In an era swamped by unending superhero movies, TV shows, and video games, The Boys offers a refreshing change of pace from the usual MCU-related adventure film. Rather than adhering to the stereotypical portrait of judicious-minded, super-powered heroes protecting the world from harm, The Boys offers a far grittier portrayal of the age-old superhero narrative, leading to some endlessly creative results in the process.
As part of its parodic take on the superhero genre, The Boys has went out of its way to parallel numerous real-world phenomenons, including the #MeToo Movement, Black Lives Matter, and pop culture’s ongoing obsession with superheroes. Though it certainly distances itself from tried-and-true comic book cliches, The Boys has also never shied away from using certain superhero archetypes for its own purposes. In particular, Prime Video’s flagship series has expertly managed to satirize countless well-known superheroes from both Marvel and DC, including a psychopathic rendition of Superman, a foul-mouthed version of Captain America, and a hilariously ineffective portrayal of Aquaman, among many others.
Can you imagine how terrifying Superman would be if he were a narcissistic psychopath hellbent on world domination? Such is the simple yet haunting idea behind The Boys’ Homelander, the series’ jaded equivalent to DC’s famous Man of Steel. Whereas Clark Kent might appear as the jovial, country-raised, all-American superhero, Homelander is anything but. A demented, psychotic, nihilistic superhero motivated by his own twisted wants and needs, everything about Homelander is enough to send goosebumps racing down the back of viewers’ necks.
In more ways than one, The Boys’ Soldier Boy appears as a direct allusion to Marvel’s patriotic superhero, Captain America. Like Captain America himself, Soldier Boy serves as the first genetically-modified superhuman in the series’ continuity, making him the direct precursor to his eventual successor/rival, Homelander. A once normal soldier injected with Compound V, Soldier Boy became an ageless hero who regularly combated America’s foremost enemies, from the Axis forces of World War II to the shadowy operatives of the Cold War. While his dashing good looks, pro-American attitude, and trademark shield might owe plenty to Cap, though, Soldier Boy’s colorful vocabulary would only make Steve Rogers blush in embarrassment.
In the original comics, The Deep might have appeared as a somewhat more sympathetic character, acting as the closest thing the Seven had to a voice of reason when it came to their megalomaniac view of humanity. In its subsequent Prime Video adaptation, however, The Deep became more and more of an outwardly outlandish spoof of DC’s Aquaman. Whether expressing insecurity about his gills or romantically involving himself with various aquatic sea creatures, The Deep somehow also manages to trigger viewers’ laughter, even if the jokes come at their own expense.
Technically speaking, Tek Knight probably owes as much to Marvel’s Iron Man as he does more to Batman alone. A satirical composite character of DC and Marvel’s premiere billionaire playboys, one might almost describe Robert Vernon as a dark and sadistic version of Elon Musk – a famed celebrity known for his vast intelligence, charming smile, and elusive personality. From abusing his longtime sidekick Laddio to dwelling inside his enigmatic “Tek Cave,” Tek Knight makes for the perfect subversion of Gotham City’s dark and brooding Caped Crusader.
One of the very few genuinely noble characters in The Boys, Queen Maeve acts as a loose stand-in for DC’s iconic superhero, Wonder Woman. Rather than adhering to mythical Amazonian roots as Wonder Woman does, Maeve bases her primary persona on Irish mythology, adopting the name of the fabled Irish monarch, Medb. A former flame of Homelander and an integral member of the Seven, Maeve is that rare Boys superhero who actually cares about the safety and well-being of the average people she saves, a personality trait that Wonder Woman herself would certainly approve of.
A hilarious pastiche of New York City’s resident webslinger, Webweaver is a not-so-subtle homage to Marvel Comics’ teen adventurer, Spider-Man. Between his arachnid-inspired costume and insect-themed nickname, most audiences will only find themselves chuckling at the abundant similarities between Webweaver and his far more prominent Marvel counterpart. Of course, the similarities only get funnier when you realize where Webweaver sprouts his webs from. (Spoiler alert: it’s far, far more disgusting than Peter Parker’s patented web-shooters).
While Billy Butcher might not appear as straightforward or obvious a parody as his mortal enemies in the Seven, it’s hard to ignore his overarching similarities to Marvel’s grizzled vigilante, the Punisher. Like The Boys’ Monsieur Charcuterie, the Punisher adopts extreme, often violent measures to subdue anyone he feels deserving of punishment, from fugitive criminals to renegade superpowered hitmen. Between his monochromatic wardrobe, dry humor, and complete lack of mercy when it comes to his crusade against crime and corruption, Butcher perfectly fulfills the role of the archetypical vigilante, Frank Castle.
