The Boys is a Rare Case of Adaptation Being So Much Better Than the Original
How did a relatively unknown comic turn into a massively successful TV series?
The Boys, a superhero TV series developed by Eric Kripke for Amazon Prime Video, has been receiving critical and viewer acclaim. Based on the comic book of the same name, which ran from 2006 to 2012, the story follows a team of vigilantes who seek justice against superheroes who are portrayed as power-hungry maniacs and general degenerates.
Over the course of three seasons, our protagonists have encountered several villains, some of whom are clearly satirizing mainstream comic book superheroes such as Superman, The Flash, or Aquaman.
So how exactly did a comic book known to only a few become a huge TV show loved by millions?
For starters, the story itself has been toned down considerably. Though the show does not shy away from dark themes and gore, the comic sometimes goes over the top to the point of absurdity.
One of the most grotesque examples is when a certain character literally eats babies. In order to maintain a more realistic view of superheroes, who are mostly portrayed as ordinary people easily corrupted by unlimited power, and to appeal to a broader audience (the majority of which would be completely disgusted by such scenes, it is not a horror series after all), the show's creators had to get rid of such disgusting episodes.
Secondly, some changes have been made to the characters to make them more likeable and relatable. The most obvious example of this is Billy Butcher, one of the main characters.
In the comics, he is portrayed as a complete psychopath who murders superheroes in cold blood, no matter the cost or consequences, even going so far as to get rid of his own comrades at one point in the story. The show's version of the character, brought to life by Karl Urban, is much more sympathetic and sometimes even open to working with superhumans who have done nothing wrong for the greater good.
Most fans point out that these changes have only benefited the show, reducing the logical flaws and unnecessary edgy points made just for shock value.
The Boys was renewed for a fourth season on June 10, 2022, which is expected to be released this year, as well as a spin-off series called Gen V.