The War

by Garth Ennis, Becky Cloonan (Artist), Tamra Bonvillain (Color Artist)

It’s the end of the world as they know it, but the worst is still to come.

From the pages of the breakout horror anthology Hello Darkness comes a chilling tale of apocalyptic dread from Eisner Award–winning creators Garth Ennis and Becky Cloonan.

When the unthinkable becomes reality, a group of friends in New York City must confront their worst fears—the outbreak of nuclear war. As society collapses around them, each must choose a different plan for survival at the end of the world. But with the fallout of nuclear destruction unfolding in real time, survival may be the most terrifying fate of all.

The War delivers a raw, unflinching look at modern annihilation and human desperation in the face of global catastrophe—just as timely as it is terrifying.

Collects The War #1–3.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Horror

112 pages, Paperback

Expected publication February 24, 2026

About the author

Ennis began his comic-writing career in 1989 with the series Troubled Souls. Appearing in the short-lived but critically-acclaimed British anthology Crisis and illustrated by McCrea, it told the story of a young, apolitical Protestant man caught up by fate in the violence of the Irish 'Troubles'. It spawned a sequel, For a Few Troubles More, a broad Belfast-based comedy featuring two supporting characters from Troubled Souls, Dougie and Ivor, who would later get their own American comics series, Dicks, from Caliber in 1997, and several follow-ups from Avatar.

Another series for Crisis was True Faith, a religious satire inspired by his schooldays, this time drawn by Warren Pleece. Ennis shortly after began to write for Crisis' parent publication, 2000 AD. He quickly graduated on to the title's flagship character, Judge Dredd, taking over from original creator John Wagner for a period of several years.

Ennis' first work on an American comic came in 1991 when he took over DC Comics's horror title Hellblazer, which he wrote until 1994, and for which he currently holds the title for most issues written. Steve Dillon became the regular artist during the second half of Ennis's run.

Ennis' landmark work to date is the 66-issue epic Preacher, which he co-created with artist Steve Dillon. Running from 1995 to 2000, it was a tale of a preacher with supernatural powers, searching (literally) for God who has abandoned his creation.

While Preacher was running, Ennis began a series set in the DC universe called Hitman. Despite being lower profile than Preacher, Hitman ran for 60 issues (plus specials) from 1996 to 2001, veering wildly from violent action to humour to an examination of male friendship under fire.

Other comic projects Ennis wrote during this time period include Goddess, Bloody Mary, Unknown Soldier, and Pride & Joy, all for DC/Vertigo, as well as origin stories for The Darkness for Image Comics and Shadowman for Valiant Comics.

After the end of Hitman, Ennis was lured to Marvel Comics with the promise from Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada that he could write The Punisher as long as he cared to. Instead of largely comical tone of these issues, he decided to make a much more serious series, re-launched under Marvel's MAX imprint.

In 2001 he briefly returned to UK comics to write the epic Helter Skelter for Judge Dredd.

Other comics Ennis has written include War Story (with various artists) for DC; The Pro for Image Comics; The Authority for Wildstorm; Just a Pilgrim for Black Bull Press, and 303, Chronicles of Wormwood (a six issue mini-series about the Antichrist), and a western comic book, Streets of Glory for Avatar Press.

In 2008 Ennis ended his five-year run on Punisher MAX to debut a new Marvel title, War Is Hell: The First Flight of the Phantom Eagle.

In June 2008, at Wizard World, Philadelphia, Ennis announced several new projects, including a metaseries of war comics called Battlefields from Dynamite made up of mini-series including Night Witches, Dear Billy and Tankies, another Chronicles of Wormwood mini-series and Crossed both at Avatar, a six-issue miniseries about Butcher (from The Boys) and a Punisher project reuniting him with artist Steve Dillon (subsequently specified to be a weekly mini-series entitled Punisher: War Zone, to be released concurrently with the film of the same name).

Taken from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garth_Ennis

Reviews

[Mohan Vemulapalli · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The War" seems to heave been meant as a cautionary tale about global nuclear war. Unfortunately, it reads as cheap disaster titillation and is more derivative and out right gross than actually prescient. This book is not recommended for those who are easily nauseated or actually knowledgeable in nuclear proliferation and civil defense issues.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, BOOM! Studios, for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Paul W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bleak, but expected. I like it but didn't enjoy it.

[Reading Xennial · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This was a great graphic novel. I appreciate how it described itself as “modern horror” because this is something that really could happen at any point in our current world. It touches on many facets of what we would do in the event of a nuclear bomb. It brings up many thoughts on the before and after of this type of event and makes the reader consider what they would do if they were in this specific situation. The artwork was great and really set an intriguing vibe to the book. The dialogue also was well done and helped the reader get connected to the characters in such a short span of time. I’m not usually an emotional reader, but a few parts in here had me choked up. The very last panel felt unnecessary and didn’t add anything to the story, but I wouldn’t deduct a star based on this one panel. I will be purchasing a copy of this when it’s released. I think this is a graphic novel I would reread in the future.

Thank you, NetGalley and BOOM Studios for allowing me to read this graphic novel early. The opinion in this review is my own.

[Bin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nobody wants to think about nuclear war so that part was a bummer but I did like how graphic it was

[Thom · Rating 2 out of 5]

Note: I received access to read this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

The War started off easy to follow and had a great build to catastrophe, but after the shit hit the fan it turned into monologuing and an absolutely unearned ending that exists purely for shock value.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book opens with a group of hipsters sitting around in a New York apartment explaining to each other how nuclear will never happen. London is wiped from the map later that night.

I found this book almost painful to read not because of the depictions of life after, but because the book follows the same group of unbearable hipsters as they're still in complete denial as the world is literally ending around them.

The only positive things I have to say about this are about the art and lettering. Becky Cloonan's illustrations, Tamra Bonvillain's colors, and Pat Brosseau's letters are stellar and worthy of a far better book.

Received via NetGalley.

[Danijel Jedriško · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book hit me hard. Garth Ennis and Becky Cloonan's "The War" is a comic that feels less like a story and more like a profound, sinking feeling. It's a gut-wrenching experience that left a bitter taste in my mouth and a cold knot in my stomach.

It starts with a sense of denial that feels all too real. We're on the edge of global tension, and there's this shared, whispered delusion that a nuclear war can't happen. It'll be fine, right? We'll have a couple of reasonable people on the phone, just like in '62. But this is an Ennis comic, so you know that comforting lie is about to get shredded. The book's central question—are we reasonable?—receives a brutal, unambiguous answer: hell no. We're not.

From there, the story spirals into total, hopeless ruin. It reminded me of reading Cormac McCarthy's The Road, evoking the same sense of utter loss. Hope flickers and then… goes out. You're left with the most fundamental questions. What's the point of humanity once everything is lost? What do you trust in when there's nothing left? The final, biting thought is the one that really sticks: was it worth it for those who pushed the button?

Becky Cloonan's art is the perfect partner for this journey. Her style is raw and heavy, with thick lines and deep shadows that make everything feel gritty and oppressive. The limited, muted colors emphasize the desolation, making the world feel exhausted and drained. She captures the quiet despair and the profound grief in the characters' faces with a stark honesty that truly hits home.

"The War" is a comic you should absolutely read, even though you won't enjoy it. It's a chilling, unforgettable warning about the lies we tell ourselves and the terrifying end of our self-delusion. A tough read.

[Justin Soderberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are comics that allow you to escape the world we live in and those that bring the fictional worlds eerie close to home, The War by Garth Ennis and artist Becky Cloonan falls squarely in the latter. The War is a poignant, raw, bleak, and sadly realistic end of the world comic that strikes a chord.

When the unthinkable becomes reality, a group of friends in New York City must confront their worst fears—the outbreak of nuclear war. As society collapses around them, each must choose a different plan for survival at the end of the world. But with the fallout of nuclear destruction unfolding in real time, survival may be the most terrifying fate of all.

Ennis is known for similar work, but The War is timely and eerie close to what could happen in the near future. A story which began in the pages of Hello Darkness , the horror anthology from BOOM! Studios, expand to craft a story that is horrifying in both the fictional story and the close-to-home feel of the comic. We have leaders in this world that would likely do the unthinkable just to prove their strength, even if that means ending the world as we know it and it's scary as hell.

While The War is scary in the sense of its realism, it does have more heart to it than I expected. You feel for the characters and their decisions made in order to live in the world that has been force upon them. The dialogue is honest and genuine, with characters arguing and deciding between those who want the quick out, or lose trying to make it post-nuclear explosion.

Cloonan's artwork brings more of the emotion to the page that Ennis has scripted. You can feel the fear with the characters facial expressions and can almost hear the world crumbling around them. The muted red-orange color pallet throughout most of the book gives off this eerie post-apocalyptic vibe that adds to the story at hand. This partnership for The War is extremely fitting and meshes so well together.

The War is not for the faint of heart, or those looking for a superhero romp. Garth Ennis and Becky Cloonan craft an all-too-realistic end of the world comic that has real-life horrors mixed with heart leading to an incredible ending. Expanding The War outside the pages of Hello Darkness is just what this story needed, as well as the story I hate to read (as it could be real...sadly). A must-read comic.

The collected edition of The War hits local comic shops and bookstores everywhere on February 24, 2026 from BOOM! Studios.

[KC · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review: The War by Garth Ennis and Becky Cloonan

The War opens with a small cast of ordinary New Yorkers just trying to keep their lives stitched together. Errands, jobs, relationships, anxieties. The usual. Then nuclear war hits, and the entire illusion of stability evaporates. One minute you’re navigating crowded streets, the next you’re navigating fallout. It’s abrupt, cruel, and exactly the kind of narrative Ennis refuses to soften.

From that moment forward, the story doesn’t indulge in hope. It escorts the characters through the collapse of infrastructure, communication, and basic humanity. Sheltering becomes a gamble. Trust becomes a luxury item. Every decision feels like it was sponsored by catastrophic consequences. Cloonan’s art doesn’t offer mercy either. The visuals hit with the grim clarity of someone saying, “Yes, it really is that bad.”

The most unsettling part is how recognizable these characters are. They aren’t action heroes, freedom fighters, or apocalypse-ready survivalists. They’re just people trying to figure out if staying put or running for their lives is the worse option. Spoiler: both are terrible. There’s no triumphant arc waiting around the corner, no rallying cry to reclaim society. This is a story about the slow, grinding unraveling of the world and the people stuck in the gears.

By the time you reach the later issues, the emotional toll has settled in like a permanent resident. Families fracture. Morality bends until it snaps. Every choice feels like an indictment of what survival even means. Ennis and Cloonan aren’t here to soothe you. They’re here to remind you that nuclear winter is not a vibe, it’s a nightmare.

If you’re looking for uplifting post-apocalyptic fiction with inspirational speeches and a plucky band of survivors discovering the power of community, kindly keep walking. This book is not that. But if you want a brutally honest, tightly crafted, and unnervingly plausible story about collapse and the messy instincts people cling to in the void, The War delivers with surgical precision.

It’s devastating. It’s harrowing. It’s Ennis doing what Ennis does best: holding up a mirror you’d really prefer to avoid.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. This is my honest and unbiased review.

[Lucsbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was my fault for reading this, after seeing it described as "the feel bad book of the year". But in my defence, I didn't know this was by the same author as "The Boys" and "Preacher".

This starts with a conversation about the Russian illegal invasion of Ukraine, and it just goes downhill from there until it eventually ends in cannibalism. And somehow, the scariest part about this is how it highlights our shortcomings and failures through the different characters, showing us that we have absolutely no power to do anything but harm those in our immediate vicinity, even when we try to help.

I hope the author had fun writing this, because I didn't have fun reading it.

The only joy you'll find here is Brian K Vaughan's bitchy blurb.

Thank you to NetGalley, Edelweiss and BOOM! Studios for this DRC

[Holly Bevans · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a very dark story andI truly mean dark. As someone who has read Berserk and loved it, I’m no stranger to heavy or disturbing content, but this one still felt especially messed up with what happened to certain characters.

The story was confusing at first, as there was little to no context for what was happening in the opening, which made it difficult to stay grounded in the narrative. The dialogue also didn’t flow very well and could have been more polished.

That said, the artwork was fantastic and easily the strongest aspect of the book. Unfortunately, the characters themselves felt bland, and there wasn’t enough time to build any real connection with them before they were gone.

Overall, it was an okay story, but ultimately it just wasn’t for me.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The War” is a dark graphic novel from the legendary Garth Ennis about nuclear war.

We are introduced to a group of friends talking about the escalation of the war in Ukraine. Things are escalating between the United States and Russia. The friends are debating how things will turn out. Will the worst come about, or will cooler heads prevail?

Even after a first strike, surely the devastation and loss of life will bring common sense to the forefront. Or will it?

This is the grim tale of worst-case scenario. Just when you think it is bleak, Mr. Ennis turns it up a notch.

It’s not pretty. It’s not fun. But it is worth the discussion.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.

[James DeSantis · Rating 3 out of 5]

The War starts off feeling like it might be a political commentary on the state of the world, but Garth Ennis and Becky Cloonan quickly pivot into something much more visceral and disturbing. It transitions from a slow-burn back and forth about conflict into a chaotic, breakneck sprint toward the apocalypse.

Cloonan’s artwork is a highlight, capturing the dark atmosphere perfectly. However, while the middle chapters are excellently paced, the final two chapters felt like a frantic bloodbath. By the time I reached the final pages, it felt like the story chose shock value over a meaningful conclusion. It’s a well-executed, deeply fucked up ride, even if the ending feels a bit cheap.

Rating: 3/5

[Netanella · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 1/2, rounded up to 4 stars.

It's been a few since I've read a graphic novel, and this one collects issues 1-3 to tell the story of the beginning of a nuclear war in the present day. The story starts with a party of friends in New York City discussing the current state of affairs - it's very present day, as it's year three of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. By the end of the evening, London will have been destroyed by a nuclear attack, and most major western cities will fall soon afterwards.

Once the story gets going, it's brutal, graphic, and intense. Despite this being such a grim tale, I enjoyed it very much.

My thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the creators for the opportunity.

[Tintaglia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Efficace e attualissimo, The War è la cronaca di cosa succederebbe ai civili occidentali - informati, colti, industrializzati, intellettuali - se l'incredibile (per noi) accadesse: vengono rilasciate dalla Russia testate nucleari che distruggono le maggiori città europee e americane.
Ennis non perde tempo a mostrare il conflitto a livello globale: porta la lente vicino, analizzando le coppie, gli amici, i legami familiari spazzati via dalle bombe, l'incredulità, l'impotenza, il dolore; l'incapacità di credere che uno scenario così incredibile si stia realizzando, l'impossibilità di vivere in quello che resta.
Crudele, doloroso, credibile.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dark narrative following a group of friends that are flung into the middle of a nuclear attack. I enjoyed the dialogue amongst friends, but by the end of the story was a bit confused on the reasoning behind some of the choices that were made by the characters. However, maybe that's part of the point? Artwork is incredible across the board! Some of the dialogue was a bit wordy at parts for my liking but nothing too drawn out.

I would recommend this book to readers who are drawn to bleak atmospheres (The Road by Cormac McCarthy comes to mind)

Thank you for the ARC!

[Sofia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This comic is a slow descend into madness, what would happen if no one stopped after the first bomb being fired... if you're looking for a tale of survival or hope in face of doom... well better search somewhere... its all doom and gloom, there's no character that you read and think for yourself ohh I connect with him or her or I see myself in this character...

this being said, I read to the finish and if you're in a dark mood and want a mature comic this may be for you, so try it out

Thank you Netgalley and BOOM! Studios, for the free ARC and this is my honest opinion.

[Haruka · Rating 4 out of 5]

It a great read.
The book really makes you think what to do if it really does happen someday.
This book topic about war comes at a great time cuz war it can happen anytime in the future. I enjoy the story. The art was great as well!! Great read! Something to make you think about even after finish reading the book!
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Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for giving me a chance to read this book in advanced!

[summer · Rating 4 out of 5]

*3.5

This story is hard to read and hard to rate. This is not for the faint of heart, and you have to be okay with a loooooot in order to read this. It's brutal, violent, and a terrifying look into a possible future. Nuclear war is always a scary thing to think about and this short collection does not hold back on the possibilities.

Thank you to BOOM!Studios and NetGalley for an early copy of this collection.

[Curious Madra · Rating 1 out of 5]

So basically this graphic novel is a “what if Putin decides to ruin the whole world” which probably is realistic but the way they portrayed this in the book is pretty much OTT. It has the zombie crap added in and the characters were just pretty unlikeable and underdeveloped. I’ve read better war stories than this…

Got this via netgalley and publisher

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally serialized in Hello Darkness. The story follows 4 couples in New York as nuclear war is imminent. It skirts why things are happening and focuses instead on the bleakness of what is happening. No one is going to live through this. I found it disjointed. Becky Cloonan's art is excellent though.

[Nina Phillips · Rating 3 out of 5]

I recieved a copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and BOOM! Studios. I am leaving an honest review voluntarily.

This story covers a dark possibility for the future, and the tragedy that could befall people all around the world. It was descriptive and emotional, but also vague, which led to its creepiness factor. A simple, thought-provoking, and emotional story.

[Livi ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was incredible and honestly super fucked up. So relevant and well developed. The story was compelling and realistic and something of our current worst nightmares. I loved the way this was told and the artwork was INCREDIBLE. Really good and detailed. HIGHLY RECOMMEND.

[Timo · Rating 5 out of 5]

No hope at all, very dark and so many chilling bits. Garth Ennis is still the best.