Talk:The Boys (comic book)

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[edit] "out-Preacher 'Preacher'"

I'm wondering how to properly cite this. It's part of the background information in the Robertson interview at the bottom of the article. It's also on the promotional poster at my local comics shop. It doesn't appear to be in dispute that Ennis said that, but I'm not overly comfortable with either of those sources. It would be great if someone could find where Ennis originally said that. Stilgar135 03:03, 23 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] "Based on...?"

It seems the main characters from "The Seven" are listed as being based on specific DC characters. Does this have any official source? It seems that because one or two characters have superficial similarities an attempt has been made to find DC analogues for each of The Seven. For example: Black Noir has been compared to Batman, who has shown neither strong intellect nor detective skills; The Lamplighter has been compared to Green Lantern, despite extremely few details being available; and The Deep has been compared to Aquaman merely due to a suggestion of water-based abilities.

Perhaps there exists some authoritative source that indicates this possible origin for the characters, but based on the available information up to the fifth issue it appears to be mere speculation. Should the text read "Possibly based on..." or "May be inspired by..." or "Has similarities with..." rather than "Based on"?

Garthy 16:51, 24 November 2006 (UTC)

I'm with you on the uncertainty about "based on", but I think the comparison is apt. Ennis obviously isn't going to come out and say "I'm making fun of the intellectual property that keeps my employer afloat", but his intent is easy enough to glean. There are plenty of reviews that take it as gospel that the Boys is parodying the JLA and specific characters: http://comics.ign.com/articles/737/737299p1.html

http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2006/10/06/what-i-bought-4-october-2006/

http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2006/10/26/what-i-bought-25-october-2006/

as a few examples. I'd say that the Batman/Noir analogy is actually one of the most concrete, as Homelander explictly calls himself, Black Noir and Queen Maeve "The Big Three". Directly referencing the source material should constitute "inspired by". Still, "based on" implies a deep level of connection which we haven't seen yet. "Inspired by" is probably the best way to go. Stilgar135 22:36, 24 November 2006 (UTC)

Okay, those links do suggest that a few people have drawn parallels between these characters. Until the creators make a quotable offhand mention that they are parodying the Justice League or the characters begin displaying powers and abilities very closely matching them, I feel a degree of uncertainty remains.
I'm not familiar with "The Big Three" reference as pertains to Superman/Batman/Wonder Woman- are they somehow also referred to as "The Big Three" in their respective series and/or associated media as well? If not, it seems a bit of a stretch. If so, it would appear to be a subtle nod to the DC characters and probably confirmation that the characters are based on the Justice League.... definitely worth mentioning in the article in that case.
As a side note, one story arc in "The Authority" contained a very thinly-veiled set of characters from the Marvel Universe. If "The Seven" in "The Boys" are based on the "Justice League" it does appear to be much more subtle.
Perhaps future issues will expand on the powers of "The Seven" and we'll get an indication as to whether they are a collection of heroes particular to "The Boys" world or if they all start demonstrating abilities that ever-so-closely resemble those of the DC icons mentioned.
Until that point, I'd personally feel the need to include a "possibly" or "probably" qualifier along with "inspired by" or "based on" to increase the accuracy of the article.
Garthy 00:01, 26 November 2006 (UTC)
"I'm not familiar with "The Big Three" reference as pertains to Superman/Batman/Wonder Woman"... Hhmmm... "Trinity" ? And fans *do* call them that way: "The Big Three of DC". You can find they being called this way even here in Wikipedia. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 201.51.59.4 (talk) 04:16, 23 February 2007 (UTC).
Until readership of "The Boys" has an official prerequisite of complete understanding of DC fan culture, perhaps a more useful contribution would be a link or two to "Trinity" or articles that talk of "The Big Three"?
Garthy 05:28, 31 May 2007 (UTC)


do you really think it is not clear who the seven are supposed to be?

  1. The Homelander -> superman
  2. Black Noir -> batman
  3. Queen Maeve -> wonder woman
  4. A-Train -> flash
  5. The Deep -> aquaman
  6. Jack from Jupiter -> martian manhunter
  7. The Lamplighter -> green lantern

oh, i see, because they do not have a satelite or moon base were they are meeting, only a flying base ;) 194.76.29.2 (talk) 12:59, 11 December 2007 (UTC)

I'm not dense. I think it is a possible and probable theory. Please reread my original comment for a more in-depth answer. My main point is that there is still enough flexibility (at this point) for this theory to be wrong. Not every tough-guy caped hero is going to be based on Superman, and not every speedster is based on the Flash. I suspect though at the end of the day these direct analogues will be confirmed officially, but I like to hope that there is some (small?) degree of originality in their design at least.
--Garthy (talk) 14:12, 22 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Destroyed bridge

In issue 3, when Butcher is showing Hughie around New York, is it a real-life bridge that's been destroyed and has helicopters buzzing around it? If so, what is it? Stilgar135 22:36, 24 November 2006 (UTC)

I re-read the comic a couple of minutes ago to answer your question. It looks a lot like the Brooklyn Bridge to me. I assume that it was destroyed by a super hero. --Hndsmepete 22:46, 31 January 2007 (UTC)
Cool. Thanks a lot. Stilgar135 22:54, 17 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Blarney Cock

The short bio on the character states: "Blarney Cock. Irish and extremely racist. Along with his best friend Whack Job, he stole painkillers from a children's hospital. In issue six he was accidentally killed by Wee Hughie, after which it was discovered that he had a hamster taped up and kept in the back of his pants. He was given a hero's funeral." I hate to break this to the writer of this bio, but the hamster wasn't in the back of his pants. It was actually in his ass and was voided out of his body along with feces after he died. If you re-read issue number 6 you can clearly see the brown stains running down his legs after Hughie punched the hole in his chest. Just making sure that everyone understood that it was actually a sexual thing (that probably happened in issue 5 off page) & not simply Blarney Cock placing it in his pants.--Hndsmepete 10:53, 12 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Superpowered?

I'm thinking the sentence "The series follows a superpowered CIA squad, known as the Boys, whose job it is to keep watch on superheroes and, if necessary, intimidate or kill them." should be modified somehow. After all, the characters are only temporarily superpowered, and only when in need of them to lay down the law with supes.--Unregistered User 3:20, 2 September 2007 (CST)

It's not clear if it's temporary or not. 'Blue' has permanent effects when pure, and it's not stated whether they took pure Blue or not.68.107.83.19 02:08, 1 October 2007 (UTC)
i am pretty sure, they are not only temporary powered. it seemd to me that Hugh Campbell was powered only many hours after he got his blue, in the fight were he accidentally killed someone. (and i think billy butcher would have gotten his hands on some not pure form of blue without contacting the woman from the intelligence agency) 194.76.29.2 (talk) 12:55, 11 December 2007 (UTC)


[edit] New and more detailed info

Okay I just wanted to mention that after spending about 30 minutes on edits while logged off I couldn't make any major edits that would stick like add in more detailed info about the teams and members people might have skipped over such as swingwing how Tek Knight died and alittle more detail under both the "boys" and "Seven" sections about what happened to starlight directly after she had to give "oral sex" to the three guys and was in the bathroom puking--Change is coming and potter should have died I might be Trolled and I just don't care 08:33, 6 October 2007 (UTC)