ThoughThe Boyshas become the most iconic and definitive parody of modern superhero stories, there was a time whenWatchmenheld that title.Watchmenredefined the superhero genre, taking it from traditional capes and tights to gritty realism. Now, Garth Ennis, co-creator ofThe Boys, has spoken out, claiming thatWatchmen’strue message was lost on its fans, and thatThe Boyscarries its torch forward.
Written by Ennis and drawn by Darick Robertson,The Boysreimagines the superhero genre with a dark, satirical approach. Ennis has always been vocal about his views on superheroes, including his opinion thatWatchmenby Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons should have marked the end of the superhero genre in comics, as he explainsin an interview with CBS:
Alan Moore’s work on “Watchmen” and “Miracleman” – that should have written the end of the superhero. But they’ve essentially been shoved off to the side and superheroes have continued like a juggernaut. I don’t really read a lot of comic books and it’s because of that domination of the superhero.
Ennis’s statement seems well-supported. The genre has evolved sinceWatchmen’sdebut, and his work onThe Boysoffers commentary on the current state of superhero media. However, the success ofThe Boysseems to indicate that shared themes certainly resonate with fans now.
Why Garth Ennis, Creator ofThe Boys, Thinks ThatWatchmenHas Been Misunderstood
How Fans Missed the Point
In the interview, Ennis stated thatWatchmenwas intended to be the end of the superhero genre, which makes sense. The story deconstructs the superhero myth, which should have marked the closure of an era where costumed heroes fought crime in simplistic, black-and-white terms. It’s safe to say thatWatchmen’sdeeper message about the darker side of heroes has been overlooked by fans and creators alike. In many ways, the rise of the MCU and the over-saturation of the superhero in popular culture has romanticized thevery ideals thatWatchmenwas trying to question.
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The superhero genre, as it exists today, has wholly disregardedWatchmen’scynical view of the world.Watchmenwas never meant to glorify superheroes but to challenge the audience’s perception of them. By using flawed,morally ambiguous characters like Rorschachand the Comedian, Moore and Gibbons painted a picture of heroes who are as dangerous as the villains they battle. Modern superhero stories, especially the A-list celebrities in the MCU, have failed to truly grasp this message, turning heroes into idealized figures once again.
WatchmenWas a Parody of Superheroes, Not a Celebration
Deconstructing the Superhero Mythos
WhenWatchmenwas first released, it turned the traditional superhero narrative on its head. Instead of portraying heroes as paragons of virtue, it depicted them as complex, often deeply flawed individuals. This was a stark departure from the shiny, optimistic portrayals of superheroes that dominated comics before the mid-1980s.Watchmenisa commentary on the power structures behind superheroes, and in turn a commentary on the power structures behind them. It showed the failings of those with god-complexes and how easily the role of a superhero could be abused.
The story was a direct response to the rise of mainstream superhero comics, which often focused on heroism as an almost unassailable force for good. Moore and Gibbons' characters, such as the aging, disillusioned vigilante Rorschach andthe omnipotent Dr. Manhattan,offered much grittier, more realistic looks at what it would mean for people with godlike powers to exist in the real world. While many fans ofWatchmencontinue to focus on the tragic elements of these characters, Ennis feels the broader deconstructionist themes are often ignored in favor of romanticizing these flawed heroes.
Is the Misrepresentation ofWatchmenin Pop Culture the Fault of Fans?
Or Is It Something Else?
While it may seem like audiences may be the ones who misunderstoodWatchmen’smessaging, one could just as easily argue that the ones facilitating the rise of the contemporary superhero are just as guilty.Most 21st-century superhero films present heroes as self-righteous and above reproach, failing to question the power dynamics thatWatchmenso carefully explored. Fans have been forced to cling to a sanitized, nostalgic vision of what superheroes should be, because it’s all they’ve been given, outside of series likeThe Boys.
The Boys is, in many ways, a necessary continuation of this conversation.
More recent works likeAvengers: EndgameandThe Flashare prime examples of this universal glorification of superheroes. While they touch on complex themes, such as sacrifice and heroism, they do sowithout ever fully addressing the potential dangers of unchecked power.In contrast,WatchmenandThe Boyscontinually warn their audience to question the “heroes'” sinister morality and addiction to power. The recent hyper-dramatic, spectacle-heavy films often skip over the darker implications of heroism, which is exactly the point thatWatchmenwas making in 1986.The Boysis, in many ways, a necessary continuation of this conversation.
The BoysIs Arguably a Contemporary Version ofWatchmen
HowThe BoysCarriesWatchmen’sVision Forward in the 21st Century
The Boyshas become the contemporary equivalent ofWatchmen, taking its satirical, deconstructive approach to the superhero genre and pushing it further into the contemporary landscape. WhileWatchmenexposed the rot beneath superheroes' capes,The Boysexplores what happenswhen those heroes are given unchecked power and a massive god-complex. The result isa violent, chaotic world where the line between hero and villain is blurred beyond recognition.
WhereWatchmenwas subtle in its critique,The Boysis anything but. The series takes a much more direct approach, often using over-the-top violence and dark humor to underscore the corruption at the heart of its heroes. In both cases, the message is the same:absolute power corrupts absolutely. Their superheroic depictions are a much more honest look at the human side of being super. The sharp, irreverent tone ofThe Boysserves as a modern commentary on the state of superhero media, continuing the workWatchmenbegan decades ago.
The BoysReveals Exactly WhatWatchmenWas Really Trying to Say
A Testament to the Power of Parody
The ongoing success ofThe Boysboth as a comic and as a TV series highlights the relevance ofWatchmen’sthemes,which have only grown more pertinent in a world increasingly dominated by superhero media. WhileWatchmenwas about revealing the truth behind the capes and masks,The Boysamplifies that message, presenting us with a world where the superpowers are corrupt, self-interested, and often downright evil. In that way,The Boys’endless attempt at killing Homelanderis a perfect metaphor for how this dated idea of superheroes manages to persist.
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In the end,The Boysstands as both a tribute to and a continuation of the themesWatchmenestablished. While the original comic may have been a dark, satirical look at superheroes,The Boystakes that critique to new, often absurdly exaggerated heights. It serves as a reminder that the most effective parody is not one that merely mocks but points out the inherent flaws in the system it critiques. It’s yet to be seen ifThe Boyswill have a better shot at delivering the shared messages between the two series. Still, if history is any indication, its message is bound to be lost in the superhero franchise machine, just likeWatchmen.
The Boysis available now from Dynamite.Watchmenis available now from DC Comics.
Source:CBS
Watchmen
In the mid-eighties, Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons created Watchmen, changing the course of comics' history and essentially remaking how popular culture perceived the genre. Popularly cited as the point where comics came of age, Watchmen’s sophisticated take on superheroes has been universally acclaimed for its psychological depth and realism.
The Boys
The Boysfranchise is a satirical and dark superhero series based on the comic book by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson. It explores a world where superheroes, or “Supes,” are corrupt, violent, and morally bankrupt, all controlled by the powerful corporation Vought International. The story centers around two opposing groups:The Boys, a vigilante team aiming to expose and defeat the corrupt heroes, andThe Seven, Vought’s elite team of Supes led by the ruthless Homelander.
