THE BOYS ENDS AT WILDSTORM

[MattBrady]

Newsarama has learned that Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson’s Wildstorm series, The Boys has been cancelled by DC, effective with issue #6 of the series, which is currently on shelves. Issues #7-#10, as well as the trade collection – all of which have been solicited – will not ship.

DC declined to comment on the series or even confirm that the series has indeed, been canceled.

The series sales appear to have been healthy enough, with issue #6 seeing an estimated 27,000 copies shipping to stores in December, placing it at #81 on Diamond’s Top 300 list. For that month, only two other Wildstorm titles sold more copies, Gen13 and Midnighter. August’s issue #1 saw an estimated 31,000 copies sold.

The series was announced with much hoopla at last spring’s WizardWorld LA, and was heralded by Ennis here on Newsarama as the book that would “out-Preacher Preacher.” The phrase was later picked up and used on promotional posters for the series from DC, who saw it as part of the Wildstorm revitalization.

Robertson had perhaps the most succinct description of the series, saying: “The Boys are a team of five super-powered operatives who work for a secret department within the U.S. government. It's their job to monitor and investigate superhero behavior, they gather intelligence- i.e. dirt- on them, and occasionally to use it against them. Just as the C.I.A. has had a use for the Mafia, Sadaam Hussein, and Columbia's FARC terrorists (to name a few), so they also need superheroes. Sometimes they need them on a leash. Sometimes they have to put them down. The Boys are the people who do the job.”

When the series launched, readers found that little of what Ennis and Robertson was saying was hyperbole. The series was violent, rude, crude, and…essentially, what you’d expect if you put Ennis and Robertson together in a room with superheroes.

The series was clearly in crescendo mode in regards to content, and this was clearly seen in issue #6 when, after a super-powered individual was accidentally killed by Hughie, a hamster crawled out of…his backside.

While DC has published graphic violence, sexual situations, and individuals who prefer the ruder and cruder side of life (much of it with Ennis’ name attached) in the past, it has also, on a handful of occasions, pulled material from a comic it felt crossed the line. Again, DC declined to comment on the reasons behind the series cancellation. If the series was cancelled because the publisher felt it was too over the top, The Boys would be in rare company, joining Marvel/Epic’s Void Indigo by Steve Gerber and Val Mayerik, which only saw one issue published before it was ended, due to content issues.

On a purely speculative note, The Boys is a creator-owned property, jointly owned by Ennis and Robertson. After his series, Fallen Angel was cancelled by DC, co-creator of the property Peter David was able to regain the property and move it to IDW, where it has been published since.

When contacted by Newsarama about the situation with the series, Robertson replied:

"The Boys has been canceled effectively with issue #6.

"It became obvious that DC was not the right home for The Boys. DC is being good about reverting our rights so we can find a new publisher and we're in the process of doing that now. I'm continuing to work exclusively for DC in the meantime. I want to thank Scott Dunbier and Ben Abernathy at Wildstorm for all their hard work."

[Arvandor]

Not even a trade? Weird.

[RoiVampire]

why is it being canceled if the sales seem healthy?

[DAV!S]

Who did this? Where do they live? How can I do them the most amount of pain?

The Boys is probably my second favourite title of the past year

[saiyanspider]

I got the distinct impression that these guys aren't fans of the Super Hero genre HAHA

[DreamKing]

This makes me sad. I was really enjoying this series.

Why do this, DC?

[eltopo]

I'm so pissed I love this freakin book

[LaughingJak]

As ridiculous as it is - i can't imagine the hampster was the straw that broke the camel's back on this one....

[bossofbam]

As Wildstorm puts out crap like the Worldstorm books, the Boys quickly became one of my favorite books...why on earth would they cancel such a good series?

[BillReed]

____in' bizarre.

[GOSD]

WTF?!?!?



Just when this series was getting revved up.

Jesus Christ!!!

[Punchy]

WTF?

Bad form DC, bad form.

[amlah6]

Can't wait to give my money to another publisher to read this book.

[Erikcrusade]

Wow. Just....wow.

[GuitarSmashley]

well now we wait for another publisher to put it out. Avatar I'm looking in your direction.

[Black Beetle]

What the hell? It was starting to become one of my favorites. Hopefully they get the book started back up elsewhere.

[Ironhorse]

Originally Posted by DAV!S

Who did this? Where do they live? How can I do them the most amount of pain?

The Boys is probably my second favourite title of the past year

I'm with you man, just let me find my bat with barbwire in it. On the serious side, this is a fu%$&ng shame, along with the delays of Wildcats and Authority, Wildstorm is in fact dead for me, well, except for Midnighter, but if this means that Ennis could be out of the book soon, then bye, bye Wildstorm, see you in hell.

[bishop-m]

I had a feeling that DC wasn't going to be publishing this book for long. It was probably too "over the top" for them. I hope it finds a new home soon...i'll be awaiting further issues...

[deathmasterj]

Bugger, i was waiting for the trade on this one as it looked right up my street! Fingers crossed someone else picks it up!

[Mr Wesley]

Just think about this... if they published the bit with the hamster, how extreme do you think the following issues would be.

I think Lee, Levitz and the suits just got cold feet. I'm sure The Boys will land somewhere where the title will thrive. Not to jump on the bandwagon with Fallen Angel, but IDW might be a good home for it.

[Shoeface]

That ____ing sucks.

[tralfaz]

i think everyone that buys the book deserves an explanation. all buyers should write letters to DC

I DEMAND AN EXPLANATION DC

[DreamKing]

Originally Posted by amlah6

Can't wait to give my money to another publisher to read this book.

I'm hoping that Ennis and Robertson do take it somewhere else. IDW, Image, wherever. I want more of The Boys, dammit.

[Uchiha_Prodigy]

What the heck is wrong with Wildstorm??? First they put Morrison on two books and have them delayed for months, and now they cancel The Boys?? Wow, now my whole week is ruined.

[DAV!S]

Originally Posted by GuitarSmashley

well now we wait for another publisher to put it out. Avatar I'm looking in your direction.

No thanks, I want it to ship.