One of the trends in comics sparked by Watchmen was the question, what if super-heroes existed in our world? Whereas on one end of the spectrum you've got the Marvel Universe, on the other side you’ve got The Boys' universe. Where the supes are at best naive and gullible, or at worst, hedonistic megalomaniacs with no regards for lesser humans.
They also watch an "us" movie. If you've followed Garth Ennis' through the years, you will recognize the recurring themes of his writing; war and military culture, disdain for organized religion, the male bonding and friendship, gratuitous violence and an intense dislike for superheroes. Those themes are present in The Boys to one degree or another, they're generally more prevalent the farther you go down the list, actually. Characters of his DC series Hitman often express a mocking view of Supes, though Superman is treated with respect. During his pre-Max run on the Punisher, he had Castle parking a seam roller over Wolverine, and later making Logan, Spider-Man and Daredevil look like muppets when they tried to take him down.
Garth Ennis does not like superheroes, and in his creator owned series published first by DC/Wildstorm and later by Dynamite Entertainment, it shows.
Their Captain America is a simpleton tricked into sexually servicing their Superman in hope of getting a career bump, their Thor is a Nazi, their Iron Man tried to ear-rape their Jarvis, and do not get me started on their X-Men. They pay lip service to values they do not practice and make claims to commit heroics that have no basis in reality, when they have a Crisis event; they're actually having an orgy on some remote island.
To police the superhero community, The Boys were formed. A CIA-backed team of five individuals who were granted superpowers of their own. Their objective is to monitor, intimidate and if need be it, neutralize supes.
So that's what The Boys is about. But what is it like?
It's self-indulgent, juvenile, violent, vile and disgusting.
I can't stop reading it.
The Boys is slated for production with Adam McKay at the helm. I don't know what changes will be made. Probably lots of them, whatever they are. It might improve it, or maybe we'll look back in a few years and wonder, why did they bother?
In the meantime. You know...
Hugh Campbell A Scottish conspiracy nut, Hugh Campbell lost his girlfriend during a fight between two supes due to the
hero's negligence. He was promptly recruited to join the second iteration of the boys by Billy Butcher. Much of the series focuses on him as he learns the tricks of the trade and tries to adjust to the wanton violence of his new life.
Hughie was intentionally drawn to look like Simon Pegg. He then became a fan and wrote the introduction to one of the trades. When asked about portraying Hughie on film, he said he’s too old.
Balderdash, I say!
Billy Butcher
Leader of the current Boys. Bill Butcher used to be in the Royal Marines until his wife died due to complication from being sexual assaulted by a Supe. Butcher was recruited into the first iteration of The Boys, serving initially as the second in command of the group’s original leader Greg Mallory. Though the original group was disbanded, Butcher reformed them later, replacing Mallory as leader and recruiting Hughie in his stead.
Butcher is manipulative, cunning, vicious and hates supes with gusto. He likes nothing better than inflicting grievous bodily harm on a Supe. Any Supe will do.
Mother's Milk
A former special forces soldier, MM manifested his powers during an Army boxing championship match to disastrous effects. He was practically instantly recruited into The Boys by Greg Mallory and Billy Butcher.
MM holds the group together, keeping Butcher from going too far, watching out for the female and the Frenchman as well as reassuring the tormented Hughie that he is not alone.
The Frenchman
Only two things are known about the Frenchman. He was in the French Foreign Legion and he is mad as an otter. He might not even be French.
Despite his insanity, the Frenchman is the most genial and friendly of the group, providing no one insults the French in his presence. He takes an immediate liking to Hughie and is a father figure of sort to the Female.
While Vincent Cassel seems to be a popular choice, I’d have to go with Jason Flemyng. He’s got the exact same build as the Frenchman and can speak fluent French. Having a British actor play him fits well with the theory that the Frenchman is actually a delusional Englishman.
The Female (of the Species)
While the Frenchman is just crazy, the Female is a full on psycho. Unless it’s the Frenchman, an attempt to lay a finger on her will invariably lead to said fingers being torn off.
As an infant, the Female accidentally gained powers and was taken away from her neglectful mother by a Japanese corporation. The female was raised in a cage and often escaped only to be captured again, until one day when she rescued by the boys.
The Legend
A pastiche of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. The legend is a pioneer of the comic book industry, coming up in from publishing in the seventies to create Superhero comics to make sure Supes looked good. He did so with the purpose of gaining knowledge that he could someday pass on to someone who would destroy them.
Love Sausage
Vasili Vorishikin runs a bar in Moscow, but was a member of the Glorious Five Year Plan, a team of Soviet Superheroes who actually did some heroing. He is a close ally and friend of The Boys, recognizable for his boisterous nature and his very large... frame.
The Homelander
The leader of the Seven. He’s Superman on Black Kryptonite.
Queen Maeve
Wonder Woman as a man-eating alcoholic. The only thing remotely close to a Friend that Starlight has among the Seven.
Starlight
Initially a wide-eyed, middle American, small time idealist superhero, Annie January learned to her horror what it meant to be a big name supe when she got called up to join The Seven. Her only solace is the romance she strikes in her civilian identity with mild mannered Scottish immigrant Hugh Campbell.
A-Train
A***o*e speedster. He accidentally killed Hughie's girlfriend when he threw another supe at her, a fact he only felt awkward about for a second before speeding away. Before Starlight he was the newest member of the Seven, replacing Mr. Marathon who died in the alternate universe 9/11.
Stormfront
A Nazi Superman-Thor hybrid. Possibly every bit as powerful as any of the Seven.
CIA Director Susan L Rayner
The Boys' direct superior, can usually be seen handing Butcher (whom she has a hate-screw relationship) his assignments.
President Robert ‘Dakota Bob’ Schaffer
Dakota Bob is unpopular, given to his war record and his ties to arms manufacturers and oil companies; he is nevertheless admired by Butcher for his stance on Supes.
Vice President Victor ‘Vic the Veep’ Neuman
A mentally handicapped businessman, Vic the Veep was pushed onto Dakota Bob as his running mate by the Republican Party which was mostly bought by Vought American.
The VA Exec
An unnamed, enigmatic figure shaping up to be the series’ primary antagonist. He works for Vought American, a powerful corporation that mMonopolizes the superhero industry and aims to use them in national defense. He liaises with Vought’s supes and makes sure they tow the company line.