The Boys: The Name of the Game, #1 -- Garth Ennis & Darick Robertson

When I first picked this one up, I thought, "Wow, that guy really looks like Simon Pegg."

And then I opened it and saw that Simon Pegg had written the introduction to the collection.

Always nice to know that you're not imagining things, right?

(No, they didn't ask him if they could use his likeness. Happily, he was already a huge Garth Ennis fan, so it all worked out. Otherwise, I'd imagine that it could have gotten ugly. More about the Simon Pegg connection here, which is also where I picked up the image on the left.)

So, from what I've gleaned from this first issue (and from Simon Pegg's intro), The Boys is about a group of people who, you know, "watches the Watchmen", as it were. They keep an eye on superheroes, both as a way of making sure they don't suddenly decide to, like, quit saving the world and start taking it over AND to do some superhero head-stomping when it's called for.

In this, the first issue, we're introduced to Butcher, who heads up the team, and to Wee Hughie (Simon Pegg), who, I suspect, is going to be made a member in the next issue.

And what, you ask, would inspire someone to join such a group? Well, how about witnessing the your one true love become Superhero Collateral Damage in a HIDEOUSLY HORRIBLE WAY? Because that's what happens to Wee Hughie (and his girlfriend) in this issue.

Artwork? It's not, like, my fave ever—and I think it's something about the coloring that's throwing me, rather than the illustrations—but I like it well enough. It's realistic and cinematic, and there are a lot of visual jokes and clues about what's going on. (Which is necessary in a book like this, as you're just dropped into the action and expected to catch up. Translation: there is very little exposition. Unlike certain other books.)

Storyline? If you've read Garth Ennis before, then you'll know the sort of thing to expect. If not, I have six words for you: hyper-violent; raunchy sex; creatively profane. If any of those things makes you the least bit unsure, I'd say to give it a miss. 

Not sure what I mean by that? Example! (My apologies in advance for any swooning.) The book opens with a super-gruesome shot of a superhero's head being stomped. The very first line of the book reads: "I'm gonna fuckin' have you. You cunt." And then, a couple of scenes later, Butcher has some (consensual) exceedingly raunchy sex with a woman who dislikes him thoroughly.

But, it should be mentioned, of course, that like Garth Ennis' other books, The Boys is also smart and darkly hilarious. So, not for everyone, but in the right hands, it'll be a lovefest.

Keep going? Oh, yes.