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 | |
|---|---|
| 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 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.
Premise
editPart 1: Bomb Alley
editFollowing 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]
Part 2: Harriet
editIn 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]
Part 3: It Must Be Love, Love, Love
editFinding love with Becky Saunders, turning his life away from one of crime, Billy Butcher explores a life of joy.[11][12]
Part 4: The Last Time to Look on This World of Lies
editOver 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]
Part 5: Here Comes a Candle to Light You to Bed
editArrested 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]
Part 6: Every One of You Sons of Bitches
editBeginning 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]
Reception
edit| 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] |
Collected editions
edit| 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 |
Adaptation
editIn 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]
References
edit- ^ Press Release (April 16, 2011). "Sneak Peek: The Boys: Butcher, Baker, Candlestickmaker #1". Major Spoilers. Retrieved April 16, 2011.
- ^ Carr, Ari (June 11, 2012). "Review: The Boys: Butcher, Baker, Candlestickmaker #1". Inter-Comics. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
- ^ CBR Staff (March 2, 2012). "The Boys Vol. 10: Butcher, Baker, Candlestickmaker". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved March 2, 2012.
- ^ a b Dominguez, Noah (September 29, 2020). "The Boys Casts Lord of the Rings' John Noble as Butcher's Dad". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on April 23, 2022. Retrieved April 23, 2022.
- ^ Romano, Nick (January 17, 2021). "The Boys season 3 will tackle Herogasm, one of the raunchiest moments from the comics". Comic Book. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
- ^ Rowles, Dustin (April 18, 2021). "'The Boys' Showrunner Had A Very Scandalized Reaction To The First 'Herogasm' Production Meeting". Uproxx. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
- ^ Kutsenok, Victor (July 20, 2011). "Butcher, Baker, Candlestickmaker #1 Review". A Comic Book Blog. Archived from the original on October 11, 2011. Retrieved October 11, 2011.
- ^ Hill, Shawn (July 20, 2011). "Daily Reviews: The Boys: Butcher, Baker, Candlestickmaker #1". Comics Bulletin. Archived from the original on August 8, 2011. Retrieved August 8, 2011.
- ^ Lindsay, Ryan K. (July 20, 2011). "The Boys: Butcher, Baker, Candlestickmaker #1". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on July 23, 2011. Retrieved July 23, 2011.
- ^ Kutsenok, Victor (August 17, 2011). "Butcher, Baker, Candlestickmaker #2 Review". A Comic Book Blog. Archived from the original on October 11, 2011. Retrieved October 11, 2011.
- ^ Hill, Shawn (July 20, 2011). "Daily Reviews: The Boys: Butcher, Baker, Candlestickmaker #3". Comics Bulletin. Archived from the original on September 26, 2011. Retrieved September 26, 2011.
- ^ Kutsenok, Victor (September 22, 2011). "Butcher, Baker, Candlestickmaker #3 Review". A Comic Book Blog. Archived from the original on September 30, 2011. Retrieved September 30, 2011.
- ^ Nevett, Chad (October 24, 2011). "The Boys: Butcher, Baker, Candlestickmaker #4". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on October 27, 2011. Retrieved October 27, 2011.
- ^ Borzelli, Brandon (October 21, 2011). "Geek Goggle Reviews: Butcher, Baker, Candlestickmaker #4". Comic List. Archived from the original on October 29, 2011. Retrieved October 29, 2011.
- ^ Hill, Shawn (October 22, 2011). "Daily Reviews: The Boys: Butcher, Baker, Candlestickmaker #4". Comics Bulletin. Archived from the original on October 24, 2011. Retrieved October 24, 2011.
- ^ Kutsenok, Victor (October 19, 2011). "Butcher, Baker, Candlestickmaker #4 Review". A Comic Book Blog. Archived from the original on October 26, 2011. Retrieved October 26, 2011.
- ^ Lindsay, Ryan K. (November 16, 2011). "The Boys: Butcher, Baker, Candlestickmaker #5". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on November 18, 2011. Retrieved November 18, 2011.
- ^ Kutsenok, Victor (November 16, 2011). "Butcher, Baker, Candlestickmaker #5 Review". A Comic Book Blog. Archived from the original on May 4, 2012. Retrieved May 4, 2012.
- ^ Nevett, Chad (December 21, 2011). "The Boys: Butcher, Baker, Candlestickmaker #6". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on June 24, 2012. Retrieved June 24, 2012.
- ^ "Butcher, Baker, Candlestickmaker #1 Reviews". ComicBookRoundup.com. July 20, 2011. Retrieved July 20, 2011.
- ^ "Butcher, Baker, Candlestickmaker #2 Reviews". ComicBookRoundup.com. August 17, 2011. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
- ^ "Butcher, Baker, Candlestickmaker #3 Reviews". ComicBookRoundup.com. September 21, 2011. Retrieved September 21, 2011.
- ^ "Butcher, Baker, Candlestickmaker #4 Reviews". ComicBookRoundup.com. October 19, 2011. Retrieved October 19, 2011.
- ^ "Butcher, Baker, Candlestickmaker #5 Reviews". ComicBookRoundup.com. November 16, 2011. Retrieved November 16, 2011.
- ^ "Butcher, Baker, Candlestickmaker #6 Reviews". ComicBookRoundup.com. December 21, 2011. Retrieved December 21, 2011.
- ^ "Butcher, Baker, Candlestickmaker Reviews". ComicBookRoundup.com. March 6, 2012. Retrieved March 6, 2012.
- ^ Ennis, Garth; Robertson, Darick (March 7, 2012). "The Boys Volume 10: Butcher, Baker, Candlestickmaker". Previews World. Retrieved March 7, 2012.
- ^ Johnston, Rich (July 8, 2022). "The Boys Omnibus Selling Out – How Many Copies Are Left?". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
- ^ Nolan, Liam (October 2, 2020). "The Boys: Billy Butcher Faces His Greatest Enemy (& It's Not Homelander)". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
- ^ Piña, Ramon (October 13, 2020). "Eight Thoughts on The Boys's "Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Maker"". Multiversity Comics. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
- ^ Singh, Olivia (July 2, 2022). "'The Boys' star Karl Urban opens up about the 'tragedy' of Butcher's childhood that's finally unpacked in episode 7". Business Insider. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
- ^ Darwish, Meaghan (February 13, 2023). "'The Boys' Director on Tackling Butcher's Waking Nightmare & Black Noir's Animated Story". TV Insider. Retrieved February 13, 2023.