Garth Ennis

Garth Ennis is an Irish-born comics writer known for his dark, comedic and explicit stories about superheroes, crime, and war. He is best known for creating the popular comic book series Preacher, as well as Marvel’s The Punisher, Hellblazer, and The Boys.

Ennis was born in Holywood, Northern Ireland in 1970, where he grew up in a strictly religious household. His parents were conservative Protestants and held strong convictions, so Garth’s love of comics and horror stories brought forth significant disapproval from them.

Ennis's first published comics story was in Fleetway's Crisis magazine in 1988. While at Crisis, he began writing professional comics for a variety of publications such as 2000AD, Warrior and Crisis as a freelancer. His early works included the comics Troubled Souls and True Faith, both set in Belfast during the Irish Troubles.

His breakout moment came in 1994 when Marvel Comics published his work, Hellblazer, which was based on the DC comic character John Constantine. Hellblazer ran for nearly two hundred issues, becoming one of the longest-running series from the UK. He then moved on to write for DC Comics, creating the popular series Preacher, co-created with artist Steve Dillon. The series tells the story of an unlikely trio – Jesse Custer, Cassidy, and Tulip – as they search for God in the American heartland. The series was adapted into a TV series by AMC in 2016.

Ennis' work is known for its masterful combination of dark comedy and violence, as well as its exploration of philosophical and moral themes. He is also known for his unapologetic representation of antiheroes who grapple with the complexities of life, such as the contemplative nature of vigilantism in The Punisher, or the way war and religion affect humanity in The Boys. His stories have shaped the landscape of comics, inspiring future generations of writers.

Ennis's other notable works include Hit-Girl, Jennifer Blood, War Stories, and A Train Called Love. He has also written several novels, including The Big Thaw and Most Wanted, both of which are set in Los Angeles. In 2020, Ennis released the book Lone Riders, a post-apocalyptic fantasy epic about a group of survivers in a world overrun by zombies.

Garth Ennis’s work has had a profound influence on the comics industry. From his classic runs on Hellblazer to his iconic work on Preacher, Ennis has made a lasting impression on the comics industry. With his eye for creating complex and compelling stories, he has managed to make a huge impact on the medium in his 30-plus years of writing comics.