
This debut issue hits hard — literally and emotionally. Hughie’s life is shattered in one shocking moment, and the tone is set: superheroes aren’t gods, they’re corporate disasters in capes. The violence is graphic, but it serves a purpose. You feel Hughie’s pain, and the rage that drives Butcher. That said, the cynicism might be a bit much for some. It’s dark, even for a “dark comic.”
July 7, 2021
WARNING: This is a mature reader comic. It has strong violence, graphic language and adult content.
What it is about: This comic is about the worst people being "superheroes" and 5 people who wants to take them down.
What I think of it:Honestly this is a pretty great start.
Rating: 9.50/10
What it is about: This comic is about the worst people being "superheroes" and 5 people who wants to take them down.
What I think of it:Honestly this is a pretty great start.
Rating: 9.50/10
January 29, 2025
My friend Brian drew the line in the sand..."I will never give you another piece of pizza unless you read this issue right now!" Truth be told, I am way overdue - this book has been on my TBR list for years - and now I have read it! Really intense...very graphic sex and violence. This will probably be a 'binge' series for me in the near future.
September 28, 2023
One of the very few examples of the adaptation being better than the source material. This series felt solidly in the "wouldn't it be fucked up if superman was bad?" Line of thought and not going too much further. Still worth reading. I think it has a place in comics history, just didn't feel fleshed out enough for me. Didn't finish the whole series though
May 18, 2020
Not much really happens, a pretty basic intro to a series, let's see where the rest of it takes up but not the most gripping of starts.
August 5, 2022
Preview digital con el capítulo 1 completo.
October 11, 2020
Interesting beginning.
November 17, 2021
Edición digital promocional del Issue #1 en edición argentina: "El nombre del juego, parte uno".
June 27, 2022
Nulla di entusiasmante, per chi ha già visto la serie tv. Immagino che se non avessi già conosciuto questa parte della storia sarebbe stata una lettura shockante
August 8, 2022
3.5 stars.It was interesting.The concept of the superheros not being totally good was really cool.
January 31, 2025
If you have watched the show and like to find out more,blood,gore and other stuff …..then here you are.
July 19, 2024
Down The comic hole
August 3, 2024
Za darmo w internecie to uczciwa cena
October 27, 2024
Remaining cautiously optimistic about this one. I have watched a couple episodes of the show, but I'm not sure yet how I feel. We will see.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews