The Boys (TV series)

The Boys is an American satirical superhero streaming television series. It is created by Eric Kripke for HBO Max. It is based on the comic book of the same name by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, which was originally published by DC Comics.

It stars Karl Urban, Jack Quaid, Laz Alonso, Tomer Capon, Karen Fukuhara, Antony Starr, Erin Moriarty, Dominique McElligott, Chace Crawford, Jessie T. Usher and Nathan Mitchell.

The series premiered on July 26, 2019.^[1]

The Boys are a highly classified team founded by a woman named Grace Mallory. She was inspired to do so after witnessing how reckless superheroes were during war, in which many of the men she commanded were killed. She approached Billy Butcher, a former member of British Armed Forces, to create a team that would ensure superheroes(or "supes") are competent and do not use their powers for selfish or evil reasons. This team would become The Boys.

Most supes in this world are controlled by Vought International, a German-founded pharmaceutical company that produces superheroes by injecting children with Compound-V, a highly-classified serum that can give anyone superpowers. Vought's premier superheroes are The Seven, a team of specialised supes who do less good than Vought markets. The Seven are led by Homelander, the most powerful superhero on Earth, and also the most dangerous by far.

• Jack Quaid as Hughie Campbell, a former tech-shop employee and member of The Boys. He was recruited to their cause by Billy after his girlfriend Robin was killed by the superhero A-Train, who ran through her at super-speed while unded the influence of drugs. He is the voice of reason for the team.
• Karl Urban as Billy Butcher, a former member of the British Armed Forces, and co-founder of The Boys. He is ruthless, and has a strong hatred for superheroes, after he discovered that Homelander sexually assaulted his wife. Billy was abused by his father, and his temper only worsened after his little brother, Lenny, committed suicide due to the abuse.
• Tomer Kapon as Serge, named "Frenchie", a highly-talented chemist and member of The Boys. He was recruited by Grace in exchange for freedom from prison following a failed bank robbery. He is chaotic yet empathetic, as well as loyal to The Boys' cause.
• Laz Alonso as Marvin T. Milk, named "Mother's Milk", a member of The Boys. He is the group's tactical co-ordinator, and helps manage Billy's temper. Despite his intimidating stature, Marvin is deeply empathetic, having gained his nickname "Mother's Milk" from bullies who discovered he was nursing an injured bird. He embraced this nickname as he enjoyed helping people.
• Karen Fukuhara as Kimiko Miyashiro, named "The Female", a later member of The Boys. She was kidnapped by the Shining Light Liberation Army, who had murdered her parents. Kimiko was injected with Compound-V and gained superpowers, and was sold into slavery. She escaped from her captors and joined The Boys, but she was left mute due to the trauma caused to her.
• Antony Starr as John, better known as Homelander, the psychopathic leader of The Seven and the main antagonist of the series. He was injected with Compound-V before being born, and was raised by Vought's scientists to be the most powerful supe on Earth. However, Homelander is extremely psychotic, showing little care for the humans he is supposed to protect, and often kills for his own amusement. Due to his cold upbringing, he has an obsession with breast milk, developing a relationship with Madelyn Stillwell because of this.
• Dominique McElligott as Maggie Shaw, named "Queen Maeve", a tactical warrior and member of The Seven. She is marketed as a strong feminism role model, but struggles with alcoholism in private. She initially submits to Homelander's villainous methods, but slowly grows to resent him.
• Nathan Mitchell as Earving, named "Black Noir", a mysterious tactician and member of The Seven. He is mute, having once been a member of the team Payback. He has a traumatic past and a strong fear of the supe Soldier Boy, who scarred his face and left him brain-damaged.
• Jessie T. Usher as Reggie Franklin, named "A-Train", the resident speedster of The Seven. He can run extremrly fast, being dubbed the fastest man on Earth. However, he is addicted to drugs, primarily Compound V, which he regularly uses in order to remain the fastest of them all. This soon costs him a lot, including the murder of Robin, Hughie's girlfriend.
• Chace Crawford as Kevin Moskowitz, named "The Deep", the proclaimed Lord of the Seven Seas and member of The Seven. He is deeply loyal to Homelander and does anything to please him. In secret, he is very insecure, which he uses to justify sexually assaulting women.
• Erin Moriarty as Annie January, named "Starlight", a newer member of The Seven. She replaced Lamplighter, who had been removed from the team. She can absorb nearby electricity and use them to fly, as well as projectiles. She soon realises The Seven is not what it seems to be, and helps aid The Boys in their mission to take down the team.
• Alex Hassel as Mr. Schecht, named "Transluscent", an invisible supe and member of the Seven. His body is made of an indestructible material that he can turn invisible with. He is killed by The Boys after he attacks Hughie for spying on The Seven.

As the series progresses, more superheroes join The Seven, and members are rotated around. They are;

• Aya Cash as Clara Vought, named "Stormfront", a powerful supe who can make lightning with her hands. In secret, she is the former wife of Frederick Vought, founder of Vought Intermational, the first superhero, and a Nazi. She is in love with Homelander, as he is what she believes to be the perfect being, in order to fulfill her ideal world.
• Jensen Ackles as Ben, named "Soldier Boy", one of the first ever supes, and father of Homelander. He served in the US army leading the superhero team Payback. The rest of Payback was tasked with eliminating Soldier Boy on order to make way for a new superhero to take his place, namely Homelander. After being taken down, Payback handed Soldier Boy over to Russian scientists, who would experiment on him to give him an ability that can kill people, as well as depowering select supes.
• Susan Heyward as Jessica Bradley, named "Sister Sage", the most intelligent person on Earth. As a result of her high intelligence, she has become very narcissistic and critical of her peers, having isolated herself in her New York apartment. As such, she routinely lobotomizes herself in order to experience orinary things, such as pleasure. She has a fondness for Taco Bell.
• Valorie Curry as Misty Tucker Gray, named "Firecracker", an alt-right podcaster. She can make "firecrackles" appear with the snap of her fingers. When recruited to The Seven, she is apppointed head anchor of Vought News International, and uses the platform to spread propaganda, manifacture outrage, and ultimately defend Homelander as the one true saviour of the world.
• Miles Gaston Villaneuva as Alex, named "Supersonic", a former boy-band singer and supe. He can create shockwaves by clapping his hands, and once dated Starlight. He was later killed by Homelander after Starlight disobeyed one of his orders.
• Nathan Mitchell as Justin, named "Black Noir". He is actually an actor hired by Vought to be Black Noir, as the original was killed by Homelander. He is a stage actor and highly passionate about his career, and hosts a podcast with The Deep.
• Daveed Diggs as Aaron, named "Oh-Father", a televangelist pastor. He can generate sonic blasts by screaming, and uses his influence to help found the Democratic Church of America, which worships Homelander as God, rejecting traditional Christian teachings.

While not strictly members of The Seven, there are many other supes that operate. They are:

• Claudia Doumit as Victoria Neuman, the vice-preaident elect, and a supe. She can explode the heads of anyone she wishes using her eyes, earning her the nickname "the Head-Popper". However, the public does not know that the Head-Popper is Victoria.
• Derek Wilson as Robert Vernon, named "Tek-Knight", a highly talented detective supe. He is extremely perverted and is a paraphiliac, causing him to have strong, sexual compulsion towards anything with a hole in it.
• Derek Johns as Vasilii Vorishikin, named "Love Sausage", a Russian supe. He has an extremely long and durable penis, able to use it as a whip-like weapon.
• Ess Hödlmoser as Cindy, a mysterious telepathic supe. She can explode the heads of anyone she so wishes.
• Zach McGowan as "Dogknott", a canine-like supe. He has the abilities of dog, and as such, the inhibitions of one.