The Boys (comic book)

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The Boys

Cover of The Boys #1. By Darick Robertson and Tony Avina
Clockwise from the lower left-hand corner: Billy Butcher, The Frenchman, Mother's Milk, The Female, Wee Hughie
Publisher Wildstorm (Issues 1-6), Dynamite Entertainment (Issues 7-current)
Schedule Monthly
Format Ongoing series
Publication date October 2006-
Number of issues 19 (as of June 08)
Main character(s) See Characters
Creative team
Writer(s) Garth Ennis
Artist(s) Darick Robertson
Colorist(s) Tony Avina
Creator(s) Garth Ennis
Darick Robertson
Collected editions
The Name of the Game ISBN 9133305463
Get Some ISBN 1933305681

The Boys is an American creator-owned comic book series, written by Garth Ennis and illustrated by Darick Robertson. It was originally published by Wildstorm before moving to Dynamite Entertainment

The series is set in a contemporary world very much similar to real one, with one notable exception: a number of people have some form of superpower. The series follows a superpowered CIA squad, known informally as "the Boys", whose job it is to keep watch on superheroes and, if necessary, intimidate or kill them.

Ennis has said that the series will "out-Preacher Preacher" [1], presumably referring to the extreme violence and sexuality that were that series' hallmark. He has also stated that he expects the series to last for approximately 60 issues.

Contents

[edit] Publication history

The first six issues were published by Wildstorm, starting in 2006. On January 24, 2007, the series was abruptly canceled with issue #6. Ennis later explained that this was because DC (of whom Wildstorm is an imprint) were uneasy with the anti-superhero tone of the work. [2] The planned collection of said issues was also canceled. However, Robertson said that "DC is being good about reverting our rights so we can find a new publisher and we're in the process of doing that now". [3] Ennis then released a statement telling of interest from a couple of publishers and that issue #7 and a trade of the first six issues would be available. While Darick Robertson is currently on exclusive contract to DC, he has been given special dispensation to continue working on The Boys. [4] In February 2007 the series was picked up by Dynamite Entertainment and it resumed in May. A collected edition of the first six issues was also published, with a foreword by Simon Pegg. [5]

[edit] Characters

The characters include:

[edit] The Boys

  • Billy Butcher.

He led the original Boys, who were disbanded for as-yet-unstated reasons. At the beginning of the series, he works to reassemble the old team, with a new member filling in for Mallory. He is physically large and incredibly violent, and, like all of The Boys, possesses super strength. A bulldog named Terror is his constant companion. He is perfectly happy to blackmail, brutalise, torture and murder if it achieves his goals; he can also be very sociable, to the same ends, with Mother's Milk stating every word he says is calculated to that end. He seems to get pleasure from killing superheroes; the slaughter of 150 of them in #14 left him humming Ode To Joy all day.

The cause of his campaign against superheroes stems from the rape and death of his wife, Becky. Butcher woke up to find his wife disemboweled on their bed, with her prematurely born, superpowered child crawling out of her. After it attacked Butcher with its heat vision, he killed it by beating it to death with a lampstand. After reading Becky's diary he learned the identity of his wife's rapist, who is described as "one of the big boys" (it is strongly implied, though not yet stated, that this is Homelander. The fact that the baby apparently shared at least one of his powers probably reinforces this.).

  • Hugh Campbell.

A Scotsman, nicknamed "Wee Hughie". His girlfriend was accidentally killed by a superhero named 'A-Train' who was travelling faster than the speed of sound. Butcher recruits him for the Boys, and to that end, injects him with Compound V, without Hughie's permission. Hughie is still an innocent to the Boys' world and after killing someone in combat by accident, he was worried about doing so again; he is also disgusted by Butcher's easy willingness to torture their enemies and the others' lack of caring about it. He has made friends with Russian hero Vas and, unknowingly, the superheroine Starlight, the latter of whom he has developed a sexual relationship with. He intentionally resembles the British actor and writer Simon Pegg.

  • Mother's Milk.

A large, African-American man, apparently so nicknamed because he is the "purest", i.e. most goodhearted, member of the team. In the latest issue however, it is hinted that the name can be understood literally, meaning they are the source of his power. He first appears in issue 2. One of the original Boys, he quit to perform community work and raise his dysfunctional daughter Janine, whose mother was incapable of raising her due to her rampant drug abuse; years ago, Janine, then less than six months old, was rescued from neglect by Mother's Milk and Butcher, whom she calls "Uncle Billy." He has now returned to the team, where he acts as Butcher's second-in-command, possibly in part so that he can restrain Butcher from going too far in pursuit of their goals. He is one of the few people who receives any consistent level of civility (at least to his face) from the pathologically rude Butcher, who thinks very highly of him. Also the only one of The Boys who thinks that a few supers might be acting out of genuine altruism (as mentioned in issue 6).

  • The Frenchman.

First seen in issue #2, he is one of the original Boys, and displays a penchant for extreme violence within a few frames of his first appearance. He takes an immediate liking to "Petit Hughie". He and the Female are the 'muscles' of the team - and mad. While the Frenchman is merely crazy, the Female may be psychotic. According to Mother's Milk, however, it's better for the rest of the humans, if they are in the team rather than in the outside world. He seems to have knowledge of firearms and projectiles as depicted in issue #12 and also seems to have an incredible sense of smell, even tracking assassins to a car by scent, whether this is a super-human ability or not has not been revealed. He seems to have a fondness and bond with the Female, playing games (like reverse-strip poker and snowball fights) with her and being the only one who can safely wake her.

  • The Female (of the Species).

One of the original Boys. First appearance is issue #2. She is known for her brutality, and has never spoken to date. When not working for the Boys, she freelances for the Mafia. Her nickname is derived from the Rudyard Kipling poem of the same name. Her appearance is similar to Yelena Rossini from Darick Robertson's artwork on the previous long-running series Transmetropolitan. She is in the habit of "explosively eviscerating" her victims and it is implied in issue three that she may be triggered to do so merely by someone touching her, possibly as a result of past trauma. This does not appear to apply to the Frenchman. In issue #16, the Frenchman states that she 'does these things because (she) cannot not do them'.

  • Mallory. Not yet seen, he is one of the original Boys. He researches the heroes for weaknesses, though he will not be returning to the team, as his involvement the first time got his grandchildren murdered.
  • The Legend. First appearance is issue #7. An as-yet-unnamed man who is not an official member of The Boys, he is referred to as a legend by the Butcher. He is a former publisher who became the leader of the comic-publishing industry, and his work on superhero comics gives him incredible knowledge of them. He hates "that comic-book crap" and acts as an informant for The Boys.

[edit] The Government

  • Kessler. A businessman whom Butcher uses to acquire information. The Boys refer to him as "Monkey".
  • Susan L. Rayner. Director of the CIA. She claims to despise Butcher though is sexually involved with him .She is mostly the one who hands down the order to The Boys.
  • "Dakota Bob". President of the United States and responsible for signing off on an order for the CIA to monitor all superheroes - an order that ultimately results in the reformation of The Boys. Has a hatred of superheroes due to the threat they pose to the world. His position is further threatened by the fact that the vice president (Vic the Veep) is supported by pro-superhero businesses like Vought-American.

[edit] Superheroes

It should be noted at this point in time that the superheroes in The Boys give only lip service to the personal or societal codes of morals and ethics adhered to by superheroes such as Superman or Batman. At this juncture, with a few exceptions, they are soon shown to be egocentric, arrogant, manipulative, irresponsible and frequently bordering on what some might consider evil or immoral, considering mere mortals and even lesser superheroes being as worthless and inferior to them.

The company Vought-American has many ties to the superheroes and controls a number of them; one of their higher executives sits on the Seven's meetings and once insulted the Homelander (#14) over the phone with no fear of any consequence.

[edit] The Seven

The Seven are the world's premier superhero team. They are all heavily concerned about merchandising rights. Many critics have drawn comparisons between The Seven and the Justice League. As with the League, the Seven have three core members, referred to as the "Big Three". The Seven also pokes fun at the two American big comic publishers, Marvel and DC's, core team of super heroes.

  • The Homelander. Real name John. Leader of The Seven. Powers include heat vision, which he uses to keep the junior members in line. His powers, abilities, costume and position in the team have similarities to those of Superman, although his codename is more reminiscent of patriotic heroes such as Captain America. His costume's shoulder ornament is an eagle, similar to that of Judge Dredd, a character Ennis had earlier worked with.
  • Black Noir. Always appears to be in shadow. Powers unknown. Batman analogue.
  • Queen Maeve, Empress of the Otherworld. A member of the Big Three. Has a costume similar to Wonder Woman. Powers unknown. Is described as unconcerned by world affairs "as long as she's got enough gin inside her".
  • A-Train. A speedster whose carelessness was responsible for the death of Wee Hughie's girlfriend in the first issue. His abilities are similar to those of The Flash though with significantly less control. Was formerly a member of the Teenage Kix, making him more clearly an analogue to the Wally West Flash, and is the most juvenile and crude member of The Seven. His catchphrase is "Can't stop the A-Train--!"
  • The Deep. Wears a diving helmet. Powers unknown. Apparently a jab at Aquaman.
  • Jack from Jupiter. Powers unknown. Apparently a Martian Manhunter parody.
  • The Lamplighter. A former member of the Seven, he is currently a mindless zombie like Blarney Cock apparently at the hands of the Boys. He is hidden from view deep under the Seven's headquarters. Probably a Green Lantern analogue. Replaced by Starlight.
  • Starlight. Real name Annie January; only currently displayed power is flight. Other powers hinted at are the power to project light, and super-hearing. The newest member of The Seven, having formerly been a member of the Young Americans superhero organization, and a conservative Christian. On joining, was shocked to discover the true nature of the other members of the Seven. On her first trip to the Seven's flying base, the Homelander gave her the choice of providing him, A-Train and Black Noir with oral sex or leaving the group. She later meets her idol, Queen Maeve who brushes her off. At the first meeting she attends during the Kix arc, she was going to speak up on Shoutout's announcement of him leaving his team but was interuppted by A-train making suggestive sexual remarks. Later, she catches Homelander and A-train talking about keeping their private and personal business and away from the other, showing their obsession with profit and their public image. Her costume is modified to be more revealing. During the "Cherry" story arc she meets Wee Hughie in New York on a bench in central park. Under her Annie persona she has a chat with Hughie, neither knowing the other's true identity.

[edit] Young Americans

One of the two major teenage superhero teams, the Young Americans are clean-cut and patriotic; they have ties to the Young Republicans, Christian youth groups (including one known as Capes for Christ) and other conservative organizations.

  • Drummer Boy- The leader. Conservative Christian. Was/is involved in a non-sexual relationship with Starlight - they "wanted to wait". Was caught by Starlight having sexual intercourse with Holy Mary.

[edit] Teenage Kix

The other major teenage group, Teenage Kix has a more rebellious, Generation X image. On reforming the Boys, Butcher planned his first operation against them. The team frequently goes to brothels to "celebrate" after a victory. In issue #6 the group is left wounded and bloodied with one member dead after being accidentally killed by Wee Hughie.

  • Big Game. The leader of the group. Bisexual. Has sex with Shout Out and DogKnott.
  • DogKnott. Canine appearance.
  • PopClaw. Retractable claws. Practices self mutilation by cutting herself with her blades. Similar to X-23.
  • 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 taped up hamster inserted in his anus. He was given a hero's funeral.
  • Whack Job. Mohawk-wearing member, can conjure electricity.
  • Gunpowder. He brings in invaluable NRA sponsorship. Looks similar to Judge Dredd. Into Bondage.
  • Jetstreak. Powers unknown, although name suggests superspeed.
  • Shout Out. African-American and homosexual. Due to the Boys, he resigns from the team after announcing his homosexuality, but he does show up to fight the Boys after Homelander reveals the perpetrators. During the fight, he has both of his thumbs ripped off by Butcher. Although his name may suggest vocal powers similar to Banshee, Shout Out has only demonstrated electrical abilities.

[edit] Payback

Payback appears to be an analogue of Marvel's Avengers, having analogues to Iron Man, Thor, Ant-Man, and Vision. Additionally, the name of the group is similar in meaning to that of the Avengers.

  • Tek Knight. Issue seven reveals him to be a pastiche of Iron Man and Batman. A founding member of the superhero team known as Payback. Has a boy sidekick named Laddi-O (a mirror of Robin). Another character called Swingwing is revealed to be the first Laddi-O who eventually pursued a solo career (mirroring Nightwing). Also shown to have an associate called the Talon, who switches back and forth between ally and adversary, and is a take on Catwoman and Black Widow, including her similar costume. Tek-Knight had a brain tumor "the size of a fist"; this gave him an overpowering desire to have sex with anything. He died in a massive explosion after having sex with a texas sized meteor headed towards earth. [6]
  • Stormfront. A member of Payback. Due to the Legend implying his powers could be on par with those of The Seven in issue #19, and his name, he is a possible analogue of Thor.
  • Swatto. A member of Payback. Appears to be an Ant-Man analogue.
  • Mind Droid. A member of Payback. Described as a "Telepathic Android". Probably a Vision analog. First victim of Tek Knight's sexual disorder.

[edit] Others

  • Love Sausage. Real name Vasilii Vorishikin, but everybody calls him Vas. A Russian ex-cop, ex-tank commander, ex-superhero, communist and current owner of a bar in Moscow with a penchant for drinking brake fluid that he passes off as Vodka. He used to be part of Glorious Five Year Plan, a team of five superheros in the days of the Soviet Union. He is on friendly terms with the Boys, especially bonding with Hughie and is so far the only likable "supe" outside of Starlight (and the only one the Boys know of). Vas' 'Vodka' (actually brake fluid) in issue 13 saves both Vas and Hughie from poisoning laced in a Russian soup borscht, Vas puts it off as "This shit would probably kill AIDS virus!". Hughie strangely grows to like the drink and Vas gives a whole bag of bottles to him at the end of issue 14. Appropriately named Love Sausage's super power appears to be that he is extremely well endowed and super strength and durability. This being the case, he describes bare female breasts to be his Kryptonite.
  • G-Men. First mentioned in issue 7 and as yet unseen, the G-Men are most likely a group parallel to the Seven and analogue of the X-Men. They also appear to have several sister-teams, analogous to the other "X-teams", these include: G-Force (X-Force), The G-Brits (Excalibur), The G-nomads (The Exiles) and G-Wiz.

[edit] Storylines

Storyline Issues Summary
The Name of the Game 1-2 Billy Butcher learns of a directive made by The President of the United States to have the CIA monitor all superheroes and uses this to get the backing required to reform 'The Boys', a black-ops team designed to keep superheroes in their place. He brings together Mother's Milk, the Frenchman and the Female of the Species, but their fifth member, Mallory, refuses to return as his grandkids were murdered due to his involvement with the group. Requiring five in the team, Butcher recruits a Scottish conspiracy nut named Wee Hughie, whose girlfriend was accidentally killed by A-Train, a member of major superhero team the Seven.
Cherry 3-6 Wee Hughie meets the team for the first time in their new headquarters in the Flatiron Building, New York. There, Butcher reveals that their first mission is to intimidate teen superhero group Teenage Kix. The Boys spy on the group, gathering dirt on each of its members. Butcher sends them surveillance images and a note telling them that he will expose all of them to the media if they do not choose their own sacrifice victim. During surveillance work on Teenage Kix, it is revealed that all superpowers come from a drug called Compound V, or "Blue", invented during the Second World War by Nazi scientists. If it is taken in its pure form, the drug gives permanent superpowers that can be passed on genetically. Judging that he is suitable to join the team, Billy injects Hughie with a specially formulated mix of Blue that gives him super-strength and durability - but Hughie doesn't take kindly to this. Meanwhile, Annie January, a.k.a Starlight, is recruited from the Young Americans to join the Seven, whom she soon discovers to be a lot less clean-cut than the press make out. Hughie encounters Starlight, although neither are aware of the others' team. The Teenage Kix are forced to boot a member, and decide that Shout Out will out himself, on the grounds that nobody will publicly criticize a black homosexual and that his loss will hurt the team the least. Homelander informs the Kix that the Boys are responsible. Blarney Cock is killed in the ensuing fight.
Get Some 7-10 Butcher takes Wee Hughie to meet a man called "The Legend" - comic book magnate and a source for Butcher. The Legend has The Boys investigate the mysterious murder of a young gay man which was apparently at the hands of a superhero. The trail leads to Tek Knight, a man of machinery, who is suffering from an unusual problem that has left him without a butler, sidekick, superhero team and several inanimate objects. Hughie and Butcher's murder investigation delves deep into the Tek-Knight's background, as well as that of his former sidekick Swingwing. Hughie is the one who cracks the case, as well as being manipulated by Butcher into getting over his fear of killing another person in battle when he's forced to take down Swingwing. While the crime is solved and Swingwing dies in a jetpack accident (Butcher removed a screw from it and thus may have caused it, even though he was blackmailing the super into working for him at the time), Hughie is depressed that there is no real justice for the dead man. He is, however, able to bring a gay couple back together.
Glorious Five Year Plan 11-14 The Boys travel to Moscow, where the local supes are mysteriously exploding. Working with Vas and being targeted by Russian organised crime head Little Nina, they discover that Vought-American is working with Little Nina to engineer a coup - an army of 150 East European/Russian supers, organised by Nina, will ravage the country before she remotely detonates them all via their altered metabolisms and rises to power based on "saving" Russia. (Vought are just using her as a pawn and have another figure they want in charge) The Boys stop this plot and Butcher detonates the supers, while Hughie bonds with Vas and is disgusted by the group's willingness to torture. However, when Butcher gives the information to the CIA, he finds Director Rayner isn't going to do anything about it - she's worried Vought-American will sic their superheroes on the CIA, and possibly even the US itself.
Good For The Soul 15-18 Hughie visits The Legend, determined to find out more about The Boys - their history, their personalities, and their mysterious hidden agenda. Annie January (alias Starlight) has her own doubts about membership of The Seven. Hughie must also deal with the return of Blarney Cock as a brain damaged zombie and his new romance with Annie January, as the Boys get closer find out about their relationship.
I Tell You No Lie G.I. 19-22 More is revealed about The Boys and The Seven.

[edit] Collected editions

Dynamite are releasing trade paperback collections on an ongoing basis (including those comics previously published by Wildstorm) and these include:

# Title ISBN Release date Number of pages Collected material
1 The Name of the Game ISBN 9133305463 June, 2007 152 The Boys #1-6
2 Get Some ISBN 1933305681 March, 2008 192 The Boys #7–14

[edit] Awards

[edit] Film

Variety report that Columbia Pictures have optioned the comic for a film adaptation, to be produced by Neal H. Moritz.[8]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Hanging with the Boys: Ten Questions for Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, interview from August 23, 2006
  2. ^ Garth Ennis talks The Boys and more, Publishers Weekly, interview from February 9, 2007
  3. ^ The Boys Ends At Wildstorm, Newsarama, January 24, 2007
  4. ^ So long, Boys — Ennis’s Statement, Publishers Weekly, January 24, 2007
  5. ^ The Boys Lands @ Dynamite Entertainment, Newsarama, February 7, 2007
  6. ^ Tek Knight (comics) - Comicvine, the Comic book Encylopedia we all can edit
  7. ^ 2008 Eisner Award Nominees Named (press release), Newsarama, April 14, 2008
  8. ^ Columbia, Moritz call on 'The Boys', Variety, February 20, 2008

[edit] References

[edit] External links

[edit] Interviews