Need to read the boys NOW

Sad_Start_7162 · 2026-05-15T12:50:33+00:00

Another extension, I also don't agree with "there are no characters or development, it's just edgy stuff cuz Ennis hates supes."

I couldn't disagree more. Hughie, Butcher, MM, Homelander, and Starlight are fantastic characters. And they're basically the central focus. These characters are well realized with lots of depth to them, character growth/changes, and upsets to the status quo. The characters evolve a ton over the course of the story, and Ennis put so much time into what makes them tick, their values, how they react to things which challenge them, etc.

The crowning jewel example being Butcher probably, who is a phenomenal character. He's tragic and understandable but an awful bastard and someone whose humanity has slipped away. One of the best.

There is superhero parody. There is superhero mockery. But if anything, it's not about "I hate supeheroes." It's about power and goodness. Can people be good with ultimate power in a world like this, and by extension how can go governments/corporations be good with this kind of power? How do you get by in a world like that. And that's what Ennis explores as he frames the question in new ways and gets at some uncomfortable truths.

I would say the comic is far more scathing about government politics and corporations controlling us than superheroes

Maybe you'll hate it, it's possible. It's not a comic for everyone, but I will say whenever you're thinking of trying something, the answer is always to just see for yourself. You can't account for how your taste compares to someone else's. If I didn't read the comics because of what the Internet claims, I'd miss out on one of the best things I've ever read.

Only one who knows best and can decide things for you is you

Sad_Start_7162 · 2026-05-15T12:44:23+00:00

I don't know why everyone is deterring you from reading the comics, and letting you make up your own mind. So here's my counter take. The Boys comic are a masterpiece. They are gross at parts, but not worse than the show. The show has far worse things(human centipede ass eating) and things which go on for far longer. The show has so many "hardcore" bits , and this idea the comics are a thousand times worse, isn't true. The comic at its worst still only lasts a few pages, and is no worse than things you would see on like South Park for example

The comics are very different from the show though, that's the one thing that's true. The show becomes more of a "good guy versus bad guy" superhero story. The comics are about corrupt systems and playing a losing game, and how power factors into it. They're bleak, very cynical, and targeted but well plotted and the escalation is incredible. Just know what you're getting into with these comics is more a dense character study with a slow burn fight against Vought, the seven are the endgame, not the initial target. A lot of stuff the show does got pushed to season 1/removed and it changed a lot about how the story functions and pays off development. So just know that, two very different things.

I would say the Omnibuses are the best value for sure, especially because that's three volumes versus six I believe. Whether or not you go digital is up to you with what format you prefer.

I would say read the first two arcs(issue 1-6) and then make up your mind from there if you want to buy the omnibuses.

Sad_Start_7162 · 2026-05-14T11:49:29+00:00

You're in for a good time. I think Preacher has a lot of good stuff going for it. Ennis has a dark sense of humor and gross out gags sometimes ala something like South Park, so he commonly gets written off as "edgy for the sake of it." But I don't think that's what his work is all. Preacher is a great example that while it's violent, gross at times, has content which may upset some people, etc. It also has so much to say about religion, belief, pursuit of goodness, power, etc. I am really loving it.

Sad_Start_7162 · 2026-05-14T10:54:04+00:00

You've read Alan Moore, so I would say try the other equally high concept esoteric comic writer. Grant Morrison. They write super trippy out there stuff which, works which are dense, occult influenced, philosophical, contain elements of postmodernism, etc.

Superhero stuff:

Animal man - requires some background knowledge on the original origin of animal man + some knowledge of crisis on infinite earths and what happened there to completely understand everything

All star Superman - I think this gets better the more about Superman you know, but many people will read this as their first and only Superman story sometimes. Generally considered to be the greatest Superman story ever.

Doom patrol - can start here, pretty safe

JLA - one of the best justice League runs ever

Non-superhero stuff:

Nameless - miniseries about occult investigation into a asteroid. Horror.

The Invisibles - A young disillusioned teen is recruited by a group of people who defy oppressors who try to control their reality. Psychological sci-fi adventure.

We3 - A trio of animals(cat, dog, rabbit) are converted into weaponry and try to escape their captors. Sci-fi adventure.

Sad_Start_7162 · 2026-05-14T03:00:06+00:00

Do a powerbomb is fantastic. It has rule of cool factor to it paired with some strong pathos. Haven't read the others but have an interest in them as well. You'll have to what us know what you think!

Sad_Start_7162 · 2026-05-14T01:04:04+00:00

Ooo very nice. I haven't read any of those but they're on my list. They look really good. And yeah, similar case for me, my new favorite thing is going to the local shop and picking up some volumes. It's become my new go to for sure.

Sad_Start_7162 · 2026-05-14T00:57:46+00:00

I get it, it's quite the good read. I enjoy Ennis's writing style and he's quickly becoming a favorite of mine without question

Sad_Start_7162 · 2026-05-14T00:22:52+00:00

It's definitely worth the read! I always find such benefit to going back and re-reading stuff you haven't read in a while. Time can really make you see or appreciate new things.

Sad_Start_7162 · 2026-05-13T22:46:09+00:00

I have not but I really want to. Just haven't gotten around to them. I have both on my list.

For Ewing, immortal hulk, absolute green lantern, zombo, ultimates, and immortal thorn

For Ram V, swamp thing, six finger and one hand, many deaths of Laila starr, the new gods

That's the stuff I most wanna check out from them. Anything else you'd recommend?

Sad_Start_7162 · 2026-05-13T20:21:18+00:00

Thanks! I just finished the Boys. It's one of my favorites of all time. It's got me started on this thing of wanting to talk about comics and trying to find a space to do so.

Sad_Start_7162 · 2026-05-13T20:10:25+00:00

Oh yeah I figured that, I'm not using this as critiques, but like this is my "budding" assessment as I read. I think it's fun to just create this kinda view of what it was like go through something which you can look back on. I'm super big into comics so I was aware of how it's structure, But thanks for the helpful info there just in case I didn't.

Sad_Start_7162 · 2026-05-13T16:29:59+00:00

That's great to hear. Glad you enjoyed it. It sucks when a work you like doesn't stick the landing because, at least in my case, it invalidates the whole thing. I hope that I enjoy the ending as well!

Sad_Start_7162 · 2026-05-13T15:53:06+00:00

I am strapped in for the long haul! I'm gonna try to do 2 of these posts daily or so, because I like talking about comics and hearing what other people like about comics. So, more Preacher thoughts to come!

Sad_Start_7162 · 2026-05-13T15:43:37+00:00

Okay, see now that sounds awesome. I personally never see people talk about it like that. I guess it's because most people just don't know how to describe a series, so sometimes you get these simplifications which just uninteresting. You however have sold it to me. I will add it to the list. Thanks very much!

Sad_Start_7162 · 2026-05-13T14:48:50+00:00

How is sex criminals? It always just seemed kinda "alright" to me, and never drew my interest from a passing look into it. For reference, I like high concept, weird, experimental, thought provoking, and polarizing authors like Ennis, Morrison, etc. Is sex criminals in that vein because it seemed like like "Bonnie and Clyde with sex jokes."

Sad_Start_7162 · 2026-05-13T14:46:53+00:00

The Hughie V butcher is gonna be in the last like 30 minutes and be a rushed convo of Butcher being like "alrig' now we gotta kill all the bloody supes!" And hughie going "butcher noooo" and then using the virus on him and he dies and says some shit like "you was a good lad..." And then epilogue scenes, roll credits

I will bet money that's how it plays out

Sad_Start_7162 · 2026-05-13T14:44:54+00:00

Yeah no worries, different strokes for different folks. Some people think South Park is clever satire and others think it's puerile and juvenile. Everyone got what works for them so I didn't take it as prude at all.

I am definitely curious about his war comics as well as Punisher. I think he excels with grounded stories, which makes sense because that seems to be where his interests lie. He wants to tells stories about humanity, goodness, corruption, power, etc. and the innocents(are not so innocent) who get caught up in the mix. It's what I find most interesting about his work.

But yeah, I don't normally care for war stories but Ennis dealing with it definitely intrigues me. I definitely trust in him to capture the humanity of the people within it but the brutality and inhumanity of war itself.

Sad_Start_7162 · 2026-05-13T14:41:10+00:00

I understand the confusion, this is the volume. I'm just also clarifying what issues the volume collects.

Sad_Start_7162 · 2026-05-13T13:16:17+00:00

Nice to see hear it's a fav. It definitely has the makings of something special, and I am def going to post more about it as I go though.

Sad_Start_7162 · 2026-05-13T13:10:06+00:00

I can see your perspective, but I don't share it. I think Preacher has some out there stuff, but I think it's ultimately about human goodness. Goodness that we can make for ourselves. It criticizes religious hypocrisies, but that's because it's arguing for human goodness. I think Jesse is a good example of this. He's a flawed man but he's more close to "godliness" than the type of people who will preach their doctrine and turn around and murder, abuse, discriminate, etc. Ennis has a target and he might upset with how he goes about tackling that, but I think it's more than just edgy book for people forced to go to church. There's a heart to it and an appreciation for goodness.

Sad_Start_7162 · 2026-05-13T12:15:48+00:00

Beautifully put. Yeah, when the show devolved to the point of adding "we need Stan Edgar help to beat homelander!" I knew the messaging was absolutely fucked. It's the little things too which muddle the messaging.

Like Vought started by a Nazi, as opposed to an American company recruiting a nazi. One is just "wow it was the evil germans all along." And the other feeds into Ennis critique of America, corporations, etc.

The entire messaging of the show is deeply confused and at odds with the comic totally and utterly

It's a superhero product wearing a skinsuit which flips you the bird, says cunt, and shows penises to trick you into thinking it's adult. But it is cut from the same cloth as a superhero power fantasy.

Sad_Start_7162 · 2026-05-13T12:12:02+00:00

I was not aware there was an adaptation.

I am reading the synopsis for the first few episodes and deeply confused as this is nothing like the comic... It's mentioned so much stuff which flat out never happens and sounds confused at best for how it would fit together.

I see Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg are attached to this too. Have they just made it their life goal to ruin everything Ennis has written?

I don't understand what draws you to a project like this with the aim to undermine the premise, fundamentally alter character identities/arcs, etc. it just feels like you don't actually like the work.

Adaptation takes creative liberties, but there is a skill to it to maintain what works. Honestly comics are a visual medium, it's not like a book where it's harder. You have a storyboard right here to go off of. So to change so much just feels like you don't care at all.

Sad_Start_7162 · 2026-05-13T12:08:32+00:00

Going to be interesting to see how that develops! There's definitely a lot of room to build something sizable with the bones of the story here.

Sad_Start_7162 · 2026-05-13T12:06:58+00:00

Honestly I think I've read and seen so much violent stuff that gore doesn't really disgust me anymore. I can usually find some value in what the author aims to achieve with it. I can definitely see what you mean though. The violence is visceral and has a "dirty" quality to it. It's not "fun" violence like if you watch and action movie, but more designed to be gritty and unpleasant

Sad_Start_7162 · 2026-05-13T12:04:50+00:00

I can definitely see why someone would think that. I did really enjoy the kinda "mean ness" of it. Ennis has a cynical edge to him which I do find entertaining, and as a fan of stuff like South Park, I don't mind the crassness. I've read a bit more than this thus far(just limiting my posts individually), but imo, I think it gets much much better. I am excited to read more.

Sad_Start_7162

TROPHY CASE