Invincible and The Boys are important counter programming

The Boys and Invincible are two shows that couldn’t be more different yet similar in their views and approach to superhero storytelling.

Marvel vs DC. Two comic book companies owned by two giant corporations that have been competing against each other for decades now.

It seems like both have had their respective peaks and valleys, with many considering this current moment in comic book adaptations a down period.

For every success like Across the Spider-Verse and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, there’s the divisive and underperforming The Flash and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.

However, there’s more to comics than the Big Two, and Amazon’s one two punch of comic book shows makes sure fans don’t forget that.

The Boys

The Boys revolves around a world where heroes are selfish, tyrannical, corporate celebrities and a group of people are doing their best to try and to take them down. The show not only satirizes superheroes in raunchy fashion, but it also pokes fun at the celebrity and corporations behind them as well.

There’s a character called Homelander who is essentially an evil, narcissistic Superman who strikes fear into everyone. He has committed abhorrent actions throughout the show, and it cuts deeper because he knows how to push each character’s buttons.

Moments in this show range from shocking, and gross to flat out ridiculous. There’s also an animated anthology spin-off that tells short stories in this insane universe full of creative animation.

Invincible

At first glance Invincible may look like the superhero animated shows of the past, but anyone who’s watched can confirm that it’s much more than that.

The show revolves around Mark, the son of a Superman-like superhero, who wants to become the next great hero. He wants to make a name for himself, but there are some dark twists and turns that will forever alter Mark and the world around him.

The ending of the first episode of Invincible shocked viewers and got them immediately hooked. Less said the better.

Mark in the first season has already been brutally beaten to a pulp multiple times and has faced consequences for his actions. Who knows how many more times he can take a brutal beating?

Invincible and The Boys’ success hinges on their creators. While yes, Amazon will most definitely want to keep these shows going, in the end they are still finite stories made by artists with a vision.

The feeling of watching a new Marvel and DC film can be exhilarating, but their stakes can be non-existent simply knowing the main characters are going to return since it’s a cinematic universe.

The knowledge that there is a set ending for The Boys and Invincible adds much more gravitas to the respective stories they are telling.

It’ll be fascinating see where Marvel and DC go on film, but if someone is feeling a little weary of them, Invincible and The Boys get the highest recommendation possible (viewer discretion strongly advised). Since the shows are still ongoing, read the comics they’re based on as well to support the creators who are responsible for this stuff.