"I guess you can stay sort of true to the story; you don't have to artificially bring the character back from whatever doom you've designed for them, you can tell the story, I suppose, honestly"

Garth Ennis, a popular comics writer, is assessing the freedom and credibility in storytelling, particularly in regard to staying true to a narrative's natural development rather than requiring plot advancements. By stating, "I guess you can stay sort of real to the story", Ennis is acknowledging the inherent pressure that some writers deal with to modify their stories for factors such as audience expectation, industrial viability, or editorial mandates. These pressures might lead authors to choose that compromise the narrative integrity, like "artificially bring [ing] the character back from whatever doom you've designed for them". This highlights the notion of plot control where characters are resurrected or saved from dire situations for convenience, popularity, or lengthening a series rather than permitting the story to deal with in a more authentic or organically terminal fashion.

Ennis's usage of the expression "you can inform the story, I suppose, honestly", even more underscores his advocacy for narrative sincerity. Truthful storytelling, to Ennis, implies following the story's natural arc, even if it causes an uneasy or non-traditional conclusion. This technique appreciates the stability of the characters and the logical consequences of their development within the story's universe.

In essence, Ennis's quote can be translated as a call for narrative authenticity. He challenges authors to withstand external pressures and trust their original artistic vision, even if it suggests permitting characters to fulfill grim destinies or letting stories conclude without synthetic prolongation. By remaining real to the story, writers can create stories that resonate more deeply with readers due to their sincerity, unpredictability, and psychological depth. This technique not just honors the narrative itself but also appreciates the audience's capability to engage with more complex and real storytelling.