Writer Garth Ennis and artist Kevin O’Neill are bringing back the giant, gluttonous alien Bonjo in ‘Bonjo from Beyond the Stars: Solids in the Bile Tube,’ a new, 13-page story that will be published in December’s “2000 AD,” Prog 2312. The story will see Bonjo being accidentally revived when Tharg the Mighty, the alien editor of (the in-universe) “2000 AD” leaves the office for a publishers’ conference, and leaves the droids in charge. He “now returns – unbidden, unwanted, and unfiltered – to ‘2000 AD’ in a gross, madcap and filthy new story that will have readers spraying invective with and at every page!”
O’Neill created Bonjo for a ten-part strip that ran between “2000 AD” Progs 41 and 50 from 1977 to 1978. Ennis says, “Bonjo’s been stuck in my head ever since I first read his adventures back in 1978 – the character himself is adorable, his supporting cast is inspired (M.A.C.H. Sponge, M.A.C.H. Elephant and the heroic M.A.C.H. Aardvark), but the dialogue is simply irresistible: ‘Darn it – solids in the bile tube again! Have to mash it back down!’ and the unforgettable ‘Uuur, what for you stick plunger up hooter?’ A question well worth pondering; I find myself remembering that one almost daily.”
The revival came about after Ennis and O’Neill collaborated on this year’s “Battle Action: New War Comics,” also published by 2000 AD’s parent company Rebellion. It marks the first time the “League of Extraordinary Gentlemen” co-creator has contributed to the publisher’s flagship series since creating Nemesis the Warlock with Pat Mills in 1982. “I was delighted when he got in touch about doing another short story,” Ennis says. “Bonjo immediately came to mind – it’s not quite my first exposure to his work, which pops up all over the early progs, but it’s close enough. Bonjo provides a nice opportunity to talk about embarrassing old concepts that emerge right when you don’t want them to – which let’s face it, is something that makes everyone laugh.”
“2000 AD” Prog 2312, and ‘Bonjo from Beyond the Stars: Solids in the Bile Tube,’ will be released on December 14. For more from the creators, and editor Matt Smith, as well as a two-page preview, head to 2000ad.com.
