Supes Ain't Always Heroes
Inside the Complex Characters and Twisted Psychology of The Boys
by Lynn Zubernis and Matthew Snyder, Ph.D.
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Pub Date Dec 05 2023 | Archive Date Dec 31 2023
BenBella Books | Smart Pop
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Description
Supes Ain’t Always Heroes offers a fresh look at The Boys, delving into the show’s unflinching depiction of celebrity, politics, social media, corporate greed, racism, sexism, and more:
- The true difference between Homelander and Billy Butcher—and who the show’s biggest villain really is
- What Soldier Boy’s characterization says about how we define masculinity
- How today’s media landscape has contributed to The Boys’ success
- What the evolutions of Hughie, Starlight, A-Train, Mother’s Milk, and other show standouts reflect about addiction, family, identity, and self-acceptance
PLUS: Exclusive interviews with The Boys comics co-creator Darick Robertson and actors Jensen Ackles (Soldier Boy), Jim Beaver (Robert Singer a.k.a. Dakota Bob), Aya Cash (Stormfront), and Nathan Mitchell (Black Noir) provide a unique glimpse behind the scenes. Comments from editor interviews with more of the show’s stars give further insight into their experiences in bringing these complex characters to life.
Featured Reviews
Reviewer 1241053
This book was excellent. Lynn, Matthew and the contributors did an amazing job delving into the world of The Boys. I had high hopes for this book from the moment I saw it announced. I have read Lynn's previous work and always greatly enjoy it. This book blew away my high exceptions. The insights into the world of The Boys and great interviews made my unable to sit down this book down until I finished. My favorite sections of this book were about Solider Boy, the interview with Jensen Ackles and interview with Jim Beaver. I highly recommend this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Reviewer 62985
This book came to me just at the right time. I was late to the game of discovering The Boys and just finished season 3. The Boys is not your run-of-the-mill superhero show. It’s dark and sometimes painful to watch but it’s also fascinating and thought-provoking. Supes Ain’t Always Heroes gives a glimpse of why the characters make the choices they do and gives some understanding of how their respective pasts have led them to where they are now. The book includes short interviews that provide even more insight into the show and its characters. I would have liked a bit more depth and insight into the women of The Boys. However, I found the deeper dive into toxic masculinity fascinating. A great book to use as a catalyst for discussion!
Thanks to NetGalley and Smart Pop for providing me with an ARC of this book.
Annette S, Reviewer
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
As a massive fan of The Boys (both comic and tv show) this was a very interesting look at the mentality of each character. I really enjoyed this book and it has made me want to go back over everything with a different outlook.
Bradley and Bekah F, Reviewer
Supes Ain't Always Heroes
Written by Various
Read by Joe Hempel
Book 279/200
Genre: Nonfiction, Superhero, TV
Format: Audio/Digital, ARC
Pages/Time: 240/9hr 9min
Published: 2023
Rating: 8.5/10
Narration: 8/10
The Boys is the best show on Prime Video right now. This is especially ironic considering it lampoons the idea of a mega-corporation, similar to Amazon, owning and selling superpowers. Supes Ain't Always Heroes details the complex psychology of the characters of the series, regular human and supe alike.
This was a fun read. The analysis of Butcher, Homelander, Hughie, and more by real psychologists allowed me to really gain a greater understanding of and appreciation for these characters. And interviews with the cast really shows what the actors put into their performance. This is a super interesting read for any fan of the impeccable show!
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