Avatar Press has announced that it will publish Garth Ennis’ 303, a six-issue full color mini-series written by Preacher creator and Punisher writer Garth Ennis and drawn by Jacen Burrows (Warren Ellis’ Scars, Alan Moore’s The Courtyard). The eagerly-anticipated saga is scheduled to begin in October. Preview pages from the first two issues are available now at www.garthennis303.com.
“303 is the story of a Russian Special Forces Colonel, who, after a particularly brutal bit of black ops nastiness in Afghanistan, decides to walk to America to take out a highly important target,” explains creator Garth Ennis.
“The title refers to the rifle he’s going to use for the job, an antique British army Lee Enfield, three oh three calibre. This was the weapon that took the British army through two world wars and survived in its service until long after the second. It still shows up today from time to time, carried by tribesmen and guerrilla fighters in some of the world’s most brutal conflicts. The Lee Enfield is one of the great success stories of killing technology; it’s simple to use, what flaws it possesses are few and far between, and it’ll withstand a good deal of very rough treatment indeed before it stops doing what it says on the tin.”
“This particular Lee Enfield, however, is not just some artefact long overdue for retirement. High in the war-ravaged mountains of Afghanistan, the rifle falls into the hands of a man who plans to do the unthinkable: who sets out on a journey across whole continents, who fights his way through killing grounds both terrible and unexpected, all so he can fire a single bullet at the most important target in the world.
“303 begins as a war story, but changes halfway through into something I’m still not certain of myself,” adds Ennis. “This is odd territory we’re traversing, where the past pushes its warriors into the present with murderous intent, aiding and abetting destiny by means of numerous unwitting agents. It’s the tale of a soldier who’s been fighting for nothing all his life, but now believes he’s found his purpose, and the one man who can stop him, a worn-out hero filled with fatal sadness.”
“If I had to sum it up in one line, I’d say 303 was inspired by my fears for the world,” Ennis says.
“I’m extremely fortunate to have the excellent Jacen Burrows drawing the story for me,” notes Ennis. “If you’ve enjoyed his work with Alan Moore and Warren Ellis, you’ll know exactly what I mean. Jacen’s producing some of his finest work to date on this book, and with the complete creative freedom available at Avatar Press, you’ll be glad to hear that neither he nor I will have to pull our punches. Which comes in handy, believe me, when you realize that a story’s taking you places you’ve never been before.”
Garth Ennis’ 303 begins in October 2004 from Avatar Press, and is available for order now from comics retailers everywhere. The full color saga is written by Garth Ennis and drawn by Jacen Burrows, with color by Greg Waller. For more information, email [email protected] or see the 303 website at www.garthennis303.com.
