Is 'The Boys' Cutting It Too Close To The Bone?
Power and celebrity status corrupts
The Boys is an adult satirical comic book series published from 2006 - 2012 about superheroes who sometimes break the norms. We’re all human and we all make mistakes. Some more than others. Some are redeemed. Others, not so much.
It was created by written by Garth Ennis and co-created, designed, and illustrated by Darick Robertson. 72 issues were published.
The Boys was born in the aftermath of 9/11 which rattled the globe with its sheer audacity and ferocious attack on the world’s psyche. It’s our belief in heroes that helps us cope with such tragic global events. Heroes soothe us, they protect us, and provide hope for the future.
They’re a clandestine offshoot of the CIA so we should inherently trust them. Or do they too require oversight to contain their power?
The heroes, aka The Boys, are led by Billy Butcher and a motley crew of misfits with varying superpowers. Some are female.
As their popularity and demi-god status soars, so does their corruption and selfishness. They deviate from their mission to serve the people and descend into the quagmire of ‘anti-hero’ status.
The names and faces have changed since 9/11, but the insidious corrosiveness of unchecked power and unfettered ambition still rings true today.
The Boys has extended its footprint beyond the comics. It has been adapted into a wildly popular television series, audio books, animated series, and a spinoff film planned with a current working title of “We Gotta Go Now.”
The Boys has left an indelible imprint on the current political and cultural landscape. It pits human agains human. It questions the nature of truth. What is a lie anyway?
The television series has injected the potent theme of worshipping svengali-like superheroes who have become intoxicated by their own power.
Is it a case of art imitating life or life imitating art? Probably elements of both. The television series tracks current world events to shine a harsh light on modern society. Many situations are outrageous, despite them being rooted in some truth. Regardless, it is time for us to take an honest look at ourselves.
Judging by its popularity, The Boys may be cutting it close to the bone through biting political satire, but the scalpel hasn’t cut into the cultural bone.
Check out our interview with Erick Kripke and David Reed.