How The Boys Critiques the Glamor of MCU Superheroes

Eric Kripke’s The Boys received acclaim from critics across all three of its seasons, for both its unflinching creativity and important political messages. However, one of its unique aspects is not mentioned in reviews: its commentary on pop culture’s current superheroes. More specifically, the show critiques how mainstream superheroes, like those of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, are not always fighting for justice.


The Boys points out how The Seven use violence quite often, usually to satisfy their egos or for personal or political gain. They all wear fake smiles for the cameras while on the red carpet, despite having deep feuds as shown during their private conversations at Vought Tower. Most importantly, however, nearly all of The Seven have murdered innocent people as collateral damage, justifying the murders by stating it was necessary for other, more “just” murders to take place.

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The Seven Use Violence For Their Own Selfish, Political Gain

In most MCU films, the violence superheroes use against their foes is never really called into question. Their victims deserved the pain because they are guilty criminals, and every act of violence the heroes deploy is justified. In The Boys Season 3, Episode 8, “The Instant White-Hot Wild,” a left-wing protestor interrupts Homelander at one of his rallies. Instead of getting security to escort him out, Homelander shoots him with laser eyes, killing him on the spot. To Homelander’s surprise, the entire crowd cheers, implying he will use violent tactics like this moving forward.

The Seven Wear Fake Smiles for the Camera

Starlight and Homelander holding hands in The Boys

The members of The Seven are well aware of their celebrity status, with each of them putting on a show for the cameras whenever they’re on-screen. While some are more dishonest and calculating than others, it’s no secret that Homelander uses the celebrity status of The Seven as a weapon more than anyone else. In Season 2, Episode 4, “Nothing Like It in the World,” Homelander outs Queen Maeve’s sexuality and her relationship with Elena. Similarly, he said that he and Starlight were lovers in Season 3, Episode 3, “Barbary Coast,” as a tactic to make Starlight fall in line. The main villain of Season 2, Stormfront, used the media and her rallies as a way to spread her Nazi agenda while cloaking it in a veneer of populism. Members of The Seven will lie and manipulate the media in order for the public to have the perception they want them to have.

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The Seven Murder Innocent People as Collateral Damage

Hughie covered in Robin's blood in The Boys' opening scene

The most influential factor in the critique of the MCU, however, is the use of violence against innocent people. In Season 1, Episode 1, “The Name of the Game,” A-Train murders Robin right in front of Hughie, without apology or remorse for his actions. This motivates Hughie to fight against superheroes, and it serves as the inciting incident of the series. There are countless examples of this throughout the series, like Homelander letting a plane full of people die in Season 1, Episode 4, “The Female of the Species.” Queen Maeve tries to prevent this, but Homelander refuses to save anyone because they could be perceived as weak, and allowing only a couple of people to live would mean they would tell the world that they let the rest of them die. The Seven will let anyone die because they know it will get swept under the rug, and the public will never know about their collateral damage.

The MCU is a staple in mainstream pop culture. Marvel films always do well at the box office, and they make plenty of money from their merchandise. Fans of the MCU look up to and adore these superheroes, placing them on a pedestal, as if they can do no wrong. The Boys analyzes this idolization of the MCU in the best way.

Whether the superheroes use political violence for personal gain, control their public perception through the media or cover up their accidental murder of innocent people just trying to live their lives, it’s clear The Boys makes a strong statement about the glamour of the MCU. Instead of propping up The Seven for the audience to idolize, the show dives deep into political and ethical conversations that make the audience question their true intentions.

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