Latest issue of 'The Boys' might be most entertaining comic out there

On the cover of the latest issue of "The Boys," No. 14, Butcher - the star of the book - is standing in a virtual river of blood and covered with quite a bit of it.

Which is appropriate, since "The Boys" has quite a bit of violence, and scenes that are not for the squeamish. It is also not for those who have a problem with comics depicting nudity or sexual situations. Or those who don't like profanity, since the characters - especially Butcher - use it frequently.

Finally, if you consider yourself to be politically correct, you probably won't enjoy the terms and situations in "The Boys" that are practically guaranteed to offend, well, just about everyone.

For the few who seek something different, however, "The Boys" is smart, intelligent satire that takes you on a wild ride.

While writer Garth Ennis has made a career of telling intelligent, violent, often shocking stories, this collaboration with artist Darick Robertson may well be the work he is best remembered for - even more than his seminal "Preacher" series.

This book is such a surprise. If there is one idea that Comics Guy is sick of hearing as a hook for series, it's "What would heroes be like in the real world?" These have ranged from smart books like "Squadron Supreme," in which those with superpowers are weapons of mass destruction, to indies where "supes" get office jobs.

What "The Boys" presents is a world in which more than 200,000 people have superpowers, be they heroes, villains or average Joes. It is a world in which very few use their powers for purely selfless, heroic reasons. Enter Butcher - a big English guy who talks like Michael Caine and who has the expertise to deal with the supes.

As Butcher puts it, "Superpower's the most dangerous power on Earth. There's more and more of 'em all the time, an' sooner or later they're gonna wise up. If you can dodge bullets or outrun tachyons . . . or swim across the sun, you've better things to do than save the world for the 200th f---in' time. One day, you might twig what you're really invulnerable to. An' then god help us all."

"So you need someone to watch 'em. Someone to gather intel . . . an' use it to play 'em. Someone who's ready to remind 'em who's boss . . . "

The need for Butcher and "The Boys" became apparent in the first issue, as the character Wee Hughie lost Robin, the love of his life, when A-Train (the Boys' version of The Flash) carelessly sent a villain flying through the air with no concern for civilians. The resultant impact not only crushed Robin against a brick wall, but left Wee Hughie holding her detached arms.

The callous A-Train acted quite unheroic during the incident, showing his compassion by cursing at the traumatized Hughie as he arrived on the scene. He left shouting, "Can't stop the A-Train."

As Butcher looked to reunite The Boys, he saw many instances where "heroes" were getting careless and lackadaisical. But when he comes across a report on Hughie's tragic experience, it sticks out, and he goes about recruiting him. When Hughie asks why, Butcher explains it simply:

"I'll tell you what I want. Someone who's felt it. That arrogance. That . . . disdain they have for us, where our lives mean nothing more than a rat's."

If you are looking for arguably the most entertaining comic on the stands today, pick up "The Boys."*

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