The Boys (comics)

The Boys
Company type	Comic book series
Industry	Comics, Graphic novels
Predecessor	WildStorm (initial publisher)
Founded	October 2006; 20 years ago
Founder	Garth Ennis, Darick Robertson
Defunct	November 2012
Successor	Dynamite Entertainment (publisher from 2007)
Products	Comic book series, collected editions, spin-offs
Parent	Dynamite Entertainment (from 2007)

The Boys is an adult superhero comic book series co-created and scripted by Garth Ennis, with illustrations by Darick Robertson. Originally, the series was launched by WildStorm and ran for six issues before being discontinued. Subsequently, Dynamite Entertainment took over publication, issuing eight collected volumes: Get Some, Good for the Soul, We Gotta Go Now, The Self-Preservation Society, The Innocents, The Big Ride, Over the Hill with the Swords of a Thousand Men, and The Bloody Doors Off. The series debuted in October 2006 and concluded in November 2012 after a total of 72 issues. Notably, the fourth volume disclosed that this narrative exists within the same universe as Ennis' earlier DC Vertigo work, Preacher, including an appearance by the vampire character Proinsias Cassidy. Throughout its publication, three limited spin-off series, each spanning six issues—Herogasm, Highland Laddie, and Butcher, Baker, Candlestickmaker—were released. Additionally, an eight-issue epilogue titled Dear Becky ran from June to December 2020.

The franchise further expanded through a successful television adaptation produced by Amazon Studios and Sony Pictures Television. This adaptation premiered on Amazon Prime Video on July 26, 2019, and spanned five seasons. It also spawned supplementary content such as the web series Seven on 7 with Cameron Coleman which debuted on July 7, 2021; the animated anthology spin-off Diabolical, premiering March 4, 2022—featuring an episode that directly connects to the comic’s storyline—and the live-action spin-off series Gen V, which premiered on September 29, 2023.

Publication history

The Boys initially appeared as a six-issue run published by Wildstorm beginning in 2006 but was unexpectedly canceled with issue #6 released on January 24, 2007. Garth Ennis attributed this termination to discomfort from DC Comics, Wildstorm’s parent company, regarding the series’ critical stance on superheroes. Plans to publish a collected edition of these initial issues were also abandoned. Co-creator Darick Robertson revealed that DC was in the process of reverting rights to allow the creators to secure a new publisher. Ennis confirmed interest from other publishers and assured that issue #7 along with a trade paperback compiling the first six issues would be forthcoming. Although Robertson was contractually exclusive to DC at that time, he received special permission to continue his work on The Boys.

In February 2007, Dynamite Entertainment acquired the rights to continue the series, which resumed publication in May of that year. Dynamite also released a collected edition of the first six issues titled The Name of the Game, featuring an introduction by Simon Pegg, whose likeness inspired the character Wee Hughie.

By February 2009, Dynamite announced a spin-off miniseries named Herogasm, illustrated by John McCrea and Keith Burns. Other spin-offs followed including Highland Laddie and Butcher, Baker, Candlestickmaker, all eventually compiled into volumes under The Boys banner.

Upon completion of the main series, Ennis reflected that Wildstorm’s cancellation ultimately proved advantageous, as Dynamite provided significantly greater creative autonomy than what DC might have permitted. He expressed relief over Wildstorm’s eventual dissolution as an imprint.

An epilogue limited series consisting of eight issues titled Dear Becky was published from June through November 2020.

Plot

Taking place from 2006 to 2008, the storyline envisions a reality where superheroes are real, and the 9/11 tragedy instead caused the collapse of the Brooklyn Bridge rather than the World Trade Center towers. In this universe, most heroes have succumbed to the trappings of fame, displaying reckless conduct that threatens worldwide security. The plot centers on a covert CIA unit known as "The Boys," commanded by Billy Butcher and comprising members such as Mother's Milk, the Frenchman, the Female, and the new recruit Hughie Campbell. Their mission involves surveilling the superhero population and frequently engaging them in brutal confrontations. Concurrently, the story follows Annie "Starlight" January, an idealistic superheroine who becomes part of The Seven—a prestigious yet deeply corrupt team endorsed by Vought-American—which serves as The Boys' chief opposition.

Collected editions

Dynamite Entertainment produces ongoing collections in both hardcover and trade paperback formats, including works initially published by Wildstorm. They also release "Definitive" editions—slipcased hardcovers that compile two volumes of trade paperbacks or hardcovers into a single omnibus.

#	Title	TPB ISBN	TPB Release date	TPB page count	Collected material
1	The Name of the Game	ISBN 91-33-30546-3	June 2007	152	The Boys #1–6
2	Get Some	ISBN 1-933305-68-1	March 2008	192	The Boys #7–14
3	Good for the Soul	ISBN 1-933305-92-4	October 2008	192	The Boys #15–22
4	We Gotta Go Now	ISBN 1-84856-298-5	July 2009	192	The Boys #23–30
5	Herogasm	ISBN 1-60690-082-X	November 2009	144	Herogasm #1–6
6	The Self-Preservation Society	ISBN 1-60690-125-7	March 2010	192	The Boys #31–38
7	The Innocents	ISBN 1-60690-150-8	December 2010	216	The Boys #39–47
8	Highland Laddie	ISBN 1-60690-207-5	April 2011	144	Highland Laddie #1–6
9	The Big Ride	ISBN 1-60690-220-2	November 9, 2011	276	The Boys #48–59
10	Butcher, Baker, Candlestickmaker	ISBN 1-60690-264-4	March 6, 2012	144	Butcher, Baker, Candlestickmaker #1–6
11	Over the Hill with the Swords of a Thousand Men	ISBN 1-60690-341-1	June/July 2012	152	The Boys #60–65
12	The Bloody Doors Off	ISBN 1-60690-373-X	December 2012	170	The Boys #66–72
13	Dear Becky	ISBN 978-1524119904	February 23, 2021	176	Dear Becky #1–8

Definitive Editions

#	Title	THB ISBN	THB Release date	THB page number	Collected material
1	The Boys: Definitive Edition 1	ISBN 1-933305-80-0	December 2008	344	The Boys #1–14	'- '2'	The Boys: Definitive Edition 2	ISBN 1-60690-073-0	December 23, 2009	384	The Boys #15–30	'- '3'	The Boys: Definitive Edition 3	ISBN 1-60690-165-6	April 5, 2011	552	The Boys #31–38 plus Herogasm	'- '4'	The Boys: Definitive Edition 4	ISBN 1-60690-340-3	July 2012	370+	The Boys #39–47 plus Highland Laddie	'- '5'	The Boys: Definitive Edition 5	ISBN 978-1606904121	July 2013	430	"The Boys" #48–59 plus Butcher, Baker, Candlestickmaker	'- '6'	The Boys: Definitive Edition 6	ISBN 978-1606904350	February 2014	320	The Boys #60–72

Oversized Hardcover Omnibus

#	Title	THB ISBN	THB Release date	THB page number	Collected Material
1	The Boys: Oversized Hardcover Omnibus Volume 1	ISBN 978-1-5241-2177-8	April 27, 2022	792	Collects The Boys issues #1–30
2	The Boys: Oversized Hardcover Omnibus Volume 2	ISBN 978-1-5241-2180-8	June 22, 2022	792	Includes The Boys #31–47 along with Herogasm and Highland Laddie
3	The Boys: Oversized Hardcover Omnibus Volume 3	ISBN 978-1-5241-2183-9	July 20, 2022	800	Features The Boys #48–72 plus Butcher, Baker, Candlestickmaker

Awards

2008: Received a nomination for "Best Continuing Series" at the Eisner Award.
2009: Nominated for "Comic Book of the Year Under $3.00" by Diamond Comic Distributor Gem Awards.
2010: Contended for "Best Comic Book or Graphic Novel" at the Scream Awards.

Adaptations

Abandoned Film Project

In February 2008, The Boys was optioned by Columbia Pictures for a movie adaptation, with Neal H. Moritz producing and Phil Hay alongside Matt Manfredi tasked with writing the screenplay. By August 2010, Adam McKay had joined as director and was revising the script, targeting a production start in early 2011. Nevertheless, Columbia relinquished the option in February 2012. Subsequently, McKay revealed that Paramount Pictures had assumed control of the project. In April 2013, Paramount rehired Hay and Manfredi to develop the screenplay again; however, the film adaptation never came to fruition.

Television Series

In October 2015, Cinemax approved a TV adaptation of The Boys, with producers Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, and Eric Kripke involved. By September 2017, the series was acquired by Amazon Studios. The inaugural season aired on July 26, 2019, followed by the second season on September 4, 2020. The third season premiered June 3, 2022, and the fourth season was released on June 13, 2024. In May 2024, Amazon confirmed renewal for a fifth and concluding season.

Audiobook Adaptations

All ninety-eight issues of the comic have been transformed into seven audiobooks produced by GraphicAudio, featuring full voice casts, dynamic sound effects, and cinematic scores. Volume 1 debuted on May 4, 2020; Volume 7—which adapts the Dear Becky epilogue series—completed production on May 20, 2022. The entire audiobook collection spans approximately 31 hours, retains the original timeline from 2006 to 2008, and closely follows Garth Ennis' original scripts. The content is rated for audiences aged eighteen and older.

Animated Series

An animated offshoot titled The Boys Presents: Diabolical premiered on March 4, 2022.

"We Gotta Go Now" Adaptation

A live-action spin-off named Gen V (initially called The Boys Presents: Varsity) adapts the "We Gotta Go Now" comic storyline. Centered around Marie and the G-Men and drawing thematic inspiration from The Hunger Games, it was announced in September 2020 and launched on Amazon Prime Video on September 29, 2023.

External links

Sullivan, Michael Patrick (April 19, 2007). "The Boys" Are Back in Town: Ennis & Robertson Speak. CBR.com.