THE BOYS (COMIC BOOK)

'''The Boys''' is a creator-owned comic book series, written by Garth Ennis and illustrated by Darick Robertson. The first six issues were published by Wildstorm, but after concerns about the content of the book Wildstorm decided to cease publishing ''The Boys'', which then moved to Dynamite Entertainment.
The series is set in a contemporary world very much like our own, with one notable exception: There are many people out there who have some form of superpower. The series follows a superpowered CIA squad, known as the Boys, whose job it is to keep watch on superheroes and, if necessary, intimidate or kill them.
Ennis has said that the series will "out-Preacher Preacher" ^[1], presumably referring to the extreme violence and sexuality that were that series' hallmark. He has also stated that he expects the series to last for approximately 60 issues.
On January 24, 2007, the series was abruptly canceled with issue #6. Ennis later explained that this was because DC (of whom Wildstorm is an imprint) were uneasy with the anti-superhero tone of the work. ^[2] The planned collection of said issues was also cancelled. However, 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". ^[3] Ennis then released a statement telling of interest from a couple of publishers and that issue #7 and a trade of the first six issues would be available. While Darick Robertson is currently on exclusive contract to DC, he has been given special dispensation to continue working on ''The Boys''. ^[4] As of February 7, 2007, the series was picked up by Dynamite Entertainment and it resumed on May 30, 2007 along with a collected edition of the first six issue was published on the same date with a foreword by Simon Pegg. ^[5]

Contents

Characters

The Boys

The Government

Superheroes

The Seven

Young Americans

Teenage Kix

Others

Storylines

Collections

References

Footnotes

External links

Interviews

Characters

The characters include:

The Boys

★ 'Billy Butcher'.

He led the original Boys, though they were disbanded for as-yet-unstated reasons. At the beginning of the series, he is planning to reassemble the old team, but with a new member to replace Mallory. He is physically large and incredibly violent, and, like all of The Boys, possess super strength. A bulldog named Terror is his constant companion. The cause of his campaign against superheroes stems from the rape and death of his wife, Becky. Butcher woke up to find his wife disemboweled on their bed, with her prematurely born, superpowered child crawling out of her. After it attacked Butcher with its heat vision, he killed it by beating it to death with a lampstand. After reading Becky's diary he learned the identity of his wife's rapist, who is described as "one of the big boys".

★ 'Hugh Campbell'.

Simon Pegg

A Scotsman, nicknamed "Wee Hughie". His girlfriend was accidentally killed by a superhero named 'A-Train' who was travelling faster than the speed of sound. Butcher recruits him for the Boys, and to that end, injects him with Compound V, without Hughie's permission. He intentionally resembles the British actor and writer Simon Pegg. During the fight with Teenage Kix he gutted Blarney Cock with one punch. He is now the keeper of Blarney's hamster.

★ 'Mother's Milk'.

A large, African-American man. He first appears in issue 2. One of the original Boys, he quit to perform community work and raise his dysfunctional daughter, whose mother was incapable of raising her due to her rampant drug abuse. He has now returned to the team, where he acts as Butcher's second in command.

★ 'The Frenchman'.

First seen in issue #2, he is one of the original Boys, and displays a penchant for extreme violence within a few frames of his first appearance. He takes an immediate liking to "Petit Hughie".
He and the female are the 'muscles' of the team and mad. While the Frenchman is merely crazy, the female is a dangerous psychopath. According to Mother's Milk however, it's better for the rest of the humans, if they are in the team rather than in the outside world.

★ 'The Female (of the Species)'.

One of the original Boys. First appearance is issue #2. She is known for her brutality and does not speak (presumably mute). When not working for the Boys, she freelances for the Mafia. Her nickname is derived from the Rudyard Kipling poem of the same name. Her appearance is similar to Yelena Rossini from Darick Robertson's previous long-running series ''Transmetropolitan''. She is in the habit of "explosively eviscerating" her victims and it is implied in issue three that she may be triggered to do so merely by someone touching her, possibly as a result of past trauma.

★ 'Mallory'. Not yet seen, he is one of the original Boys. He researches the heroes for weaknesses, though he will not be returning to the team, as his involvement the first time got his grandchildren murdered.

★ 'The Legend'. First appearance is issue #7. An as-yet-unnamed man who is not an official member of The Boys, he is referred to as a legend by the Butcher. He is a former publisher who became the leader of the comic-publishing industry. He hates "that comic-book crap" and presumably acts as an informant for The Boys.

The Government

★ 'Kessler'. A nebbish businessman whom Butcher uses to acquire information. The Boys refer to him as "Monkey".

★ 'Susan L. Rayner'. Director of the CIA. She despises Butcher but knows that she needs him. She is sexually involved with him, even though she loudly professes her hatred of him during their encounters.

★ '"Dakota Bob"'. President of the United States and responsible for signing off on an order for the CIA to monitor all superheroes - an order that ultimately results in the reformation of The Boys. Has a hatred of superheroes due to the threat they pose to the world. His position is further threatened by the fact that the vice president (Vic the Veep) is supported by pro-superhero businesses and should Vic the Veep take over as President, superheroes would have a free run.

Superheroes

It should be noted at this point in time that the superheroes in ''The Boys'' give only lip service to the personal or societal codes of morals and ethics adhered to by superheroes such as Superman or Batman. At this juncture, with a few exceptions, they are soon shown to be egocentric, arrogant, manipulative, irresponsible and frequently bordering on what some might consider evil or immoral, with mere mortals and even lesser superheroes being "as flies to wanton boys" before them. As a result, the supposedly authoritarian, conspiracy-theorist behaviour of the Boys and their newest recruit is gradually perceived by the reader in a very different light.

The Seven

The Seven are the world's premier superhero team. Underneath their image, the group bicker about popularity, and early on, three members coerce Starlight into giving them oral sex. They are all heavily concerned about merchandising rights. Many critics have drawn comparisons between The Seven and the Justice League. As with the League, the Seven have three core members, referred to as the "Big Three". The members of The Seven (excepting, possibly, Starlight) have each shown traits in common with Justice League members.

★ 'The Homelander'. Real Name John. Leader of The Seven. Sexual predator. Powers include heat vision, which he uses to keep the junior members in line. His powers, abilities, costume and position in the team have similarities to those of Superman. His name evokes Superman's slogan "truth, justice and the American way". His shoulder ornament of his costume also evokes a nod to Ennis' earlier work with the character Judge Dredd. He is strongly implied to be the superhero responsible for the rape and death of Billy Butcher's wife.

★ 'Black Noir'. One of The Seven; powers unknown. Sexual predator. Like Batman, he is a core member of the team.

★ 'Queen Maeve, Empress of the Otherworld'. A member of the Big Three, she has a costume similar to Wonder Woman. Powers Unknown. Is described as unconcerned by world affairs "as long as she's got enough gin inside her".

★ 'A-Train'. A speedster whose carelessness was responsible for the death of Wee Hughie's girlfriend in the first issue. Sexual predator. Was formerly a member of the Teenage Kix, and is the most juvenile and crude member of the team. His abilities are similar to those of The Flash. His catchphrase is "Can't stop the A-Train--!"

★ 'The Deep'. One of The Seven; powers unknown, likely a parallel to DC's Aquaman.

★ 'Jack from Jupiter'. One of The Seven; powers unknown. His name resembles Martian Manhunter.

★ 'Starlight'. Real name Annie January; the newest member of The Seven and a conservative Christian. On joining, was shocked to discover the true nature of the other members of the Seven. On her first trip to the Seven's flying base, the Homelander gave her the choice of providing him, A-Train and Black Noir with oral sex or leaving the group. At a subsequent meeting he also told her that 'the marketing people' had asked for her to wear a more revealing costume. Her character's purpose is to present an inside view for the readers on the Seven. Her only currently displayed power is flight, though she is possibly a pastiche of teenage female superheroines such as Supergirl and Power Girl.

★ 'The Lamplighter'. A former member of the Seven, his current whereabouts are unknown. He has been replaced by Starlight. May have fallen afoul of Billy Butcher. Though his powers and history are as yet unknown, his name implies that he is a Green Lantern analogue.

Young Americans

One of the two major teenage superhero teams, the Young Americans are clean-cut and patriotic; they have ties to the Young Republicans, Christian youth groups (including one known as Capes for Christ) and other conservative organizations. Starlight was previously a Young American.

★ 'Drummer Boy'- The leader. Conservative Christian. Was/is involved in a non-sexual relationship with Starlight - they "wanted to wait".

Teenage Kix

The other major teenage group, Teenage Kix has a more rebellious, Generation X image. On reforming The Boys, Butcher planned his first operation against them. The team frequently goes to prostitution houses to "celebrate" after a victory, but only one place accepts the group. The Boys spy on the group, gathering dirt on each of its members. Butcher sends them surveillance images and a note telling them that he will expose all of them to the media if they do not choose their own sacrifice victim. They decide that Shout Out will out himself, on the grounds that nobody will publicly criticize a black homosexual and that his loss will hurt the team the least. In issue #6 the group is left wounded and bloodied with one member dead. The fight was blamed on "time terrorists". The Kix are an amalgam of several teenage superhero teams, as well as a few characters bearing similarities to members of the X-Men.

★ 'Big Game'. The leader of the group. Bisexual. Has sex with Shout Out and DogKnott.

★ 'DogKnott'. Canine appearance.

★ 'PopClaw'. Retractable claws. Practices self mutilation by cutting herself with her blades. Similar to X-23.

★ 'Blarney Cock'. Irish and extremely racist. Along with his best friend Whack Job, he stole painkillers from a children's hospital. In issue six he was accidentally killed by Wee Hughie, after which it was discovered that he had a taped up hamster inserted in his anus. He was given a hero's funeral.

★ 'Whack Job'. Mohawk-wearing member, can conjure electricity.

★ 'Gunpowder'. He brings in invaluable NRA sponsorship. Looks similar to Judge Dredd. Into Bondage.

★ 'Jetstreak'. Powers unknown. Although, name suggests superspeed.

★ 'Shout Out'. African-American and homosexual. Due to the Boys, he resigns from the team after announcing his homosexuality, but he does show up to fight the Boys after Homelander reveals the perpetrators. During the fight, he has both of his thumbs ripped off by Butcher. Although his name may suggest vocal powers similar to Banshee, Shout Out has only demonstrated electrical abilities.

Others

★ 'Tek Knight'. Issue seven reveals him to be a pastiche of Iron Man and Batman. Has a boy sidekick named Laddi-O (a mirror of Robin). Another character called Swingwing is revealed to be the first Laddi-O who eventually pursued a solo career (mirroring Nightwing). Tek-Knight is shown to have a psychological condition that gives him an overpowering desire to have sex with various people, animals, or inanimate objects.

Storylines

Storyline	Issues	Summary
The Name of the Game	1-2	Billy Butcher learns of a directive made by The President of the United States to have the CIA monitor all superheroes and uses this to get the backing required to reform 'The Boys', a black-ops team designed to keep superheroes in their place. He brings together Mother's Milk, the Frenchman and the Female of the Species, but their fifth member, Mallory, refuses to return as his grandkids were murdered due to his involvement with the group. Requiring five in the team, Butcher recruits a Scottish conspiracy nut named Wee Hughie, whose girlfriend was accidentally killed by A-Train, a member of major superhero team the Seven.
Cherry	3-6	Wee Hughie meets the team for the first time in their new headquarters in the Flatiron Building, New York. There, Butcher reveals that their first mission is to intimidate teen superhero group Teenage Kix. During surveillance work on Teenage Kix, it is revealed that all superpowers come from a drug called Compound V, or 'Blue'—if it is taken in its pure form, the drug gives permanent superpowers that can be passed on genetically. Judging that he is suitable to join the team, Billy injects Hughie with a specially formulated mix of Blue that gives him super-strength and durability - but Hughie doesn't take kindly to this. Meanwhlie, Annie January, a.k.a Starlight, is recruited from the Young Americans to join the Seven, whom she soon discovers to be a lot less clean-cut than the press make out. Hughie encounters Starlight, although neither are aware of the others' team. The Teenage Kix are forced to boot a member, and decide on Shout Out. Homelander informs the Kix that the Boys are responsible. Blarney Cock is killed in the ensuing fight.
Get Some	7-10	Butcher takes Wee Hughie to meet a man called "The Legend" - comic book magnate and a source for Butcher. The Legend has The Boys investigate the mysterious murder of a young gay man which was apparently at the hands of a superhero. The trail leads to Tek Knight, a man of machinery, who is suffering from an unusual problem that has left him without a butler, sidekick, superhero team and several inanimate objects. Hughie and Butcher's murder investigation delves deep into the Tek-Knight's background, as well as that of his former sidekick Swingwing.
Glorious Five Year Plan	11-14	The Boys travel to Moscow, where the local supes are falling foul of a mysterious and violent enemy.

Collections

Dynamite are releasing trade paperback collections on an ongoing basis (including those comics previously published by Wildstorm) and these include:

★ ''The Boys'' (by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson):

★
★ ''The Name of the Game'' (tpb collects #1-6, 152 pages, Dynamite Entertainment, June 2007, ISBN 9133305463, Titan Books, October 2007, ISBN 1845764943)

References

★ THE BOYS CONTINUES IN JUNE AT DYNAMITE, March 9, 2007, Newsarama

Footnotes

External links

★ The message board for "The Boys" from Dynamite Entertainment

★ Darick Robertson's column Back to the Drawing Board

★ DC's page for the trade, who also have extra material like a seven page sample and a trailer

★ Comic Book DB page

Interviews

★ Interview with Robertson about the series, March, 2006

★ Darick Robertson: Just One of The Boys, November 21, 2006 interview

★ "The Boys" Are Back in Town: Ennis & Robertson Speak, April 19, 2007 interview on the changeover in publishers and the future of the title, Comic Book Resources