As Amazon brought life to the comic book titled “The Boys” with a Supes show adaptation, it forever changed our perception of superheroes, outside of DC and Marvel. By brilliantly dissecting common superhero clichés and exposing the corrupt and dark side of our favorite superhero genre, The Boys instantly became a crowd-puller. Now that The Boys Season 4 has ended and no Season 5 news has arrived, you must be looking for more TV shows like The Boys to binge. So, here is our list of the 10 best superhero shows with gore and humor similar to The Boys by Eric Kripke.
10. Preacher (2016 – 2019)
Preacher on AMC was an adaptation of the eponymous comic book series by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon from the Vertigo lineup of DC Comics. We do not have superheroes in this series. Instead, we have a preacher who is possessed by a supernatural force and now possesses unreal powers. He then partners with a vampire and his ex-girlfriend to find the “God” himself. The storyline sounds pretty wacky, right?
Similar to The Boys TV show, the creators of Preacher had the creative freedom to make changes and developments from the elements of this comic book, which resulted in a hit. Preacher was also highly praised for its distinctive story and refreshing set of characters who make this series supremely entertaining.
9. Doom Patrol (2019 – 2023)
The Doom Patrol is a superhero squad from the DC Comics brought to the live-action medium by Jeremy Carver. Doom Patrol may not be your cup of tea when it comes to the superhero genre as it features a rather quirky story. It is about a group of people endowed with superhero powers after surviving a life-or-death situation. They are put together under one roof by a scientist and are set to ward off dangers surrounding our planet.
Doom Patrol is a meta show that lets its quirkiness shine with its wacky humor and unconventional exploration of the lives of these superheroes. While the series halted the release of new episodes in 2023, it is expected to return with a six-episode run soon. So, you can definitely give it a shot if you want something as rare as The Boys.
8. Happy (2017 – 2019)
Happy is a television series based on Grant Morrison and Darick Robertson’s comic novel of the same name. This show, in contrast to others on our list, is the tale of a hero who stepped up to save a girl with the help of an imaginary unicorn friend called Happy.
In my opinion, it is an underrated TV series that deserves to be seen for its fresh take on a heroic story and its visual feast. Christopher Meloni as Nick Sax and Patton Oswalt as Happy will surely entertain you with their performances.
Happy is wickedly hilarious and amuses you with its distinct set of characters in a world where fantasy meets a crime drama.
7. Misfits (2009 – 2013)
Before The Boys cemented its place as one of the best modern superhero dramas, there was Misfits, a popular show about superheroes from the Brits. On a stormy day, a bolt of lightning struck a team of teenage felons and bestowed them with new superhero powers.
As the show focuses on telling a tale of young superheroes, one can find that this show is similar to The Boys’s spin-off, Gen V, which came out last year.
Misfits was lauded for taking a unique approach in the superhero genre back then. Using this dark angle, the show cleverly portrayed the struggle of edgy teens with their newfound powers. Moreover, this TV series was also filled with plenty of dark humor and jokes within the unraveling drama that you find in The Boys.
6. The Umbrella Academy (2019 – 2024)
We have yet another superhero adaptation of a comic book from the mind of Gerard Way, the lead singer of My Chemical Romance. The Umbrella Academy features a neglectful superhero family and centers around the adoptive siblings with superhero powers. They finally get together to unravel the enigma surrounding their father’s passing and must save the world from impending doom.
Just like The Boys, The Umbrella Academy was acclaimed by the fans for its distinct take on a story tailored around superheroes. The show is set to conclude after half a decade with season 4, which is set to release next month. Hence, gear up for the end of another extraordinary superhero TV series by binge-watching the previous seasons if you haven’t already.
5. Watchmen (2019)
HBO’s Watchmen is a reimagining of the renowned original graphic novel series by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. If you love Zack Snyder’s version of Watchmen then I’m pretty sure you would fall in love with this retelling as well.
The story here takes place 34 years after the initial premise, during which time police conceal their identities with masks in an effort to fight racism and confront vigilantes who are regarded as outlaws nowadays.
Similar to The Boys, this show progresses with a dark and satirical tone involving the exploration of the lives of superheroes. So, it too delves deep into the consequences of being a superhero and their actions. This TV show was highly welcomed and celebrated by the fans when it was released, thus, if you are a DC and The Boys fan, you must give this a shot.
4. Peacemaker (2022 – )
If you have seen the James Gunn adaptation of The Suicide Squad (2021), you would be familiar with Peacemaker. For those who are unaware, the famous WWE star John Cena plays the role of Peacemaker, aka Christopher Smith, in this standalone TV series. In simple terms, this DC show tells the life story of Peacemaker.
Make sure to watch the Suicide Squad (2021) movie, as this resumes from where the movie ended. This show is a masterful blend of grisly and over-the-top action and crude humor, which you would enjoy if you liked The Boys.
3. The Boys Presents: Diabolical (2022)
The immense success of The Boys TV show resulted in an animated spin-off titled “The Boys Presents: Diabolical” in 2022. It was an anthology show featuring several animated short films set in the world of The Boys.
Keep in mind that this animated show didn’t reach the same level of success or appeal as Gen V or The Boys. However, if you are in the mood to kill some time, you can quickly binge this series and experience the cameos of our favorite stars from “The Boys” as well.
2. Invincible (2021 – )
After The Boys’ popularity exploded back in 2019, Amazon decided to go for another adaptation of a comic series by Robert Kirkman but in the animation medium this time around. This series featured a star-studded cast, including Steven Yeun, J.K. Simmons, Gillian Jacobs, Walton Goggins, etc., who brought Kirkman’s characters to life.
Invincible tells the tale of Mark Grayson, a teenage boy who finds out he has superpowers that he acquired from his father, Omni-Man, the strongest superhero on Earth.
Similar to The Boys, Invincible also was filled with intense and gruesome action sequences that can shake you up instantly. It also covers the everyday lives of superheroes and explores their dark side which is pretty much everything you are looking out for now, isn’t it? Two seasons of Invincible are out now, and there are more to come, so you should definitely start this one next.
1. Gen V (2023 – )
When the “The Boys” spin-off Gen V was announced, everyone was skeptical about the series being an unnecessary cash grab. However, as the show debuted, it completely turned the tide. Gen V was a fantabulous show on all fronts and wonderfully expanded The Boys’ universe.
It was jam-packed with a great story and terrific performances, and last but not least, it inherited the diabolical nature and humor of its predecessor. This show’s events were tied to the storyline of The Boys, and we even saw cameos from some of our favorite characters.
So, if you have either skipped this one earlier or are looking for a TV show very similar to The Boys, Gen V should be your first pick. Gen V Season 2 is currently under production, so we will get more diabolical action in the coming months.
Ajith Kumar
