The Boys: Vought Rising Can Show How Supes Shaped History

The Boys: Vought Rising Can Show How Supes Shaped History

As a dedicated fan of “The Boys”, I eagerly anticipate the upcoming spin-offs, with “Vought Rising” being particularly intriguing. The concept of delving into the history of supes and Soldier Boy’s sordid past is like unearthing hidden chapters in American History class, but with superheroes!


In essence, “The Boys” presents an intriguing twist on the superhero genre: What if the heroes we’ve grown up admiring were not just flawed, but truly despicable, abusing their powers for personal gain? The series follows a team of morally ambiguous vigilantes fighting to prevent these powerful beings from becoming tyrants. While the concept is relatively simple at its core, it packs a potent satirical punch and delivers thrilling action sequences. Future spin-offs like “Vought Rising” must bring something new to the table to make an impact. One potential direction for “Vought Rising” could be exploring an alternate history, given its premise.

As we approach the end, “The Boys” is gearing up for its finale. The fourth season recently wrapped up, paving the way for the climactic fifth season. Last year saw the debut of the first spin-off, “Gen V,” which was met with great praise. An ideal outcome would be a satisfying conclusion for “The Boys” and several engaging spin-offs to keep the franchise alive. While we don’t want the original show to run indefinitely, there’s still so much of its universe left to delve into. The spin-offs serve as an excellent means to keep the flame burning bright.

The Boys is (partially) an alternate history

The Boys: Vought Rising Can Show How Supes Shaped History

In the world portrayed in “The Boys,” supers are integrated into society as a longstanding norm, significantly influencing culture. The story provides a clear point where its timeline diverges from our own, which happens when Frederick Vought invented Compound V in 1939. A Nazi and gifted geneticist, Vought honed his superpower formula by conducting experiments on humans at the Dachau concentration camp. His wife, Klara Risinger, was the first successful supe created with Compound V. In 1944, Vought defected to the United States, where he used his miracle drug to create supes like Soldier Boy and eventually gained prominence. He received a pardon and established Vought-American, later known as Vought-International. “Vought Rising” could offer writers an opportunity to delve into the evolution of Vought’s success from the time of his defection to the present era dominated by Homelander.

The Boys Vought Rising can explore the history of supes

The storyline of Vought Rising primarily revolves around Soldier Boy, a veteran hero from World War II whose final chapter unfolds in season 3 of The Boys. This installment offers a clear chronology for the series. Soldier Boy made his appearance around 1944, participating towards the end of World War II. He worked alongside his team, Payback, until his capture in Nicaragua. His career spanned an impressive 40 years before he entered a prolonged cryogenic sleep. Throughout his tenure as a superhero, Soldier Boy’s actions were marked by horror, with him being directly or indirectly responsible for a significant portion of the darkest events in the history of the United States. While there is some controversy surrounding his role in World War II, his activities between D-Day and Operation Charly are more definitive.

Soldier Boy’s story is an American History lesson with superheroes

Soldier Boy demonstrates that the more things change, the more they stay the same. Most of the terrible things he did happened in the real world. He just stands in for the American military or police. Soldier Boy testified before the House Un-American Activities Committee, rooting out anyone who dared to oppose capitalism. He spent most of the 60s and 70s silencing civil rights protestors with overwhelming violence. Some believe that he killed JFK on the government’s behalf. Soldier Boy was an agent of the state who carried out countless classified missions at home and abroad. By 1980, Soldier Boy became more of a street-level vigilante, violently murdering people for minor offenses and frequently killing innocents standing nearby. The mission that led to his capture was a small part of one of many US interventions in foreign governments. He is an avatar of state power, but any story about Soldier Boy is also a story about American history.

Vought Rising has an interesting direction

The Boys: Vought Rising Can Show How Supes Shaped History

In an interview with Variety, showrunner Eric Kripke described Vought Rising like this:

It’s akin to the cat-and-mouse game between law enforcement officers and criminals, but with a classic twist reminiscent of films like ‘L.A. Confidential’. Imagine this scenario with detectives donning stylish fedoras and trench coats, and superheroes thrown into the mix for good measure.

Kripke presents Vought Rising as a classic, gritty noir tale featuring superheroes – a refreshing departure for the series, offering intriguing possibilities for delving into the broader universe. The Boys has moved beyond Vought, with the company serving as a facade for Homelander, the captivating main antagonist. Vought Rising promises to return the show to an earlier epoch, offering insight into what appeared to be a more tranquil period. This is an exciting opportunity to uncover the journey that led the world to Homelander.

In “Vought Rising,” we are introduced to an intriguing possibility that could significantly broaden the narrative. Initially, society perceives superhumans as benevolent figures, viewing them as heroes. This mirrors American history quite aptly. However, as the story unfolds, much like a student discovering the truth after years in school, “Vought Rising” can reveal the dark reality of Vought’s presence all along.

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2024-08-31 23:04