While both break down the conventions of the genre, each do so in dynamic and differing manners that are both entertaining and unique. With their rising popularity and The Boys gearing up for season three, now seems like the perfect time to examine how these two series successfully deconstruct the superhero genre.

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Flawed Characters in The Boys and Watchmen

     HBO

Many of the Marvel and DC characters are known for their upstanding nature, so it’s a thrill to see our caped crusaders damaged and flawed. With The Boys, our super-powered heroes are parodied as self-righteous jerks who aren’t what they seem on the surface, leading to much hilarity. This kind of gallows humor allows for a more grounded and fresh take on the genre that differs from much of the mainstream. It also questions the moral superiority of our supposed heroes.

In Watchmen, our heroes are dealing with deeper psychological issues and are recovering from feelings of trauma and grief. The difference in characterizations from Watchmen and The Boys lies in the portrayals of their superhero individuals. The Boys utilizes them for satire and comedic impact while Watchmen takes on a more measured character study (appropriate for its more grounded look at superheroes who lack actual superpowers). Despite how they differ in terms of character treatment, both are effective at showcasing their heroes as flawed and broken individuals while deconstructing the superhero genre.

The Gritty Approach of Watchmen and The Boys

Superhero properties often shy away from the truly brutal or hard-edged, with hardly any of them receiving an R (or TV-MA) rating. However, in the case of The Boys and Watchmen, that rule book is thrown out the window. Both take an edgy and gritty look at the subject, and neither shy away from challenging, subversive, and provocative subject matter. With The Boys, its action is displayed in an over the top and ultra-violent manner that’s both absurd yet hard-hitting, interrogating the inherent violence in superhero fiction.

Watchmen’s violence and themes carry more of a dramatic weight and are utilized for deeper resonance, exploring issues of justice, policing, surveillance, and racism. Both series take advantage of their gritty personalities to explore deeper ideas of the genre, although they differ in tone. The Boys’ gritty edge is incorporated for dark humor and attitude, even raising its finger to its more clean cut competition, while Watchmen uses it for dramatic heft, showing the psychological and social toll being a hero actually takes on real people. Both are uncompromising in their execution.

The Boys and Watchmen Source Material

     Warner Bros. Pictures

Both The Boys and Watchmen are based off of acclaimed graphic novels were well regarded for their original take on the genre. The Boys is a tongue-in-cheek and self-aware commentary that readers loved for its explosive images and dissection of the egos and megalomania of superheroes, where Watchmen is a critically acclaimed tragic psychological character study of flawed heroes amidst a Reagan-era setting. Both of these source materials have had an influence on current subversive pieces of superhero media, although their intentions and themes do differ.

The Boys is a send-up of the superhero genre adapted from a well-beloved graphic novel and a teardown of its squeaky clean image whereas Watchmen is a case study of what makes our heroes tick. Although they’re quite different in a number of ways, both are notable for offering a unique take on a long-established genre. In addition, their respective series expand and build on ideas in their source material and enhance them for greater effect on-screen. The results are two highly entertaining and original series that redefine our notion of the genre.

A Breath of Fresh Air in the Superhero Genre

In an era where much of the superhero genre is subject to clichés and formulaic structures, having superhero properties that beat to their own drum is refreshing. With The Boys and Watchmen, both series tackle the genre in ways that transcend the norms typically present. The Boys brings a mix of dark humor and satire into it and Watchmen brings gravitas and psychological depth to the proceedings.

The way they both comment on and address the nature of superhero mythologies allows them to feel original and vital. Due to their complex natures and potent insights, both The Boys and Watchmen subvert the superhero genre in differing yet equally captivating manners, establishing themselves as true originals.