The Best Books, Movies, Video Games, and Podcasts to Listen to After Watching the Boys.
If there’s one thing The Boys on Prime Video proves, it’s that it’s healthy to be suspicious of the powerful. While the nearly invincible Homelander is the most terrifying sociopath on our screens, none of the characters in the show, who gained superpowers via Compound-V, are good people. Heck, even the characters without superpowers are pretty vile.
But that’s part of the charm, and it’s what makes The Boys so rebellious and fun. If you’ve binge-watched all the latest episodes and are looking for more Herogasm-style entertainment—and you’ve already binge-watched all the other shows in the same vein —don’t worry: there are also plenty of movies, novels, podcasts, and video games to satisfy that craving.
The best books similar to The Boys
The theme of superhero villainy has been around in literature for a long time, and there are plenty of excellent books about people with superpowers (and super problems) waiting to be discovered.
“The Umbrella Academy” by Gerard Way
If you’re looking for superhero mayhem, this comic book series (which also spawneda wonderful Netflix series ) is perfect for you. When dozens of children with superpowers are mysteriously born around the world, an undercover alien adopts seven of them, forms them into the Umbrella Academy, and trains them to save the world from a future apocalypse. Family problems, sudden twists of fate, and complicated personal lives plague the children, and as they grow older, their deep-seated grudges (and mental health issues) make saving the world as challenging and confusing as you’d hoped.
“Heart of Steel ” by Brandon Sanderson.
This series is aimed at a younger audience than The Boys (there are no “Herogasms” here), but the plot will appeal to fans of the show. When a mysterious alien artifact begins orbiting Earth, some people become “Epics,” endowed with incredible superpowers. Naturally, the Epics almost immediately allow their absolute power to corrupt them, and the world descends into chaos. As in The Boys , in Steelheart, a group of brash, angry ordinary people band together, determined to kill the Epics—and events take a truly epic turn.
Vicious , W. E. Schwab
Schwab’s take on less-than-heroic superheroes is a bit more personal than The Boys , but no less engaging. Victor Vale and Eli Cardale meet as college roommates and discover a way to gain superpowers, turning people into what they call “Extraordinaries.” A botched experiment lands Victor in prison, and Eli decides to dedicate himself to hunting down and destroying the Extraordinaries. When Victor escapes from his cell, the two former friends suddenly find themselves on a terrifying collision course.
“We Could Be Heroes” by Mike Chen
Imperfect people abusing their special powers? Think of We Could Be Heroes . Jamie and Zoe have lost most of their memories, their pasts a complete mystery. Both possess extraordinary abilities that they use selfishly and foolishly: Jamie can read minds and erase memories, using his powers to cheat her way through life. Zoe is incredibly fast and strong, using these advantages to make a living and occasionally beat up bullies. When they meet and team up to find their lost memories, they are forced to grow up and pull themselves together—if they can.
“Soon I Will Be Invincible” by Austin Grossman
Grossman’s 2007 novel follows two superheroes: Doctor Impossible, a man possessing superhuman strength and intelligence, and Mouth Woman, a cyborg recently recruited into a superhero group called the New Champions. While helping the team investigate the disappearance of a superhero named Corfire, Mouth Woman becomes disillusioned—it turns out superheroes are just as petty and selfish as everyone else. And when Doctor Impossible escapes prison to attempt his thirteenth world domination, he’s haunted by the memories of his repeated failures. Watching the chaos these two wreak will make for a delightful read for fans of The Boys .
Best Movies Like The Boys
There are plenty of feature-length films exploring the superhero myth. If you’re looking to see more flawed, yet perfectly ordinary, heroes who, despite setbacks, achieve success, these films are among the best.
Watchmen (2009)
This adaptation of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ classic graphic novel depicts an alternate timeline where costumed crimefighters flourished from the late 1930s until public outrage led to legislation banning masked crimefighters. It’s essentially an exploration of the entire superhero mythos, steeped in Cold War-era paranoia, and it’s a brilliant, uncompromising story full of flawed, unlikable characters who prove capable of incredible violence. Watch Watchmen on HBO Max or rent it on Prime Video .
Chronicle (2012)
Chronicle is a reimagining of a desire familiar to most of us—the sudden ability to do anything you want. When three teenagers encounter a strange artifact, they gain telekinetic powers, including the ability to fly. Initially, they use their powers for pranks and popularity, but a difficult family life and one teenager’s emotional instability lead to tragedy and increasing chaos. It’s a sadder and more human take on the subject than The Boys , but it offers the same pleasures. Watch Chronicle on HBO Max or rent it on Prime Video .
Super (2010)
In the movie “Super,” no one has special powers, unless emotional instability and rage count as “powers.” Rainn Wilson plays Frank, a deeply religious man who believes God wants him to become a masked superhero named Crimson Bolt. As Bolt, Frank wields a monkey wrench to brutally beat criminals, but his personal problems soon draw him into a bloody, brutal rampage that spirals out of control, answering the question of why society doesn’t encourage masked vigilantes. Watch “Super” on PlutoTV or rent it on Prime Video .
Kick-Ass (2010)
A hilarious look at the dark side of turning to violence to solve problems, Kick-Ass has gained cult status since its release, thanks in large part to the insane performance of Chloë Grace Moretz, then 12 years old. After developing a high pain tolerance and receiving metal braces, teenager Dave transforms into Kick-Ass, a masked, crime-fighting superhero, eventually joining forces with Big Daddy, a former cop seeking revenge on a gangster, and his daughter, Heather (Moretz). Watch Kick-Ass on Fubo or rent it on Prime Video .
Suicide Squad (2021)
If you simply love the idea of flawed, incompetent, and all-too-human superheroes, then this second attempt at bringing DC Comics characters to screen (the less said about the first attempt, the better) is a great choice. This ragtag group of antiheroes and mild-mannered villains, offered shorter sentences in exchange for dangerous service in covert operations for the government, perfectly blends humor, violence, and heart. The bizarre super-antiheroes in Suicide Squad are in many ways as terrifying as the superheroes in The Boys , but there’s definitely a thread of hope here that’s often missing from Prime Video series. Watch Suicide Squad on HBO Max or rent it on Prime Video .
The Best Video Games Like The Boys
Ever since superheroes first appeared on screen, people have wanted to play games that let them experience what it’s like to wield such powers. If you enjoy The Boys’ dark and funny take on the superhero world, these games are for you.
Notorious
If you’re curious about how you’d react if you woke up with superpowers, try Infamous . You play as Cole, a young man who gains superpowers after an explosion in Empire City. While the main focus of the game is using these powers to restore order after the disaster, the game features a karma system that allows you to use your powers for evil, which determines how the story unfolds.
Platforms: PlayStation
Send
Dispatch is reminiscent of The Boys , especially if you’ve ever wondered how the average Vought executive sleeps at night. You play as a former superhero forced to work as a dispatcher for a group of supervillains-turned-heroes. Your job is to manage resources and superpowers as crises arise, which is far more challenging than you might imagine.
Platforms: PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Steam
Injustice: Gods Among Us
As exciting as it is to play a fighting game where you can become various superheroes and villains from the DC universe, the chaos and carnage of superheroes destroying each other is just one reason why this game is perfect for fans of The Boys . Another reason is that the game is set in a universe where Superman has turned evil and become Zack Snyder’s worst nightmare: a global tyrant who isn’t above using his omnipotence to get whatever he wants.
Platforms: PlayStation, Xbox, Wii U, Steam
“The Boys”: Warning about content that may cause negative emotions.
Okay, so the game is only available on the Meta Quest platform, but a PS5 version is on the way. And you can’t get close to The Boys in a video game unless you play as them. You take on the role of a man whose life is saved after The Boys give you Compound V, which also grants you temporary superpowers. The Boys immediately recruit you to work for them, and chaos ensues. The tone, spirit, and atmosphere are exactly like the show, making this game the perfect gaming experience.
Platforms: Meta Quest
Saints Row IV
The Saints Row games have never been known for restraint, and this installment is absurd enough for fans of The Boys . After the President of the United States (don’t ask—the backstory is deep and ridiculous) and his former gang (again, don’t ask) are trapped in a simulation and forced to fight their way out, they gain superpowers when their allies hack the simulation, a la The Matrix . The result is a frantic gameplay experience that has held up surprisingly well over the years.
Platforms: PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Steam
Best podcasts like The Boys
Whether you’re looking to delve into themes, backstories, and theories surrounding the show and its characters, or fall asleep listening to stories with a similar vibe, these podcasts are perfect for fans of The Boys .
Let’s give the boys a round of applause !
Reviews, discussions, theories: Let’s Give The Boys a Round of Applause is a great place for fans of the show to regularly reflect on its ridiculous universe and its terrible, worthless inhabitants.
Compound B – a series about boys
Another podcast that feels like talking to people who watch nothing but The Boys and The Fifth Generation , then discuss every episode in such detail that you start to worry about their mental health. But if that’s your thing, Compound B is the podcast for you.
Behind the backs of the bastards
If you loved how The Boys depicted people who could have been superheroes turning into, well, Homelander, then Behind the Scenes of Bastards will intrigue you. While the story centers on real historical figures, you’ll recognize Homelander’s arrogant sociopathy in many of the characters featured in the show.
Vigil
This podcast, which follows a superhero “sidekick” named Vigil , who works in the shadows, usually going unnoticed, to ensure the success of top talent, is presented in a “mockumentary” format, which fits the tone of the show well.
Superhuman Public Radio (SPR)
The main advantage of this podcast is its immersive experience: Superhuman Public Radio is presented as an NPR-style radio program featuring news stories from an alternate reality where superheroes regularly fight, try to save the planet, or commit unimaginable mayhem. It’s like temporarily living in a universe similar to The Boys .