The Boys | |
---|---|
Publication information | |
Publisher | WildStorm/DC Comics (#1–6) Dynamite Entertainment (#7–72, Dear Becky) |
Schedule | Monthly |
Format | Ongoing series |
Genre | |
Publication date | October 2006 – November 2012 |
No. of issues | 72 |
Main character(s) | (List of characters) |
Creative team | |
Created by | Garth Ennis Darick Robertson |
Written by | Garth Ennis |
Artist(s) | Darick Robertson Peter Snejbjerg (#13–14) John Higgins (#26, #28) Carlos Ezquerra (#31–32, #34) Richard P. Clark (#42–43, #72) Russ Braun (#44–51, #56–71) |
Penciller(s) | John McCrea (#33, #39, #52–55, #65) Keith Burns (#33, #39, #52–55, #65) Russ Braun (#65) |
Inker(s) | Rodney Ramos (#11–12) Matt Jacobs (#22) Hector Ezquerra (#31–32, #34) John McCrea (#33, #39, #52–55, #65) Keith Burns (#33, #39, #52–55, #65) Russ Braun (#65) |
Letterer(s) | Greg Thompson (#1–6) Simon Bowland (#7–72) |
Colorist(s) | Tony Aviña |
Editor(s) | Ben Abernathy (#1–6) Kristy Quinn (#1–6) |
Collected editions | |
The Name of the Game | ISBN 91-33-30546-3 |
Get Some | ISBN 19-33-30568-1 |
Good for the Soul | ISBN 19-33-30592-4 |
We Gotta Go Now | ISBN 18-48-56298-5 |
Herogasm | ISBN 16-06-90082-X |
The Self-Preservation Society | ISBN 16-06-90125-7 |
The Innocents | ISBN 16-06-90150-8 |
Highland Laddie | ISBN 16-06-90207-5 |
The Big Ride | ISBN 16-06-90220-2 |
Butcher, Baker, Candlestickmaker | ISBN 16-06-90264-4 |
Over the Hill with the Swords of a Thousand Men | ISBN 16-06-90341-1 |
The Bloody Doors Off | ISBN 16-06-90373-X |
Dear Becky | ISBN 15-24-11990-3 |
The Boys is an adult superhero comic book series, written by Garth Ennis and co-created, designed, and illustrated by Darick Robertson. The first volume was published by WildStorm, which canceled it after six issues; the series was picked up by Dynamite Entertainment, which published the following eight volumes. [1] Debuting in October 2006, the series concluded in November 2012 after 72 issues were published. In the fourth volume, the series is revealed to be set in the same fictional universe as Ennis' previous 1995–2000 DC Vertigo series, Preacher , with former vampire Proinsias Cassidy cameoing as a bartender. Three 6-issue spin-off limited series were also produced during the series' original run: Herogasm , Highland Laddie , and Butcher, Baker, Candlestickmaker , with an 8-issue epilogue series, Dear Becky, published from January–December 2020.
The book was adapted by Amazon Studios (now known as Amazon MGM Studios) and Sony Pictures Television into a streaming television series that premiered on Amazon Prime Video on July 26, 2019, through a brand licensing rights agreement with Dynamite Entertainment, from which a franchise was launched—web series Seven on 7 with Cameron Coleman , which premiered July 7, 2021—spin-off animated anthology series, Diabolical , which premiered on March 4, 2022 (of which the third episode, "I'm Your Pusher", is set in the same continuity as the comic series)—and live-action spin-off series Gen V , which premiered September 29, 2023. [1] [2]
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. [3] 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". [4] 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. [5] In February 2007 the series was picked up by Dynamite Entertainment [6] and it resumed in May. A collected edition of the first six issues was also published by Dynamite, with a foreword by Simon Pegg. Pegg was the model on whom the character Hughie was based in the way he was drawn in the comics by Robertson. [7]
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. [8]
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. [9]
An eight-issue epilogue series, Dear Becky, was published from June to November 2020. [10]
The series is set between 2006 and 2008 [11] in a world where superheroes exist. 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.
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."
# | Title | TPB ISBN | TPB Release date | TPB page number | 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 |
# | 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 + Herogasm |
4 | The Boys: Definitive Edition 4 | ISBN 1-60690-340-3 | July 2012 | 370+ pages | The Boys #39–47 + Highland Laddie |
5 | The Boys: Definitive Edition 5 | ISBN 978-1606904121 | July 2013 | 430 pages | The Boys #48–59 + Butcher, Baker, Candlestickmaker |
6 | The Boys: Definitive Edition 6 | ISBN 978-1606904350 | February 2014 | 320 pages | The Boys #60–72 |
Variety reported in February 2008 that Columbia Pictures had optioned the comic for a film adaptation, to be produced by Neal H. Moritz. [15] and Phil Hay and Matt Manfredi writing the screenplay. [16] 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." [17] Columbia Pictures reported in February 2012 that it had dropped its option regarding a film adaptation of The Boys. [18] However, Adam McKay said in a Twitter response that Paramount Pictures had picked it up, and that it was still in the works. [19] On April 30, 2013, Manfredi and Hay were hired by Paramount to write the film, [20] though the project never came to fruition.
In October 2015 it was reported that Cinemax greenlit a television series adaptation of The Boys, [21] and that Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg and Eric Kripke were producing the series. [22] In September 2017, Variety reported that Amazon Studios had picked up the series. [23] The series premiered on July 26, 2019. [2] The second season premiered on September 4, 2020, [24] while the third season premiered on June 3, 2022. [25]
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. [26] 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+.
An animated spin-off series of The Boys, The Boys Presents: Diabolical , was released on March 4, 2022. [27]
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 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. [28] [29]
Preacher is an American comic book series published from 1995 to 2000 by Vertigo, an imprint of DC Comics. The series was created by writer Garth Ennis and artist Steve Dillon, with painted covers by Glenn Fabry.
Wildstorm Productions is an American comic book imprint. Originally founded as an independent company established by Jim Lee under the name "Aegis Entertainment" and expanded in subsequent years by other creators, Wildstorm became a publishing imprint of DC Comics in 1998. Until it was shut down in 2010, the Wildstorm imprint remained editorially separate from DC Comics, with its main studio located in California. The imprint took its name from a portmanteau of the titles of the Jim Lee comic series WildC.A.T.S. and Stormwatch.
Garth Ennis is a Northern Irish–American comics writer, best known for the Vertigo series Preacher with artist Steve Dillon, his nine-year run on Marvel Comics' Punisher franchise, and The Boys with artist Darick Robertson. He has collaborated with artists such as Dillon and Glenn Fabry on Preacher, John McCrea on Hitman, Marc Silvestri on The Darkness, and Carlos Ezquerra on both Preacher and Hitman. His work has won him recognition in the comics industry, including nominations for the Comics Buyer's Guide Award for Favorite Writer in 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2000.
John McCrea is a comic book artist best known for his collaborations with writer Garth Ennis.
Darick W. Robertson is an American artist best known for his work as a comic book illustrator on series he co-created, notably Transmetropolitan (1997–2002) and The Boys.
Eric Kripke is an American writer and television producer. He came to prominence as the creator of the fantasy drama series Supernatural (2005–2020) which aired on The CW. He served as the showrunner during the first five seasons of the series. Since then he has created and/or produced a number of television series including the post-apocalyptic drama series Revolution (2012–2014), the science fiction series Timeless (2016–2018), the superhero series The Boys (2019–present) and its spin-off Gen V (2023–present).
Christos N. Gage is an American screenwriter and comic book writer. He is known for his work on the TV series Daredevil, Hawaii Five-0, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Numbers and the films The Breed and Teenage Caveman. In the comics industry, he has done considerable work on the titles Angel & Faith, Avengers Academy, The Amazing Spider-Man and The Superior Spider-Man, Spider-Geddon and has written tie-in books for the "Civil War" and "World War Hulk" storylines.
Herogasm is a six-issue comic book limited series by Garth Ennis, John McCrea and Keith Burns. Originally published as a spin-off of The Boys, set between issues #30 and #31, and centering on the Boys as they infiltrate "Herogasm", an annual party for Vought-American-sponsored superheroes to allow them "vacations", Herogasm was collected in trade paperback in November 2009 as the fifth volume of The Boys, as The Boys: Herogasm.
Midnighter is an American comic book series published by WildStorm, first issued in November 2006. It is a spin-off from The Authority, a superhero team comic book created by Warren Ellis and Bryan Hitch, and follows the solo adventures of Midnighter, "the greatest tactician in the history of mankind". The first six issues were written by Garth Ennis, followed by three issues made by different writers; the last eleven final issues were written by Keith Giffen. Midnighter ended with its twentieth issue, followed by the limited series Number of the Beast. The series is also known as Midnighter to differentiate itself from the character's 12-issue latter series first published by DC Comics in 2015.
The Boys is an American satirical superhero television series developed by Eric Kripke for Amazon Prime Video. Based on the comic book of the same name by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, it follows the eponymous team of vigilantes as they combat superpowered individuals who abuse their powers. The series features an ensemble cast that includes Karl Urban, Jack Quaid, Antony Starr, Erin Moriarty, Dominique McElligott, Jessie T. Usher, Chace Crawford, Laz Alonso, Tomer Capone, Karen Fukuhara, and Nathan Mitchell.
The Homelander is one of the main antagonists of the comic book series The Boys and the media franchise of the same name, created by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson. The character is depicted as an egotistical and sadistic narcissist who serves as the extremely powerful leader of The Seven—a group of corrupt and hedonistic superheroes funded by Vought-American—and the archenemy of Billy Butcher. Beneath his public image as a noble and altruistic hero, the Homelander cares little about the well-being of those he professes to protect.
We Gotta Got Now is a graphic novel written by Garth Ennis and illustrated by Darick Robertson and John Higgins that was released in eight parts throughout 2008 and 2009 by Dynamite Entertainment as the fourth volume of the American comic book series The Boys. Part 1, Silver Kincaid Killed Herself Yesterday Morning, was released October 1, 2008, Part 2, Why Pinto? Errf Why Not?, was released October 29, 2008, Part 3, It's Not Gonna Be An Orgy…!, was released December 3, 2008, Part 4, Do You Mind If We Dance With Your Dates?, was released January 7, 2009, Part 5, See If You Can Guess…What I Am Now., was released February 4, 2009, Part 6, Leaving! What A Good Idea!, was released March 4, 2009, Part 7, I'll Say You're Too Well To Attend…, was released April 1, 2009, and Part 8, Rodeo Fuck, was released May 6, 2009.
The Bloody Doors Off is a graphic novel written by Garth Ennis and illustrated by Russ Braun that was released in seven parts throughout 2012 by Dynamite Entertainment as the final volume of the American comic book series The Boys. Part 1, I Cannot Let You Do This…!, was released May 2, Part 2, Splendiddio…, was released June 6, Part 3, Do You Know What I Hate?, was released July 4, Part 4, Whose Woods These Are I Think I Know, was released August 1, Part 5, The Name of the Game, was released September 5, Part 6, The Scores on the Doors, was released October 3, and Part 7, You Found Me, was released November 14.
Butcher, Baker, Candlestickmaker is a six-issue comic book limited series by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson. Originally published as a spin-off of The Boys, set between issues #59 and #60, following villain protagonist Billy Butcher as he attends his father's funeral before thinking back on his origin story, serving in the Royal Marines, fighting in the Falklands War, meeting and then losing his wife Becky Saunders, and joining the CIA and in-turn the Supe-focused black ops group The Boys following her death. Butcher, Baker, Candlestickmaker was collected in trade paperback in March 2012 as the tenth volume of The Boys, as The Boys: Butcher, Baker, Candlestickmaker.
The Boys Presents: Diabolical is an American adult animated superhero anthology series that premiered on Amazon Prime Video on March 4, 2022. It serves as a spin-off of the live action television series The Boys, and is similarly based on the comic book series of the same name by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson. The series is created by Eric Kripke, Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, all executive producers of The Boys television series, alongside Simon Racioppa.
The second season of the American satirical superhero television series The Boys, the first series in the franchise based on the comic book series of the same name written by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, was developed for television by American writer and television producer Eric Kripke. The season was produced by Sony Pictures Television in association with Point Grey Pictures, Original Film, Kripke Enterprises, Kickstart Entertainment and KFL Nightsky Productions.
The first season of the American satirical superhero television series The Boys, the first series in the franchise based on the comic book series of the same name written by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, was developed for television by American writer and television producer Eric Kripke. The season was produced by Sony Pictures Television in association with Point Grey Pictures, Original Film, Kripke Enterprises, Kickstart Entertainment and KFL Nightsky Productions.
Black Noir is the name of three characters from the comic book series The Boys, created by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, and the television series and franchise of the same name, developed by Eric Kripke. In both the comic and television series, Noir is a member of the hedonistic and reckless Vought-American superhero group the Seven and is depicted as a "silent ninja" type parody of Batman, Snake Eyes and Deathstroke.
The Boys is an American media franchise, consisting of action-drama/satirical black comedy superhero streaming television series which follow the residents of a world where superpowered individuals called Supes are recognized as heroes by the general public and work for a powerful corporation known as Vought International, which markets, monetizes, and (secretly) creates them, with most being selfish and corrupt outside of their heroic personas. Based on the comic book series of the same name by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, originally published by DC Comics under its Wildstorm imprint before moving to Dynamite Entertainment, the television franchise debut has garnered success both financially and critically.
Highland Laddie is a six-issue comic book limited series by Garth Ennis and John McCrea. Originally published as a spin-off of The Boys, set between issues #47 and #48, it follows the story of "Wee Hughie" Campbell as in the aftermath of learning his ex-girlfriend Annie to be a Supe, he takes a sabbatical from the Boys and returns home to Auchterladle, the Scottish seaside town where he grew up, where he reunites with his mystery-solving childhood friends, Bobby and Det. Highland Laddie was collected in trade paperback in April 2011 as the eighth volume of The Boys, as The Boys: Highland Laddie. Storylines from the series would be continued in the 2020 The Boys epilogue series Dear Becky.