The Boys S1

“I’m a superhero, and I can do whatever the f**k I want,” says Homelander, leader of The Seven, and the most powerful superhero in existence. He may also be the most conceited. And that’s exactly why The Boys can’t let him and his super-power wielding compatriots continue unchecked.

In this razor-sharp black comedy created by lifelong friends Evan Goldberg (Superbad, Pineapple Express) and Seth Rogen (same, same and The Preacher – another equally dark and gory fantasy series), the “supes” get their comeuppance at the hands of the humans they’ve wronged in the course of their heroic deeds.

After mild-mannered Hughie Campbell (played with nuance by Jack Quaid) has his life left in shreds after he crosses paths with A-Train, who is running at super-speed, he’s approached by the enigmatic Butcher (Karl Urban). Billy Butcher is out for revenge and has his sights set on destroying The Seven: the cherry-picked superheroes whose every move is managed by Vought. Yes, the mandatory big, evil, all-American corporation with its tentacles in everything, including the Pentagon.

After recruiting Hughie, they team up with Frenchie and Mother’s Milk. Yes, that’s his real name. The vigilantes set out on their crusade, discovering a mysterious compound along the way while addressing themes like: “What really makes a hero?” and “How many casualties are justified when you’re saving the world?”

NB: Much like Preacher, the violence is, err… creative (or horrific, depending on your stomach for gore).

The Boys is compulsory viewing for cynics sick of the continuing onslaught of superhero movies, looking for something dark and a just a bit over-the-top.