R-rated comic book The Boys is coming to TV

Preacher is finally getting a small-screen debut this year, as Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg’s adaptation of the blasphemously fantastic cult hit comic book series found a home on the AMC channel. But it looks like comic book writer Garth Ennis has taken a shine to the pair, as another of his infamous creations is gearing up be let loose by the same pair. This is going to hurt.

The Boys is what happens when you live in a world where superheroes have become celebrity icons, while also dipping into utter depravity and corruption along the way. Most of these costumed defenders are the very opposite of the ideals that they seek to serve, causing more harm than good and using their powers for unbelievably immoral ends. That’s where the Boys come in. Sometimes you need to keep a close eye on so-called superheroes. Other times, you need to send them a message that involves the business end of a steel-capped boot to the face.

If you’ve ever read a Garth Ennis comic book, then you’ll recognise all the hallmarks of this series: An utter disdain for regular heroes, patriotic love of the United Kingdom, twisted humour, ultra violence and some wonderfully twisted humour. Ennis has always had a talent for making memorable villains, but seeing golden age bastions of truth and justice twisted into antagonists is one hell of a twist that sets the tone for the series early on.

Add to that Darick Robertson’s grisly and grounded art style for the early run of The Boys, and you had a winner from the very first issue.

According to Deadline, Cinemax are looking to get into the R-rated adaptation genre and have scheduled the project for development under Rogen and Goldberg, with Erik “Supernatural” Kripke writing the pilot. It’s not the first time that the industry has looked at adapting The Boys for the screen, as Anchorman director Adam McKay also spent quite a bit of time trying to get a movie version off the ground.

TV sounds far better however. The Boys has a massive story to tell, one that pisses on every standard convention of superhero action and drama. Spreading the full 72-issue saga of Billy Butcher, Wee Hughie and the rest of the cast over a series or two is what will do this cult classic some proper justice.

Last Updated: April 7, 2016