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The Most Messed Up Moments In The Comic Book Version Of ‘The Boys’
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The gritty and explosive The Boys series on screen often pushes the envelope with its shocking content, but it merely skims the surface of the outrageous and twisted events that unfold within the comic-book version of The Boys. Crafted for a mature audience, the pages of this particular series are filled with moments that can unsettle even the most hardcore comic book junkies.
Readers expecting traditional caped heroics are instead met with a dark and subversive take on the superhero genre, where characters like Homelander and Butcher engage in acts that are nothing short of nightmarish. It's a stark reminder that The Boys comic book is far from a light read, and certainly not suitable for the kiddie pool of comic fans.
Intrigued by the idea of superheroes harboring secrets that would make anyone's skin crawl? Or perhaps the macabre spectacle of a pizza garnished in a manner far beyond any conventional topping interests you? The Boys leaves no stone unturned in its quest to shock, awe, and challenge the very limits of what comic book storytelling can entail.
The list that follows has been compiled for those who dare to explore the darkest corners of The Boys's universe. It's an editorial journey through some of the most jarring and messed-up moments ever depicted in the comics, curated with a discerning eye for the gruesomely unforgettable. Be warned, these entries are not for the faint of heart, and they certainly qualify as NSFW. Proceed at your own peril, and prepare to have your perception of superheroes turned on its head.
- 1
Butcher's Wife Perished When Her Superpowered Offspring Killed Her From Inside Her Womb
In another change from the Amazon show, Butcher's wife is actually deceased in the comic books. Which wouldn't be that much of a shocker - dead wives are a far-too-common trope in all facets of media, after all - if not for the way that she passed.
It turns out that Butcher's wife was assaulted by Seven member Black Noir, which ended up with her getting pregnant. This "super-fetus," as Butcher labels it in The Boys #6, ended up killing her from the inside out before she was able to deliver it. If that wasn't twisted and tragic enough, after the fetus crawled its way out of his wife, Butcher beat it to death with a lampstand.
Messed up? - 2
Homelander, A-Train, And Black Noir Assault Starlight To Welcome Her To 'The Seven'
If the scene of The Deep coercing Starlight into an abhorrent sexual favor during the first season of Amazon Studios' The Boys got you angry, then you need to strap in, because they toned it down from the comic book.
In The Boys #3, Homelander, A-Train, and Black Noir approach Starlight during her first day on the job with a pants-less proposition. When Starlight understandably freaks out and exclaims, "Oh God. You're going to force yourselves on me," a smiling Homelander grossly explains, "Christ, no. Nobody's forcing anyone to do anything. No, it's all a question of how badly you want to join The Seven." It's a scene that makes skin crawl and sets the tone for the rest of the series.
Messed up? - 3
The Seven Bail On A Mid-Air Hostage Situation After Wiping Out Most Of The Passengers
Just when you think The Seven are gonna get around to doing some actual, you know, superhero work, they end up screwing absolutely everything up. You see, the superheroes of The Boys are not like the superheroes of Marvel or DC: they don't train, they don't much care about anyone but themselves, and they are extremely cocky.
So, in The Boys #21, when they are tasked with saving a plane full of civilians from hijackers, they end up accidentally taking out everyone on board. It is a gruesome sight watching this group of superheroes blunder their way through the situation, accidentally slaying civilian after civilian before bailing on the pilot-less plane.
Messed up? - 4
A Man's Face Is Used As A Pizza Topping To Send A Message
In The Boys #11, during the first issue of the "Glorious Five Year Plan" story arc, our not-so-lovable heroes find themselves in the frigid winter of Russia. There is a bit in there about how "bad" the members of Russian Organized Crime are - Butcher calls them a "buncha bloody savages" and that "they plays for keeps" before a pizza gets delivered with the face of the delivery guy on it.
The reason isn't exactly clear. It certainly gets your attention, but readers are more likely left feeling bad for that innocent guy's family.
Messed up? - 5
Vought-American Tries To Rebrand Starlight With A Less-Than-Wholesome Image
After getting her suit cut into a more sultry shape - a change that is mirrored in the first season of the Amazon Studios television show - Starlight is almost forced into yet another costume change that is much, much more revealing.
In The Boys #32, the marketing geniuses at Vought-American decide to come up with a backstory about Starlight surviving a sexual assault which makes her "go all sort of dark and, and... you know. Sexual." Starlight takes severe offense to this and refuses to go along with it.
Messed up? - 6
Blarney C*ck Has A Pet Hamster That Lived Inside Him
In The Boys comic series, Hughie and his crew target a group of heroes called the Teenage Kix before working their way up to the Seven. When they slay the Teenage Kix member Blarney C*ck, they discover the hero has a pet hamster that he kept inside him. Not in a "weird super power" way, either.
After Hughie accidentally eliminates Blarney C*ck in The Boys #6, he takes the hamster home to take care of it. It's a testament to Hughie's pure soul, but even still, there are some things that are hard to forget.
Messed up?
