The Boys (comics)

Publication history

The first six issues of The Boys were published by Wildstorm, starting in 2006. On January 24, 2007, the series was abruptly canceled with issue 6. Ennis later explained that this was because DC Comics (of which Wildstorm was an imprint before it was disbanded) were uneasy with the anti-superhero tone of the work. The planned collection of said issues was also canceled. Co-creator Darick Robertson said that "DC is being good about reverting our rights so we can find a new publisher and we're in the process of doing that now". Ennis then released a statement that some other publishers had expressed interest, and that issue 7 and a trade paperback of the first six issues would be available. While Robertson was on exclusive contract to DC, he was given special dispensation to continue working on The Boys. In February 2007 the series was picked up by Dynamite Entertainment and it resumed in May, Dynamite also publishing a collected edition of the first six issues, The Name of the Game, with a foreword by Simon Pegg, the model on whom the character Wee Hughie was based in how he was drawn by Robertson.

In February 2009, Dynamite announced a spin-off miniseries, Herogasm, with art from John McCrea and Keith Burns; subsequent miniseries include Highland Laddie and Butcher, Baker, Candlestickmaker, with the three series each later being compiled as volumes of The Boys.

After The Boys was completed, Ennis told CBR.com that the comic had benefitted from Wildstorm cancelling it, in that Dynamite gave him far more freedom than DC ever would have, saying, "We'd have died on the vine [at DC]. The book would have been chipped and chipped away at until writing it was pure frustration." He also admitted to "a sigh of relief" as Wildstorm had been dissolved as an imprint not long after the move.

An eight-issue epilogue series, Dear Becky, was published from June to November 2020.

Plot

The series is set between 2006 and 2008 in a world where superheroes exist, and 9/11 had marked the destruction of the Brooklyn Bridge instead of the Twin Towers. However, most of the superheroes in the series' universe are corrupted by their celebrity status and often engage in reckless behavior, compromising the safety of the world. The story follows a small clandestine CIA squad, informally known as "The Boys", led by Billy Butcher and comprising Mother's Milk, the Frenchman, the Female, and new addition "Wee Hughie" Campbell, who are charged with monitoring the superhero community, often leading to gruesome confrontations and dreadful results; in parallel, a key subplot follows Annie "Starlight" January, a young and naive superhero who joins the Vought-American-sanctioned superhero team called The Seven, the most prestigious—and corrupt—superhero group in the world and The Boys' most powerful enemies.

Characters

Main article: List of The Boys characters

Collected editions

Dynamite releases both hardcover and trade paperback collections on an ongoing basis (including those comics previously published by Wildstorm). In addition, Dynamite also releases "Definitive" slipcased hardcovers, which contain two trade/hardcover collections to an "omnibus."

Definitive Editions

Oversized Hardcover Omnibus

Awards

• 2008: Nominated, "Best Continuing Series", Eisner Award.
• 2009: Nominated, "Comic Book of the Year Under $3.00", Diamond Comic Distributor Gem Awards.
• 2010: Nominated, "Best Comic Book or Graphic Novel", Scream Awards.

Adaptations

Scrapped film

Variety reported in February 2008 that Columbia Pictures had optioned the comic for a film adaptation, to be produced by Neal H. Moritz. and Phil Hay and Matt Manfredi writing the screenplay. In August 2010, Adam McKay said that he had been signed on to direct the film. McKay added, "They already have a script and we're doing a rewrite on it so hopefully getting the whole thing into shape in the Fall with maybe a shoot happening in January." Columbia Pictures reported in February 2012 that it had dropped its option regarding a film adaptation of The Boys. However, Adam McKay said in a Twitter response that Paramount Pictures had picked it up, and that it was still in the works. On April 30, 2013, Manfredi and Hay were hired by Paramount to write the film, though the project never came to fruition.

Television series

Main article: The Boys (TV series)

In October 2015, it was reported that Cinemax greenlit a television series adaptation of The Boys, and that Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg and Eric Kripke were producing the series. In September 2017, Variety reported that Amazon Studios had picked up the series. The series premiered its first season on July 26, 2019. while the third season premiered on June 3, 2022, and the fourth season premiered on June 13, 2024. In May 2024, the series was renewed for a fifth and final season.

Audiobook series

All 98 issues of the comic series have been adapted into 7 audiobooks produced with a full cast of actors, immersive sound effects and cinematic music by GraphicAudio. Volume 1 was released on May 4, 2020. Volume 7 adapts the Dear Becky epilogue series and concluded the audiobook production on May 20, 2022. The entire series lasts 31 hours, retains the 2006–2008 setting and the dialogue is a very close match to Garth Ennis' original scripts. The content rating is Ages 18+.

Animated series

Main article: The Boys Presents: Diabolical

An animated spin-off series of The Boys, The Boys Presents: Diabolical, was released on March 4, 2022.

"We Gotta Go Now" adaptation

Main article: Gen V

A live-action spin-off series of The Boys, Gen V (formerly The Boys Presents: Varsity), serving as a stand-alone adaptation of the "We Gotta Go Now" arc from the comic series, focused on Marie and the G-Men and inspired by The Hunger Games, was announced on September 20, 2020, and premiered on Amazon Prime Video on September 29, 2023.

References

References

1. (October 17, 2020). "Inside The Boy's publisher Dynamite Entertainment after the series success".
2. Andreeva, Nellie. (November 8, 2017). "Amazon Orders 'The Boys' Superhero Drama Series Based On Comic From Eric Kripke, Evan Goldberg & Seth Rogen". Deadline.
3. MacDonald, Heidi. (February 9, 2007). "Garth Ennis talks The Boys and more (interview)".
4. link. (February 7, 2007, [[Newsarama]], January 24, 2007)
5. MacDonald, Heidi. (January 24, 2007). "So long, Boys — Ennis's Statement".
6. Brady, Matt. (February 7, 2007). "The Boys Lands @ Dynamite Entertainment". [[Newsarama]].
7. Longridge, Chris. (July 26, 2019). "Why that cameo in Amazon's ''The Boys'' is more significant than it looks". Digital Spy.
8. [http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=20215 Ennis & McCrea Bring You to Herogasm] (press release), [[Comic Book Resources]], February 27, 2009
9. (September 25, 2012). "Saying Goodbye To "The Boys" with Garth Ennis, Part 1". [[CBR.com]].
10. Abbate, Jake. (September 20, 2020). "Garth Ennis Hints at New Discoveries in ''The Boys: Dear Becky''".
11. Ennis, Garth. (May 3, 2012). "Garth Ennis Commentary On The Boys #66". Bleeding Cool.
12. link. (January 25, 2009 (press release), [[Newsarama]], April 14, 2008)
13. [https://web.archive.org/web/20100107060559/http://www.newsarama.com/comics/100104-diamond-gem-awards.html Diamond Announces 2009 GEM AWARD Nominees] (press release), [[Newsarama]], January 4, 2010
14. [http://www.comicsbeat.com/2010/09/03/scream-awards-nominees-announced/ Scream (awards) nominees announced] {{webarchive. link. (September 6, 2010 , ComicsBeat.com, September 3, 2010)
15. Siegel, Tatiana. (February 20, 2008). "Columbia, Moritz call on 'The Boys'". [[Reed Business Information]].
16. Kit, Borys. (August 26, 2008). "Two men will adapt 'Boys'". [[e5 Global Media]].
17. Oldham, Stuart. (August 6, 2010). "Q&A with 'The Other Guys' director Adam McKay". [[Reed Business Information]].
18. Kit, Borys. "Columbia Pictures Drops Comic Book Adaptation 'The Boys' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter.
19. "Adam McKay on Twitter".
20. (April 30, 2013). "Screenwriters Matt Manfredi and Phil Hay Talk THE BOYS Movie, Adam McKay's Vision, the Involvement of Garth Ennis, and More".
21. Andreeva, Nellie. (October 12, 2015). "'The Boys' Drama Based On Comic Book Set At Cinemax With Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, Eric Kripke, Original Film & Sony". Deadline.
22. Farchi, Devin. (October 12, 2015). "Seth Rogen Is Shopping An Adaptation Of THE BOYS To Cable Nets". Birth.Movies.Death.
23. (September 8, 2017). "Amazon Orders Fred Armisen-Maya Rudolph Comedy, Wong Kar-wai Drama, 3 Other Projects (EXCLUSIVE)". [[Variety (magazine).
24. The [[The Boys season 2. second season]] premiered on September 4, 2020,[https://tvline.com/2020/06/26/the-boys-season-2-premiere-date-amazon/], Season 2 release date.
25. Gelman, Vlada. (January 7, 2022). "''The Boys'' Season 3 Gets Premiere Date — Watch Announcement Video".
26. Maas, Jennifer. (June 11, 2024). "'The Boys' to End with Season 5 on Amazon".
27. (May 1, 2020). "The Boys Volume 1".
28. Del Rosario, Alexandra. (January 18, 2022). "''Diabolical'': Amazon Sets Premiere Date For ''The Boys'' Spinoff Animated Series".
29. Andreeva, Nellie. (September 27, 2021). "'The Boys' Spinoff Series Developed by Amazon with Michele Fazekas & Tara Butters as Showrunners".
30. Maas, Jennifer. (October 2, 2020). "''The Boys'' Supe College Spinoff Is 'Loosely Inspired' by ''X-Men'' Parody From Comics, Eric Kripke Says".