In the last couple of weeks, I finally got all caught up with The Boys up to last month's issue. You see, after reading the first two trades, I decided to buy all the individual issues slowly over time thru my CBS since my guy there had all the issues in stock. He put them on hold for me, and I slowly bought all of them as I could. Just last month, I cleared the last few stragglers out and at that point finally read them from beginning to end (issues 15-40).
Wow! I'd have to say that Garth's story really builds and deepens very well from the foundation laid in those first two trades! Without ruining every plot development it becomes clear that the story works as a huge metaphor for corporate corruption and their control over society. That may not sound very entertaining, but trust me, it is!
As much as Garth makes fun of superhero tropes and finds ways to twist our perceptions of such old reliable conventions as the almighty JLA or Avengers or of the outcast heroes like the X-Men or the teen teams like the Titans or New Mutants (and trust me, you won't BELIEVE some of what he comes up with!), what he's really doing is indicting our real 'heroes' and how they're made of paper. Politicians, actors, sports heroes--they rarely live up to the pedestal we've put them on. Hell, just look at the headlines!
In this Garth Ennis universe there's nary a real hero to be found. They are all corporate shills with faked-up origin stories whose fuck-ups are spun by their corporate sponsors to make them seem like triumphs, or maybe they're blamed on some other poor losers. Sound familiar?
And, yes, the Boys is also an indictment of the Big Two comics companies and their superheroes and their lack of guts to tell new or lasting stories. Especially, it's an indictment of their corporate mentalities doing everything they possibly can to make their properties more profitable. Reading these forty issues, it's no wonder The Boys didn't make it far with DC!
But you know what? The Boys is more than just a satire, it's really funny! Yes, most of the gags are indeed
gagworthy--I mean the visual sexual joke in #17 alone-OMG!
Okay, Garth takes things a good bit farther in The Boys than he ever did in Preacher, but if you loved the gross-out humor parts in Preacher, I think you'll be okay with what he does in The Boys! If you barely made it past that stuff before, well, stay clear, 'kay?
But it's more than just funny, it's got great characters! Like I said above, Butcher and Wee Hughie are classic Ennis characters. Hughie's pretty much the conscious of the team, and Butcher's the brains and driving force. Mother's Milk gets a lot of development after those first two trades. Frenchie and the Female are a bit enigmatic (especially the latter) and often comic relief, but there's a dynamic between them that is very loving and affectionate as the story continues. And Starlight becomes more and more a well-rounded and sympathetic character as the series moves on.
And the bad guys are pretty compelling. Vought-American is the corporation behind all the "Supes" and will do whatever it takes to maintain their control over their interests. Then, there's the Homelander, who is supposed to be this world's premier superhero but is really one sick son of a bitch. He and most of the Seven (the JLA-like group) are total scumbags. And wait'll you meet this world's version of Charles Xavier...:shiver:
What's most impressive with the writing is how Garth has developed a very deep mythology for the backstory behind the development of superpowers and how its roots were in defense contractors trying to one-up each other to land government contracts as far back as World War I. The story behind what happened in this world's 9/11 is a real barn-burner also.
I think The Boys is an absolutely terrific comic! If you don't like Garth's Punisher, Hitman or Preacher work, I don't think this'll be the one to change your mind, but if you did--what are ya waiting for? A kick in the head?!?! Go try it, damn you!
I'm looking forward to reading this on a monthly basis. It's one comic that's been consistently worth the price of admission!