Credit: Amazon Prime Video
Superheroes have moved in some exciting directions over the past decade. The once judged and frowned-upon genre, has now been elevated to previously unimaginable heights. Almost every single property under the sun has been snapped up by Hollywood at this point. Everything from talking raccoons, life-sized ants, and telepathic caterpillars have appeared on the big screen now. To put it bluntly, no matter how beloved these characters are, there’s no denying how ludicrously surreal and outlandish the whole thing has become. One could say then, that it’s the perfect time for ‘The Boys’ to come and shake things up.
The series is developed by the all-star team of Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg (Superbad, Pineapple Express, This is the End), alongside the man behind the ironically longevous Supernatural, Eric Kripke. Based on the obscure comic book of the same name, The Boys arrives at a particularly interesting time for society and pop culture. Set in a world where superheroes function as little more than celebrities, utilised for underhanded political and financial gain, the show depicts a very different vision to that of the typical Marvel and DC output. After an ordinary man named Hughie Campbell suffers tragedy at the hands of a reckless super powered being, he joins a group of vigilantes named, you guessed it, The Boys. Dedicated to bringing down the corrupt caped crusaders, we follow Hughie on this dangerous mission to really save the world.
At a point when audiences might begin to feel slightly suffocated by the sheer amount of comic book content out there, this series has arrived just in time. While not entirely well communicated in the shows entertaining (but by-the-numbers) marketing material, The Boys is potentially one of the most important entries in the modern superhero genre. By reflecting superheroes in a gritty and realistic manner, the show also shines a sadistic light on our own world of shady politics and self-doubting reliance on social media. Some may quickly point to murky and bleak ventures that have attempted similar satirical content in the past (yes, we’re looking at you Watchmen). Thankfully, this series avoids similar mistakes with a vibrant energy and hilariously dark sense of humour.
As the product of a business conglomerate in an age of media dominance, the series has a brilliantly meta approach peppered with a constant wink at the audience. At one point the newest superhero recruit is told that her life is about to change, before being walked out on stage to a cheering crowd. It doesn’t take Tony Stark to work out what’s being said here, but it does provide some interesting food for thought when actually considering the life changing power of Hollywood. While powerful political figures are evoked, the recent sex scandals within the film industry are taken closer aim at. This does however, come with wonderfully parodied incarnations of Captain America, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, and The Flash.
Related: The Boys gets a final trailer
Karl Urban absolutely shines as Billy Butcher, leader of the ragtag group on a suicide mission to take down the supers. The kiwi star has had a relatively quiet few years, with his fan-favourite role in Thor: Ragnarok (itself a unique and eccentric piece of the genre) serving as his most widely recognised part for quite some time. Opposite relative newcomer Jack Quaid (The Hunger Games), the pair create an interesting dynamic that is only strengthened by the presence the Laz Alonso (Avatar) and Tomer Kapon (Hostages). Simon Pegg is also excellent as always in his supporting role as Hughie’s father. A part which will surely make many question their own mortality after pondering when Shaun become old enough to be a parental figure.
As a rival to Netflix’s Umbrella Academy, this should prove to be worthy competition in the ongoing streaming wars. Viewers may find the initial build up in the first two episodes somewhat slow, but this is to be expected when investing in a brand new world of such large scope. For those who aren’t interested in social commentary or Hollywood satire, the series does conform to typical superhero tropes in its spectacle. Albeit in a much more graphic way than many are accustomed to. This is by no means a negative aspect, as Amazon have clearly spared no expense in making these ‘heroes’ believable on screen.
This sharply-written series functions as the perfect palette cleanser, and will undoubtedly raise some eyebrows for it. The Boys take the safety blanket and cosy feeling of superheroes away, and we’re shown the horror of the real world underneath. In the words of Billy, fuck those fuckers.
The Boys is released on Amazon Prime Video on 26th July.
