In contrast to the noble tales of Marvel and DC superheroes, The Boys imagines a world where superheroes don’t just use their powers to save the day but abuse them for influence and control. It’s the mission of the titular Boys, a dysfunctional anti-superhero group to undermine these “supes”, known as The Seven, and the company that owns and manages them, Vought International.
Based on the comic book created by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson in 2006, the TV adaptation is back for its fourth season and is still joyfully (and violently) pricking the pomposity of superhero perfection.
The original comic wore its Quentin Tarantino-esque influence on its sleeve. Although diluted, the extreme cartoonish violence, often played for laughs, has followed through to the small-screen adaptation. The season three recap is a testament to this, all exploding heads, bestiality and gleefully ejaculated expletives.
