According to Garth Ennis, creator of Preacher Preacher" – or, in other words, to take the gory iconoclasm and diabolical sense of humor that made his previous comic series infamous, and highly acclaimed, to the next level.
The Boys – written by Ennis, with art by Darick Robertson – was conceived as a sharp, dark satire of superhero stories, aiming to push boundaries beyond what Preacher had already achieved. In fact, "out-Preacher Preacher" was more than just a guiding ethos, it was actually the original tagline for The Boys when it launched.
According to the author, his core goal was to challenge the genre and take Preacher’s subversive critique even further. While The Boys certainly outpaced the earlier series in of popularity, and eventually, mainstream success, the question still remains whether the comic achieved its original goal.
Before "The Boys," Author Garth Ennis Was Responsible For Another Groundbreaking Comic Series
Preacher Ran From 1995-2000; The Boys Began In 2006
Since the conclusion of the original comic in 2012, and especially since the premiere of the Amazon TV adaptation, The Boys has become a landmark in modern comic storytelling, offering a stark parody of superhero culture. Its unique take on capes and tights has shaped how audiences view superheroes today, shifting the genre from idealized heroes to flawed, morally ambiguous figures. While the comic initially aimed to outdo Preacher, the question remains whether it sured the earlier series, or if it diverged from its original mission along the way.
When Preacher debuted in 1995, it shattered expectations by mixing humor, over-the-top moments, and controversial subject matter with deep philosophical questions. It deconstructed traditional superhero narratives like The Boys or Watchmen before that. Unlike anything else on the market at the time, it combined its supernatural elements with deeply flawed human characters. The comic challenged the very foundation of superhero storytelling, calling authority figures, morality, and religious institutions into question. Its tone blended absurdity with profound themes, setting it apart from mainstream comics.
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The groundbreaking aspect of Preacher was its ability to tackle dark themes through its unique characters, such as Jesse Custer, the morally conflicted preacher, and Cassidy, the Irish vampire struggling with his humanity. It strategically used these unique characters and themes to provide a profound deconstruction of religion and faith; Preacher's success helped pave the way for a more diverse range of stories in the comic world, from darker, adult-themed works to the emergence of comics that dealt with social and political issues.
The Boys’ Original Mission, Explained; What It Means To "Out-Preacher Preacher"
How Garth Ennis Kept Pushing Boundaries
At the core of Preacher’s success was its ability to blend the absurd with the philosophical. By following the journey of Jesse Custer and his band of misfits, Preacher tackled deep, often uncomfortable questions about morality, faith, and the human condition, all while being wildly irreverent. Preacher was not just a comic – it was a cultural statement, challenging readers to reconsider the portrayal of heroes, villains, and everything in between. Its critique of religion, power, and personal responsibility resonated deeply, paving the way for future comics that tackled complex themes with a similar no-holds-barred approach.
The Boys did for superheroes what Preacher did for religion – it deconstructed the idea of heroism and revealed it to be just another form of exploitation.
While The Boys certainly amped up the violence and spectacle, it also provides a much sharper critique of the current state of superhero media. By diving into themes of corporate control, power, and corruption, The Boys holds a mirror to today’s superhero culture, which has become overrun with glossy portrayals of superheroes. Preacher focused more on moral and religious commentary, but The Boys targets the commodification of superheroism itself, critiquing how these characters are turned into media spectacles rather than figures of genuine moral integrity.
In its portrayal of Vought International and Homelander’s sociopathic behavior, The Boys not only challenged the idea of the superhero as a hero but also critiqued the larger media landscape that enables and glorifies their unchecked power. The Boys did for superheroes what Preacher did for religion – it deconstructed the idea of heroism and revealed it to be just another form of exploitation. In doing so, it sured Preacher in its relevance to the modern world, directly confronting the problematic nature with the same level of hostility as Butcher's many attempts at killing Homeleander.
Yes, "The Boys" Was A More Violent Spectacle Than "Preacher," But Also A More Insightful Social Critique
How Gary Ennis Continued To Evolve As An Author
While Preacher redefined what a comic book could tackle, The Boys aimed to push those boundaries even further. Ennis wanted to show the destructive potential of superheroes in a society that worships them. The comic's main characters are anti-heroes themselves, struggling with the very corruption they’re meant to expose. Combining violence, dark humor, and a no-holds-barred narrative, The Boys’ dark approach was intended to set a new standard, pushing Preacher's vision further into uncharted territory – and largely, it can be said to have done precisely that.
While Preacher was a genre-defining piece, blending religious themes with outrageous humor, Ennis felt that the superhero genre needed a deeper critique. The Boys was designed to not only continue where Preacher left off but to take on superheroes specifically with a darker, more satirical lens. Evil Supes like Homelander show the audience that absolute power corrupts absolutely. In that way, The Boys should be seen as an extension of what Preacher started –challenging the glorified, idealized image of comic book heroes.
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So, has The Boys really outdone Preacher? In many ways, it has. The Boys took the idea of deconstructing superheroes to a new level by questioning not just the heroes' morality but the entire system that surrounds them. While Preacher critiqued society's relationship with religion and authority, The Boys dives deeper into the capitalistic celebrity culture surrounding superheroes, turning them into paid sadistic dictators. It’s a hyper-violent satire that explores the abuse of power by those who wield it and the corrupting influence of fame. It continues Preacher’s critique of hero worship but ramps up the stakes with more over-the-top action and irreverence.
The Boys Helped Set A New Standard For The Comic Medium
The Anti-Superhero Story
However, while The Boys shares a similar critique, its approach is far less subtle. The violence is more graphic, and the story is filled with exaggerated characters that push satire to its limits. Ennis’ goal was to create something more aggressive and direct, and while The Boys certainly fulfills that aim, it does so in a way that is louder and more chaotic than Preacher ever was. Whether this makes it "better" is a matter of preference. Still, it is undeniable that The Boys has successfully achieved its mission to go even further than Preacher ever dared.
The Boys took Preacher’s foundational ideas and not only expanded on them, but improved on them.
Ultimately, The Boys has not just sured Preacher – it has set a new standard for what superhero deconstruction should look like in the modern era. While Preacher critiqued religious and moral structures, The Boys broadens this criticism, taking on the superhero genre and the corporate and cultural systems that prop it up. It’s a brutal, irreverent commentary on the dangers of idolizing power, making it one of the most exciting superhero parodies to date. It sets the bar higher for what comic book deconstructions can achieve.
Preacher was also groundbreaking in its portrayal of characters and gave readers a more honest look at the complexities of human nature and the world around them, making it a perfect predecessor to The Boys’ more aggressive satire. The Boys took Preacher’s foundational ideas and not only expanded on them, but improved on them. The Boys offers a louder approach to its narrative deconstruction, which is fitting given how often such messages are dismissed. In the end, it's clear that The Boys achieved far beyond "out-Preachering" Preacher.
The Boys is available now in its entirety from Dynamite Comics.
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The Boys
The Boys franchise is a satirical and dark superhero series based on the comic book by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson. It explores a world where superheroes, or "Supes," are corrupt, violent, and morally bankrupt, all controlled by the powerful corporation Vought International. The story centers around two opposing groups: The Boys, a vigilante team aiming to expose and defeat the corrupt heroes, and The Seven, Vought's elite team of Supes led by the ruthless Homelander.
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Preacher follows Jesse Custer, a preacher from Texas with a criminal past who is gifted extraordinary powers after experiencing a crisis of faith. Setting out to quite literally find God, Jesse enlists the help of his volatile girlfriend Tulip and newfound vampire companion Cassidy. Preacher stars Dominic Cooper as Jesse Custer, with Joseph Gilgun, Ruth Negga, and Graham McTavish.
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