Created on September 8, 2012 and written by MQuannBoyd
Category: Comic Book Reviews, Dynamite Entertainment Reviews

Rating: 4/5

Publisher Name: Dynamite Entertainment

Publisher Website: www.dynamite.net

Writer: Garth Ennis

Artist: Russ Braun

Colorist: Tony Aviña

Number of Pages: 32

Price: 3.99

Safety Content Label: Mature

“The Bloody Doors Off” Part Five

Publisher’s Blurb:

On his own and out of options, Hughie resorts to extreme measures to keep himself in the game. Meanwhile, as vengeful forces close in from all around, Bradley considers a drastic step of her own- but will Stillwell allow her to get away with it? Butcher asks the big questions and Hughie finds out one last secret of his own, as The Bloody Doors Off races towards its fateful conclusion.

Reviewers Comments:

I’ve read a lot of Garth Ennis comics in my day. Probably more than the law allows. From Hellbrazer, to Preacher and even The Authority for good measure and the true of the matter is I’ve digested my share of the Irishman’s stories. However, despite all of that, I find myself surprised that I’m surprised when Ennis writes something in the script that’s off-kilter. Reading a Ennis penned story is akin to listening to Kool Keith.

The Bronx emcee’s discography includes titles such as Dr. Octagonecologyst, Sex Styles and Black Elvis/Lost In Space. Fans and critics of Kool Keith would agree his lyrics are often abstract, surreal, filled with juvenile humor and his graphic style leads to sexual themes as naturally as the word ‘arse’ is in an Ennis comic. After further review, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Hitman scribe of and Ultramagnetic MCs alum are one in the same.

Anyway, the point of the diatribe is that too much Ennis—or Kool Keith for that matter—can lead to mental rot. Like say, quoting from either artist in social setting: baby shower, in front of significant others mother’s, remotely anywhere in the vicinity of a church, mosque, temple, synagogue…

As unforeseen as Kool Keith and Ice-T collaborating on an album, Ennis and artist, Russ Braun’s, picks up issue #70 moments after the “explosive” ending of the previous issue. In the penultimate of “The Bloody Doors Off”, the CIA-backed team is now a one-man operation. Wee Hughie has a few decisions to make which leads to a few places that are hmm… questionable… in a good way?

Issue #70 has one of those Dear-Lord-why-am-I-reading-this-comic-on-a-packed-bus-while-sitting-next-to-an-elder-woman-while-going-to-work moments, as there is the first time meeting between Wee Hughie and Mrs. Milk. To say exactly what transpires between the two would spoil the fun in finding out for yourself… and I’ll leave it at that.

Aside from a few things that should be talked about in small huddles, away from minors, issue #70 finally pits Wee Hughie and Billy Butcher. It would seem that since the series inception, this moment has been bubbling under the surface. If I had one wish, the former friends would have kicked, bit and punched a bit more.

Overall, issue #70 of The Boys continues the tradition of Garth Ennis shock and awe that includes a few uncomfortable laughs thrown in for good measure. If I weren’t already fully invested in the series before, this particular issue–which outs Butcher as a logically flawed sympathetic villain–makes a strong case for re-read. I shutter to think of what may occur in next month’s swan song for “The Bloody Doors Off”, but as long as Garth Ennis is at the helm, we all can expect something that would make Kool Keith proud.

 

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About the Writer: MQuannBoyd (34 Posts) M. Quann Boyd has published two fiction short stories, “The Love Movement” and “Hate... Reasons to be Happy,” and a non-fiction research article, “Hip-Hop of the Gods: the Five Percent Nation's Influence on Rap Music.” Recently, M. Quann Boyd has been a contributor to XboxExclusive.com with reviews including: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Spider-Man: Edge of Time and LA Noire. Currently he writes the blog, 3hree's Man Cave and the soon to be released Blossoming Bushido.

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