"The Boys"

The Boys #57 Review

Hughie keeps on questioning his role in the Boys. Today I will be reviewing The Boys #57. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think.

Butcher, Baker, Candlestickmaker #1 Review

And now, the spotlight gets focused on the hard assed no nonsense devious leader of The Boys. Today I will be reviewing Butcher, Baker, Candlestickmaker #1. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think.

The Boys #56 Review

Hughie returns to the Boys as a major new case erupts. Today I will be reviewing The Boys #56. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think.

The Boys #55 Review

The history of the Boys concludes here. Today I will be reviewing The Boys #55. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think.

The Boys #54 Review

The Boys #54

Lots of talking this issue. Today I will be reviewing The Boys #54. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think.

So let’s talk about the book. Greg Mallory continues his tale to Hughie. He talks about what happened after WWII and how the supes were introduced. He talks about meeting the Legend and the creator of compound V. He talks some more about using deception and cunning to trick his superior in allowing him to become the first guinea pig to take the V. Then he begins to talk about the Boys and how he started them. And that’s the book.

So let’s talk opinions. What an incredibly boring and overly wordy issue. My god, I got a headache from looking at all of those words. I did not sign up for a history lesson. Especially a boring one. Holy crap. Mallory never shuts up. Its not even an interesting tale. Its all politics. Personally, I don’t give a rat’s ass. I am very disappointed in this issue, storywise. The art, however, was another story. Amazing, once again. Those battlefield splashes were stunning. The heads on pikes was incredible. Other than that, utter garbage. I pray it gets better soon. That’s my opinion folks. Take it or leave it.

The Boys #53 Review

The Boys #53

WWII action in all of it’s merciless glory. Today I will be reviewing The Boys #53. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think.

So let’s talk about the book. Greg Mallory continues his tale to Hughie. During WWII, the first supes are introduced to Mallory and his unit. They have powers but absolutely no training. This turns out to be a very bad thing as the Germans launch a surprise attack on Mallory’s position and decimate his entire regiment including all of the supes. Mallory is the only survivor. And that’s the book.

So let’s talk opinions. Now this is a LOT more like it. A complete opposite of the drivel we have been fed over the last few issues. This issue was non-stop action. Drawn beautifully by the artist, the battle scenes were spectacular. Bloody, gory and relentless. You can feel the sense of doom that Mallory was experiencing. I like Ennis’ version of the Avengers as well. (Pure rip-off)  Too bad they got shredded like leaves by German gunfire, and tanks. The visuals on those were gorgeous as well. The splash pages were a sight to behold too. Facial expressions and gunfire were drawn perfectly. Hell, I’m just happy there was violence. I’ve missed it quite a bit from a title that used to incorporate it into every issue but stopped recently to get philosophical. No philosophy here. Just war and a disgust for Vought that was born in Mallory on that day. I guess that’s why he eventually joined the Boys. This was a well thought out origin issue that showed tremendous character growth for Mallory. I fully understand him now. Let’s hope this violent, action packed trend continues. That’s my opinion folks. Take it or leave it.

The Boys #52 Review

The Boys #52

Time to take a trip into the past. Today I will be reviewing The Boys #52. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think.

So let’s talk about the book. Hughie has returned to the states after learning that the “nice” man he was talking to in the Highland Laddie mini-series was actually Greg Mallory, former member of the boys. It seems that MM asked Mallory to check on Hughie. Mallory gives Hughie his opinion of him and begins a tale of hoe he became part of the Boys. It all began during the Battle of the Bulge during WWII. And that’s the book.

So let’s talk opinions. This issue takes us in a completely new direction. A history lesson. I’m a little bit curious about Mallory but not that much, to be honest. I’ve also come to the opinion that I am not a fan of emotional Hughie or chatty Hughie or weepy Hughie. Hughie is best when he is used as comedy relief. This issue did not address any of the myriad of subplots going on in this title and just focused on one thing. (Except the part where Hughie whines some more to Starlight) The focus is Mallory and his history. I hope we get some action or humor in the coming issues because this one was a snoozefest. However, being WWII, I’m sure there is violence aplenty in the coming issues. I’ll reserve final judgment until I see those issues. The art was decent. Burns draws pretty nice tanks. I’m looking forward to seeing them get blown up soon. That’s my opinion folks. Take it or leave it.

The Boys #51 Review

The Boys #51

The latest story arc comes to a close. Today I will be reviewing The Boys #51. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think.

So let’s talk about the book. Butcher visits his government contacts to tie up some loose ends, enact some vengeance, and lay down some plans for the future. Meanwhile, Ms. Bradley, the woman Vought set up as an outside consultant on everything, is running some Doomsday scenarios on what would happen if the Boys and the Seven ever did go at it. The results, according to a computer simulation, has the Boys falling and Homelander standing tall. And that’s the book.

So let’s talk opinions. I’m extremely happy that this ridiculous waste of a story arc ends on a high note. This is what I was looking for in the last few issues. Butcher, at his most devious and conniving. He sets up Rayner, while using her to further his own agenda against the superpowers. He tortures and gets revenge on Monkey, while furthering his own need for autonomy from supervision. And he does it all with a smile and his trusty dog by his side. (Terror, Fuck it is now going to be in Monkey’s head for the rest of his life.) That was an awesome scene and gets us back to the cruel viciousness that Garth Ennis is fully capable of. While the book was weak on violence, the crude political speak, threats, and mental abuse was here aplenty. As was a touch of humor. The art was fantastic as is the norm with this book. One thing I found interesting is that Black Noir would survive the encounter with the Boys as well as the Homelander. We really need to do a Black Noir issue or two so we can find out what makes this guy so dangerous. We know Homelander is Superman without morals. What the hell is Black Noir’s powers? Plus, I’m sure the program didn’t take into account that Starlight and Queen Maeve might jump to the Boys’ side if this battle ever did occur. I also enjoyed Ms. Bradley and how she is being set up a great strategist and planner. Overall, a great issue that restored my faith in Garth Ennis and his writing ability. That’s my opinion folks. Take it or leave it.

The Boys: Highland Laddie #6 Review

The Boys: Highland Laddie #6

And the mini-series finally comes to a close. Today I will be reviewing Boys Highland Laddie #6. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think.

So let’s talk about the book. So Det steps in front of the bullet meant for Hughie as the cops arrive to arrest everyone. When they find Bobby, Sarah has already done her damage but it turns out she did him a favor by giving him the operation he always wanted. Annie and Hughie talk and resolve their issues and Hughie comes to the realization that his childhood was not as bad as he remembered. And that’s the book.

So let’s talk opinions. So other than reuniting Annie and Hughie, and giving Hughie some personal closure, this entire series was a huge waste. I found the entire story to be sad and meaningless. The whole subplot was a complete disaster that added nothing to the overall tale as it was just something there to pass the time. We could have been looking at cows grazing on grass and it would have made just as much impact. The dialect was too slangish and that, for me at least, detracted from the story. At least the art was never poor. Otherwise I wouldn’t even be able to try and read it. In any case, the Herogasm mini-series was awesome. This one sucked. Let’s hope their next attempt breaks the tie for the positive. That’s my opinion folks. Take it or leave it.

The Boys #50 Review

The Boys #50

The Boys reaches a landmark issue. Today I will be reviewing The Boys #50. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think.

So let’s talk about the book. We continue to learn about what happened when the Boys first met the Seven. Lamplighter kills one of the Boys’ relatives and Vought steps in to mediate the damages. Lamplighter is sacrificed for the greater profit of Vought and one of the Boys quits. And that’s the book.

So let’s talk opinions. Another depressingly bad issue. Once again there was no humor, sex, violence, or story. There’s no scheming or conniving. No huge action sequences. No chaos or destruction. Just a sob story about revenge that is granted and a confrontation that will never occur. It was all a tease. So far, I can sum up the last three issues in one sentence. Lamplighter is killed because he killed one of the Boys’ family members. (How sad is it that I can sum up three issues in one sentence?) That’s basically what happened during their first meeting. Big F’n deal. I had to wait 50 issues for that pathetic bit of knowledge? Maybe Garth Ennis is losing his touch. This book was a lot edgier, raunchier, and faster paced a long time ago. There were more interesting situations, better visuals, and better dialogue between the characters. I really hope this downhill slide doesn’t continue or one of my favorite books will no longer be coming home with me. That’s my opinion folks. Take it or leave it.

The Boys: Highland Laddie #5 Review

The Boys: Highland Laddie #5

This is the second to last issue in this mini. Personally I wish it was the last. Today I will be reviewing Boys Highland Laddie #5. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think.

So let’s talk about the book. Hughie and Starlight make up, sort of. Then Hughie catches one of his oldest friends involved in some drug trafficking. As he starts to intervene, he gets shot at. And that’s the book.

So let’s talk opinions. This entire series is still a colossal waste. This issue in particular is one of the worst. Nothing much happens except some resolution between Hughie and Starlight. Then a light bit of action at the end. Other than that, nothing but slang filled prattle that made no sense and made me hate the story even more. I will pick up the last issue just to finish the series but I would recommend this title to potheads looking to trip out and learn Scottish while they’re high. (And for those keeping track, one of my predictions did come true. I did dream of the female cast members of Glee naked. It was me, Santana, Quinn, some pom poms and a lot of energy drinks.) That’s my opinion folks. Take it or leave it.

The Boys #49 Review

The Boys #49

The intro to the first confrontation between the Boys and the Seven begins here. Today I will be reviewing The Boys #49. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think.

So let’s talk about the book. Homelanded has a conversation with himself through a mirror while Frenchie and the Female watch. Butcher and MM continue reviewing the files of their first fight with the Seven and we get to see some of what transpired at their first meeting. And that’s the book.

So let’s talk opinions. Another slow set-up issue with too many sub-plots, too much descriptive dialogue and little humor or action. I did enjoy the glimpse into the mind of the Homelander. That man is completely insane. The rest of the book, however, was crap. Nothing happened. There was lots of words being put on the paper which made me slowly fall asleep as I was reading them. After a few pages, the words seemed to meld together into one giant blurb of nonsense. I miss the old issues of the Boys where something was actually happening every issue. I guess without Hughie, the humor is completely gone from the Boys. Butcher is becoming more desperate for a confrontation with the  Homelander and is willing to do anything to get it. There’s also no disgusting images either. No cruel jokes or random sex or violence. All staple Boys topics that are just being ignored. I don’t even remember seeing a single curse in the entire book. This used to be one of my favorite books and it’s been slowly going downhill. I really hope it gets good soon. That’s my opinion folks. Take it or leave it.