Babs is back! The sharply satirical fantasy comic by Garth Ennis and Jacen Burrows has returned for a second series, titled The Black Road South. In the Ahoy Comics book, sword-for-hire Babs has finally made some money in a tournament, and after a night of drunken debauchery with her friend Izzy, things go horribly wrong for Babs and her money.
That’s just the start of the new series, which includes such classics as Babs and Izzy going to town on some literal Knob Goblins, a weird panda with a unicorn horn, and an extended musical break where the duo perform the new hit song of the summer, “Do Me Like The Sonj.”
To find out more about all of this, as well as why Ennis says Babs is “rapidly turning into one of my favourite characters of all time,” read on.
Comic Book Club: First, most important question: are we going to get a full musical release of “Do Me Like The Sonj”? Maybe drop it on Spotify?
Garth Ennis: Make me an offer. I’m partial to vast amounts of cash. Just like Babs.
The first Babs series was extremely focused on ideas like internet trolls, toxic masculinity, the rise of white nationalism… On first blush, Black Road South seems like simply more of a lark, but is there more to it?
What I’m most interested in this time around is Babs herself, I want to take a closer look at her character and history. The main question is how far you can push the audience’s sympathy for someone who, rather than being a standard comic book paragon of virtue, is really just kinda-sorta-maybe-possibly okay, and muddles through morally like most people do in real life.
Babs and her sword seem to be bickering more than usual in this series… Is the sword going to reach a breaking point where he heads out on his own?
I think the bickering is actually around the same level overall. Barry would find it quite difficult to head out on his own, given that he’s a lump of inanimate metal.
I feel somewhat awkward even asking this, but I had a question about the logistics of the Knob Goblins. My assumption was that they’re essentially like large vibrators, basically laying there, versus goblin prostitutes? Or a mix of both?
The latter. It’s really a question of convenience; Babs and Izzy have chosen the easiest position from which to recommence the night on the beer. Finish up- hop off- away you go.
In general, what draws you to Babs? It seems like a capsule to allow you to go in any direction you want – parody, fantasy, etc.
Babs draws me to Babs. She’s rapidly turning into one of my favourite characters of all time; she’s got such a shitty attitude she’s absolutely irresistible to write. I’m already planning out series three and I can’t wait to get stuck in.
At this point, I’d imagine you and Jacen Burrows have a shorthand going… What’s the relationship like, and how has it changed over time?
Really it’s based on trust, like all the best creative partnerships I’ve enjoyed (see also Dillon, McCrea, Epting, Burns, Ezquerra, Snejbjerg et al). I don’t ask Jacen to draw the impossible and he gives me the best work he can, and we continue to keep each other entertained. I’m not sure our relationship has changed, really, I think we hit the ground running 20+ years ago with 303.
Last, second most important question: I’d love to know more about the panda with fangs and a unicorn horn on his nose… Can we get some more backstory there?
That was really just ramping up the madness. Bog-standard gladiator to punky chick to Russell Crowe to Ogress to… that. Barry’s commentary at that point suggests that he might have detected a slight note of desperation.
Babs: The Black Road South #1 is in stores now from Ahoy Comics.
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