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The Boys, Volume 5: Herogasm (2009)

by Garth Ennis(Favorite Author)

3.89 of 5 Votes: 1

ISBN

160690082X (ISBN13: 9781606900826)

languge

English

genre

Fantasy

publisher

Dynamite Entertainment

series

The Boys

review 1: This TPB of The Boys is all about sex. If that offends you, you could probably forego reading this one, and still be able to keep up with the plot of the series. You'll see depicted just about any sexual position available between consenting adults, animals and probably inanimate objects. This one was VERY explicit!However, the plot deepens in this one: we see the corporation involved behind the Supernaturals, the money machine, the politics, even so far as the White House. If you weren't paranoid before this one, you will begin in that kind of conspiracy sleuthing.
review 2: Ennis continues to chug along with an intriguing set of stories about the ultimate anti-heroes, in an amusingly literal sense of the term. There are a number of themes at play in this coll... moreection, including a hedonistic carnal getaway for super"heroes", some 9/11 conspiracy stuff, and questions of loyalty vis a vis sketchiness in the Secret Service. Obviously this came out years before the recent hullaballoo in Colombia, so I guess we should classify this as art predicting life.The story arcs have assumed a rather familiar pattern by now: So-called "heroes" are engaged in some really horrible stuff; The Boys learn of a high-value target to kidnap/interrogate/eliminate; exciting stuff happens with plenty of fighting and blood (in this volume, the female of the group -- does she even have a name? -- somehow crumples up a submachine gun with her bare hands); final moments leave us with a sigh-worthy moment reflecting on how easily we're fooled into cheering for the wrong people.However it is the last moment in this pattern that makes Volume 5 stand out. When a US flag is draped over a coffin, the Scot Hughie comments on how "we don't really go in for that stuff in the UK". This leads to a discussion of symbolism and especially flags, which wraps around to serve as a metonymy for the entire story arc. A masterful close to an entertaining but not amazing adventure. The final two pages earn it that fourth star from me. less

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