By Michael Foster-sanders/multimedia editor
Look up in the sky, its a bird, its a plane, its superhero fatigue.
The same formulaic, boring comic book movies and shows for children to beg their parents to see, guaranteeing millions of dollars, comes out yearly.
If it’s not Marvel introducing a hero with a movie or an Avenger movie, it’s DC trying to be adult and failing horribly (look at Batman vs. Superman, or Suicide Squad).
Streaming services had a chance to break the mundane with amazing shows with potential like ‘Swamp Thing’ which got canceled due to production costs, while mediocre shows like ‘Doom Patrol’ and ‘Titans’ get renewed, wasting data.
Enter Amazon’s The Boys.
The Boys is based on a comic of the same name from creators Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, which was in syndication from 2006-2012.
The comic was initially cancelled by its original publisher for being anti-superhero with themes of sexual assault, drug use, terrorism and violence that the “good guys” indulge in, showing that they’re not as squeaky clean as they’re portrayed.
Jack Quaid plays the character Hughie Campbell, a meek, timid person who is a pushover when it comes to his everyday life.
His life changes after his girlfriend Robin meets him after his shift from work to go on a date, and discuss their plans to move in together.
While conversing on the sidewalk, a drug-addicted superhero named A-Train collides into Robin with his superhuman speed, obliterating her in the process.
The death is treated as collateral damage to the company Vought, who employs The Seven, the superhero team A-Train is a member of.
The company concocts a story about A-Train chasing bank robbers to keep the team image squeaky clean, as well as A-Train’s drug use under raps. They offer a pay-off to Campbell to go along with the story.
Courtesy Amazon Studios/Photos by Jan Thijs
Campbell is shocked that this is presented to him and vows to get revenge against A-Train and the mysterious Butcher who has been keeping tabs on the ill deeds of the The Seven. Campbell does so by forming the anti-superhero group The Boys.
On the other side of the spectrum is the newest member of ‘The Seven’, Starlight, played by Erin Moriarty. She hails from a small American town and has been pushed by her parents since childhood to become a superhero. She idolized the lone female member of The Seven, Queen Maeve, which made her want to become a member of the group.
The way that mature themes are handled in the series show the extra care the writers took to show that this isn’t just a run-of-the-mill show about superheroes, but a show that points out how just because someone is gifted with powers, doesn’t mean they’re morally straight.
Power corrupts, and justice isn’t black or white on either side of the coin.
No matter how great the writing is for a show, it’s a waste if the actors can’t pull it off, but the actors don’t squander this opportunity and deliver home run performances.
Karl Urban, as the hell-bent killer of superheroes and leader of The Boys, brings pain to his character Billy Butcher.
His life has also been destroyed by antics of The Seven, and he seeks revenge by any means necessary.
Jessie Usher brings a human side to his drug addicted superhero A-Train, who is faced with becoming a has-been when his speed starts to diminish.
Rounding out the characters is the sociopathic, narcissistic leader of The Seven, The Homelander, who will go through whatever lengths to make sure it maintains its image.
This is must see T.V. Make sure to leave a couple of hours open to watch this great series, because after the first episode, there is no stopping the roller coaster unil the ride is over.
5 of 5 stars
