Butcher, Baker, Candlestickmaker | |
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Publication information | |
Publisher | Dynamite Entertainment |
Format | Limited series |
Genre | |
Publication date | July 20 – December 21, 2011 |
No. of issues | 6 |
Creative team | |
Created by | Garth Ennis [1] [2] Darick Robertson |
Written by | Garth Ennis |
Artist(s) | Darick Robertson |
Penciller(s) | Darick Robertson |
Inker(s) | Darick Robertson |
Letterer(s) | Simon Bowland |
Colorist(s) | Tony Aviña |
Collected editions | |
Butcher, Baker, Candlestickmaker | ISBN 978-1784537487 |
Butcher, Baker, Candlestickmaker is a six-issue comic book limited series by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson. Originally published as a spin-off of The Boys, set between issues #59 and #60, following villain protagonist Billy Butcher as he attends his father's funeral before thinking back on his origin story, serving in the Royal Marines, fighting in the Falklands War, meeting and then losing his wife Becky Saunders, and joining the CIA and in-turn the Supe-focused black ops group The Boys following her death. Butcher, Baker, Candlestickmaker was collected in trade paperback in March 2012 as the tenth volume of The Boys, as The Boys: Butcher, Baker, Candlestickmaker. [3]
Butcher, Baker, Candlestickmaker was adapted as the seventh episode of the second season of the Amazon Prime Video streaming television adaptation of The Boys , with John Noble and Lesley Nicol portraying Sam and Connie Butcher, [4] [5] [6] as well as to the third season episode "Here Comes a Candle to Light You to Bed", with Jack Fulton portraying Lenny Butcher.
Following the death of his estranged father, after attending his funeral, Billy Butcher begins talking to his corpse about his time spent serving in the Royal Marines, fighting in the Falklands War, from the heights of love to the depths of tragedy, revealing the terrible nature of the forces that drive him. [7] [8] [9]
In 1982, on the desolate Falkland Islands, young Royal Marine Billy Butcher finds his calling. On the war's end, he begins to indulge his love of conflict in civilian life, leaving it locked on a grim course until an unexpected source brings him a chance at salvation. [10]
Finding love with Becky Saunders, turning his life away from one of crime, Billy Butcher explores a life of joy. [11] [12]
Over the course of two years, Billy Butcher set up home in 1980s Britain under the reign of Margaret Thatcher, living with Becky, before she suddenly grows distant, and months later, gives birth to a Supe baby, the process of which kills her. On seeing this, Billy beats the baby to death. [13] [14] [15] [16]
Arrested for Becky's murder, Billy Butcher is recruited from solitary confinement to the CIA by Colonel Mallory, and on reading his wife's diary, believes he has discovered the identity of the one responsible for her pregnancy and subsequent death. [17] [18]
Beginning a new life in America, which turns out to mean life ending for a good many unsuspecting superheroes. Billy Butcher embraces his destiny as the enforcer of keeping Supes in-line as part of the CIA black ops group "The Boys". [19]
Issue # | Publication date | Critic rating | Critic reviews | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | July 2011 | 8.0/10 | 4 | [20] |
2 | August 2011 | 6.8/10 | 2 | [21] |
3 | September 2011 | 7.5/10 | 3 | [22] |
4 | October 2011 | 8.8/10 | 4 | [23] |
5 | November 2011 | 7.7/10 | 3 | [24] |
6 | April 2012 | 5.0/10 | 1 | [25] |
Overall | 7.3/10 | 17 | [26] |
Title | Material collected | Published date | ISBN |
---|---|---|---|
The Boys: Butcher, Baker, Candlestickmaker | Butcher, Baker, Candlestickmaker #1–6 | March 7, 2012 [27] | ISBN 1-60690-264-4 |
The Boys: Definitive Edition 5 | The Big Ride (The Boys #48–59) + Butcher, Baker, Candlestickmaker [28] | July 9, 2013 | ISBN 1-60690-412-4 |
In September 2020, Eric Kripke, the showrunner of the Amazon Prime Video streaming television adaptation of The Boys, confirmed that Butcher, Baker, Candlestickmaker would be adapted as the seventh episode of the series' second season (starring Karl Urban as Billy Butcher), featuring John Noble and Lesley Nicol portraying Sam and Connie Butcher, characters introduced in Butcher, Baker, Candlestickmaker. [4] Unlike the source material in which Sam Butcher is depicted as having died, and Billy Butcher returning for his funeral, Billy returns to find his mother had lied to him about his father's death, in an attempt to have the two reconcile before his father actually dies. [29] [30] In addition, Butcher's family history from the series is adapted to the third season episode "Here Comes a Candle to Light You to Bed", with Jack Fulton portraying Lenny Butcher. [31] [32]
Preacher is an American comic book series published from 1995 to 2000 by Vertigo, an imprint of DC Comics. The series was created by writer Garth Ennis and artist Steve Dillon, with painted covers by Glenn Fabry.
John McCrea is a comic book artist best known for his collaborations with writer Garth Ennis.
Darick W. Robertson is an American artist best known for his work as a comic book illustrator on series he co-created, notably Transmetropolitan (1997–2002) and The Boys.
The Boys is an adult superhero comic book series, written by Garth Ennis and co-created, designed, and illustrated by Darick Robertson. The first volume was published by WildStorm, which canceled it after six issues; the series was picked up by Dynamite Entertainment, which published the following eight volumes: Get Some, Good for the Soul, We Gotta Go Now, The Self-Preservation Society, The Innocents, The Big Ride, Over the Hill with the Swords of a Thousand Men, and The Bloody Doors Off. Debuting in October 2006, the series concluded in November 2012 after 72 issues were published. In the fourth volume, the series is revealed to be set in the same fictional universe as Ennis' previous 1995–2000 DC Vertigo series, Preacher, with former vampire Proinsias Cassidy cameoing as a bartender. Three 6-issue spin-off limited series were also produced during the series' original run: Herogasm, Highland Laddie, and Butcher, Baker, Candlestickmaker, with an 8-issue epilogue series, Dear Becky, published from June–December 2020.
Midnighter is an American comic book series published by WildStorm, first issued in November 2006. It is a spin-off from The Authority, a superhero team comic book created by Warren Ellis and Bryan Hitch, and follows the solo adventures of Midnighter, "the greatest tactician in the history of mankind". The first six issues were written by Garth Ennis, followed by three issues made by different writers; the last eleven final issues were written by Keith Giffen. Midnighter ended with its twentieth issue, followed by the limited series Number of the Beast. The series is also known as Midnighter to differentiate itself from the character's 12-issue latter series first published by DC Comics in 2015.
The Homelander is a fictional character and one of the main antagonists in the comic book series The Boys and the media franchise of the same name, created by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson. He is depicted as a psychopathic and sadistic narcissist who serves as the extremely powerful leader of The Seven—a group of corrupt and hedonistic superheroes grown and funded by Vought-American—and the archenemy of Billy Butcher. Beneath his public image as a noble and altruistic hero, the Homelander cares little about the well-being of those he professes to protect. Described as the living personification of how the world sees America, the character has received critical acclaim along with Starr's portrayal in the series. Homelander has also been compared to Superman and Captain America.
William J. "Billy" Butcher is a fictional character and antihero appearing in the comic book series The Boys, created by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson. He is the leader of The Boys, a group of CIA-sponsored black ops agents who observe, record and sometimes eliminate superheroes artificially created by the mega-conglomerate Vought. He is the Homelander's archenemy, whom he blames for the rape and death of his wife Becky, while also developing an intense hatred for all superhuman beings. Butcher also appears as one of the main protagonists in the Amazon Prime Video television adaptation of The Boys.
The Big Ride is a three-part graphic novel written by Garth Ennis and illustrated by Russ Braun that was published by Dynamite Entertainment as the ninth volume of the American comic book series The Boys, consisting of the four-part story arcs Proper Preparation and Planning, released from November 3, 2010 to February 16, 2011, Barbary Coast, released from March 2 to June 1, 2011, and The Big Ride, released from July 6 to October 5, 2011, the latter from which the novel takes its title.
Over the Hill with the Swords of a Thousand Men is a graphic novel written by Garth Ennis and illustrated by Russ Braun that was released in six parts throughout 2011 and 2012 by Dynamite Entertainment as the penultimate volume of the American comic book series The Boys. Part 1, The House of Cards Comes Tumbling Down, was released November 2, 2011, Part 2, Interruptus, was released December 7, 2011, Part 3, Assassination Run, was released January 4, 2012, Part 4, A Lady of a Certain Age, was released February 1, 2012, Part 5, One, Two, Three, Four, United States Marine Corps, was released March 7, 2012, and Part 6, My Name––Is Michael Caine, was released April 4, 2012.
We Gotta Go Now is a graphic novel written by Garth Ennis and illustrated by Darick Robertson and John Higgins that was released in eight parts throughout 2008 and 2009 by Dynamite Entertainment as the fourth volume of the American comic book series The Boys. Part 1, Silver Kincaid Killed Herself Yesterday Morning, was released October 1, 2008, Part 2, Why Pinto? Errf Why Not?, was released October 29, 2008, Part 3, It's Not Gonna Be An Orgy…!, was released December 3, 2008, Part 4, Do You Mind If We Dance With Your Dates?, was released January 7, 2009, Part 5, See If You Can Guess…What I Am Now., was released February 4, 2009, Part 6, Leaving! What A Good Idea!, was released March 4, 2009, Part 7, I'll Say You're Too Well To Attend…, was released April 1, 2009, and Part 8, Rodeo Fuck, was released May 6, 2009.
The Bloody Doors Off is a graphic novel written by Garth Ennis and illustrated by Russ Braun that was released in seven parts throughout 2012 by Dynamite Entertainment as the final volume of the American comic book series The Boys. Part 1, I Cannot Let You Do This…!, was released May 2, Part 2, Splendiddio…, was released June 6, Part 3, Do You Know What I Hate?, was released July 4, Part 4, Whose Woods These Are I Think I Know, was released August 1, Part 5, The Name of the Game, was released September 5, Part 6, The Scores on the Doors, was released October 3, and Part 7, You Found Me, was released November 14.
The third season of the American satirical superhero television series The Boys, the first series in the franchise based on the comic book series of the same name written by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, was developed for television by American writer and television producer Eric Kripke. The season is produced by Sony Pictures Television in association with Point Grey Pictures, Original Film, Kripke Enterprises, Kickstart Entertainment and KFL Nightsky Productions.
Black Noir is the name of three characters from the comic book series The Boys, created by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, and the television series and franchise of the same name, developed by Eric Kripke. In both the comic and television series, Noir is a member of the hedonistic and reckless Vought-American superhero group the Seven and is depicted as a "silent ninja" type parody of Batman, Snake Eyes and Deathstroke.
Soldier Boy is the name of three superhero characters in the comic book series Herogasm and The Boys, created by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson. The first character introduced is the elected leader of the Vought-American-sponsored superhero team Payback. He is depicted as one of the only "Supes" with selfless, benevolent motivations, who detests the use of profanity. However, Soldier Boy annually has sex with Homelander alone at the "Herogasm" orgy, under the mistaken hope that the "test" of doing so will convince Homelander to let him join his own superhero team, The Seven. After his most recent dalliance with Homelander, Soldier Boy is captured by CIA black ops agent Billy Butcher and brutally tortured and murdered by him for information on Homelander's recent activities. The original Soldier Boy is later revealed to have been mercy killed by Mallory during his first mission at the Battle of the Bulge, after his "Avenging Squad" inadvertently caused Mallory's men to be massacred, and been replaced by the second for the remainder of the war.
Mother's Milk, or simply M.M., is a fictional character and antihero appearing in the comic book series The Boys, created by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson. Born Baron Wallis, he is a member of The Boys, a group of CIA-sponsored black ops agents led by Billy Butcher who observe, record, and sometimes liquidate "Supes" artificially created by the mega-conglomerate Vought.
The Boys is an American media franchise, consisting of action-drama/satirical black comedy superhero television series which follow the residents of a world where superpowered individuals called Supes are recognized as heroes by the general public and work for a powerful corporation known as Vought International, which markets, monetizes, and (secretly) creates them, with most being selfish and corrupt outside of their heroic personas. Based on the comic book series of the same name by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, originally published by DC Comics under its Wildstorm imprint before moving to Dynamite Entertainment, the television franchise debut has garnered success both financially and critically.
Highland Laddie is a six-issue comic book limited series by Garth Ennis and John McCrea. Originally published as a spin-off of The Boys, set between issues #47 and #48, it follows the story of "Wee Hughie" Campbell as in the aftermath of learning his ex-girlfriend Annie to be a Supe, he takes a sabbatical from the Boys and returns home to Auchterladle, the Scottish seaside town where he grew up, where he reunites with his mystery-solving childhood friends, Bobby and Det. Highland Laddie was collected in trade paperback in April 2011 as the eighth volume of The Boys, as The Boys: Highland Laddie. Storylines from the series would be continued in the 2020 The Boys epilogue series Dear Becky.
Dear Becky is an eight-issue comic book limited series written by Garth Ennis and drawn by Russ Braun. Published as an extended epilogue to The Boys as a tie-in to the second season of its television adaptation, set twelve years following The Bloody Doors Off, and divided into the chapters Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and January, the series follows Wee Hughie as he builds up to finally marrying Annie January in his hometown of Auchterladle, Scotland, as he is mailed the diary of Billy Butcher, addressed to Becky and detailing Butcher's mindset over the years before he murdered the rest of the Boys and forced Hughie to kill him, Hughie reading through it while investigating who sent it to him. Published in 2020, Dear Becky was collected in trade paperback in February 2021 as The Boys: Dear Becky.
The Name of the Game is a two-part graphic novel written by Garth Ennis and illustrated by Darick Robertson that was released in 2006 by WildStorm and DC Comics as the first volume of the American comic book series The Boys. It consists of the two-part The Name of the Game, of which Part 1, This Is Going To Hurt, was released August 16, 2006, and Part 2, The Frenchman, the Female and the Man Called Mother's Milk, was released August 30, 2006, and the four-part Cherry, of which Part 1, The Seven, was released October 4, 2006, Part 2, Teenage Kix Right Through the Night, was released October 25, 2006, Part 3, Life Among the Septics, was released November 22, 2006, and Part 4, And I Always Wanted A Little Brother, was released December 27, 2006.