The Boys is a comic book series not quite like anything else. Many reviewers have praised its unique take on the superhero genre and its dark, satirical tone. Entertainment Weekly even named The Boys one of the 10 Best Fiction Books of 2008.
The Boys was first published by WildStorm and later by Dynamite Entertainment. Writer Garth Ennis and illustrator Darick Robertson started the comic in 2006 and concluded it in 2012 with 72 issues. But it has featured other artists such as John McCrea.
The comic has also been turned into a TV series on Amazon Prime Video. Premiering in 2019, it has received critical acclaim for its storytelling and faithfulness to the source material. It’s also an interesting read if you like graphic novels.
In this article, you’ll learn more about The Boys comic through a review.
What is The Boys about?
In this comic book universe, the corporation called Vought-American manages superheroes that care more about making money than actually saving the world or promoting public safety.
It follows a group of vigilantes called The Boys as they expose the corruption behind the superheroes of Vought-American. The Boys are backed by none other than the CIA.
The first thing that grips the reader is The Boys’ interesting spin on the superhero genre. The illustrations have a dark and gritty tone and the characters explore controversial themes and issues in graphic detail.
The main characters include Billy Butcher, Wee Hughie, Russ Braun, and other members of The Boys team as they go against the different superhero teams. Other characters include Frenchie, Mother’s Milk, and The Female.
They fight against a superhero team known as The Seven with members such as Homelander, Annie January (AKA Starlight), A-Train, The Deep, Maeve, and Black Noir. The Seven is an allusion to The Justice League just in case you didn’t catch it.
The Boys – Our comic review
The Boys is a comic book series that takes a satirical approach to the superhero genre tropes. This is what makes it unique and different from most comic books. But don’t worry, this will be a spoiler-free review.
The first thing you may notice when reading it is how gritty and graphic it can be. That’s another reason why many find it an entertaining read.
Characters, backstory, and themes
The superheroes are powerful, but ultimately bad human beings while the government tries to keep “the supes” in check. Throughout the comic, characters run into constant struggles with corruption, power, and violence between characters.
Make no mistake, the main characters are just as ruthless and cunning as the superheroes they want to expose. They’ll openly use blackmail, violence, and manipulation to defeat them. Even if The Boys are technically the good guys, they’re portrayed as arrogant and selfish rather than noble.
The backstory gives us a picture of what their world is like and why The Boys are so dedicated to their anti-superhero mission. They even weaponize compound v, a chemical that was supposed to make superheroes and not destroy them.
As the series progresses, we get a better understanding of why they are so personally attached to their mission. In their world, those with superpowers tend to cause a lot of collateral damage, leading to the deaths of innocent people.
The Boys run into cover-ups, corruption, greed, and violence as they struggle with the superhero world. The comic book series poses the important question of what would really happen if superheroes actually did exist.
At the same time, it delves deep into controversial issues such as drug addiction, sexual assault, and political corruption while being explicit and graphic. Think of it as the opposite of your traditional good versus evil Superman story.
Art and writing style
The art style reminds most people who read it of depictions in Marvel Marvel or DC comics while making a satire of superhero comics at the same time.
Readers have noticed similarities between The Boys’ writing and other works by Garth Ennis such as Preacher, Hellblazer, Punisher, Hitman, and War Stories.
Altogether, The Boys is a good read for those looking for something a little different from the everyday superhero story. It blurs the lines between our expectations of good versus evil.
Some may prefer it for its gritty and dark artwork while others will enjoy it for the writing it has to offer. The Boys can be a little controversial, so it’s best to keep that in mind before starting to read the comic or watch the series.
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FAQ
Is The Boys comic series good?
Many people like The Boys comic series because it turns the usual superhero genre as portrayed in Superman or Batman, or Marvel on its head.
Why is The Boys’ comics controversial?
Many find The Boys comic controversial because it has a lot of violence, sex, and bad language.
Is The Boys comic better than the show?
This depends on personal taste. Some find comic books better than TV shows and vice versa.
Was The Boys comic canceled?
No, the comic series ended in 2012 after 72 issues.
When is The Boys comic set?
The comic book is set sometime between 2006 and 2008.
What are the similarities between The Boys comic and the show?
The comic books and the show all have the same characters, setting, storyline, and similar plot.
Why is The Boys comic not available in my country?
It may be due to licensing or distribution restrictions and Amazon Prime. But it also could be because the comic is deemed too controversial for certain markets.
What is the first comic in The Boys?
The first issue is called The Name of The Game.
