The Boys fans are often captivated by the show’s negative view of superheroes and its witty jokes. Did you find out the show, despite being great, also takes many big turns away from the original Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson comic book?
At the end, the comic leaves readers with a dark and dramatic finale to Billy Butcher’s battle against supes.
Now that the show is about to end, we’ll take a look at how the comic series and the Dear Becky mini-series bring the epic story of The Boys and their fight against Vought Inc. to its biggest conclusion.
Be warned: Civil War in the comics is more realistic and unforgiving, and the same goes for the ending. Some big comic spoilers appear in this answer!
1. The Climax: Homelander forcing his way into power and Black Noir’s involvement in the coup
The story reaches its high point with a surprising event known as “The Glorious Five-Year Plan.” Homelander, having gone fully insane, launches a full-scale attack against the US government.
In the Oval Office, he shoots the president and his staff, openly stating that he wants to seize control of the country. Seeing the tyranny believing them to be heroes thrashes the last bits of hope for supes.
Yet, the biggest surprise happens when Homelander goes up against Billy Butcher. As Butcher braces for the climax, Black Noir reveals who he really is and what he stands for. He was invented as a standby by Vought to eliminate Homelander just in case he ever turned into a threat.
It turns out that Black Noir, not Homelander, had committed these horrifying and illegal acts, like the sexual assault of Butcher’s wife, Becky.
Homelander’s tormenter had slowly driven him mad with the aim of fulfilling his own reason for being and his wish to be known as the true Homelander.
Furious, Homelander assaults Black Noir. Even though the fight is short, it is very violent as Black Noir shreds Homelander to pieces.
2. The Fall of Black Noir
Now that Homelander is gone, Black Noir is the last person the Seven can fear. Despite being badly hurt in the clash, he is still a source of fear. Yet, the Boys helped the US develop new anti-supe weapons, allowing the military to send in their troops and open fire on Noir.
After putting up a strong fight, Black Noir is finally defeated by Vought. Since Butcher could not let someone else do his job, he goes to the dying Noir and uses a crowbar to crush his head and put him out of his misery. Butcher’s many years of hatred end with this night, but it costs him a lot.
3. The Aftermath: How Vought’s Collapse Led to the Era of No Supes
With Homelander and Black Noir gone, and Vought’s secret crimes made clear to the public, the whole supe industry collapses.
Vought is shut down, and the other members of the Seven, who are now in hiding, are no longer part of the public eye. Superheroes’ time at the height of popularity has definitely ended.
It looks like The Boys have finally won the war. The world is no longer troubled by the supervillains.
4. Butcher’s Final, Horrifying Plan
That’s when the comic’s ending takes a turn for the darker and more troubling than anything shown in the series. Having spent his life hating superpowered humans, Billy Butcher’s rage is still unappeased.
According to him, as long as Compound V is still out there or as long as any super-powered individual exists, the danger does not end.
Butcher was working away on his ultimate, deadly plan, but his fellowers would not find out for a while. Compound V was modified into an airborne variant to wipe out anyone with the vaccine in their bodies. Because of this, the risk covered not only supes but also those carrying only the V gene and everyone else who could have V in their blood. Mr. Gray wanted to kill every superhuman across the globe.
5. The Boys Turn on Butcher
Finding out Butcher’s plan, Mother’s Milk, Frenchie, and Kimiko (The Female) become sickened and do their best to stop him. As a result, the allies come into conflict, and the struggle turns violent.
In a shocking scene, Butcher, driven by hatred, one by one murders every member of his team.
To kill Mother’s Milk, he bursts the person’s brain.
He takes out Frenchie and Kimiko (The Female) by triggering an explosion that kills them.
As a result, Billy Butcher turns into the ultimate enemy, someone who has no humanity left as he fights for his twisted version of justice. He ends up doing the same things he previously opposed.
6. Hughie’s Tragic Role
Among the members of The Boys, Hughie Campbell is the only one who holds their morals. He finds out what Butcher did and learns his goal was to wipe all the supes out. Even though he looks the most innocent, Hughie is the one who takes it upon himself to stop his former mentor.
Their last fight happens at the top of the Empire State Building. Due to the nature of the fight, Butcher is left without any movement below his neck.
Before going away for life, Butcher deliberately lies to Hughie that he was the one who killed Hughie’s parents. In his anger and grief, Hughie uses a piece of metal to stab Butcher and end his life. Butcher meets his end with happiness, since he drove Hughie to commit murder and to save Butcher from a life of dependence.
7. The Final Aftermath: Hughie and Starlight
Having killed Butcher and seeing the rest of The Boys leave, Hughie is the only one left. The danger from Vought and supes has been taken away. Now, the truth about Compound V is well known to the general public.
In the Dear Becky mini-series (published years after the main run), the story reveals that Hughie and Annie January are married and staying calmly in Scotland. He sometimes remembers old times, yet everything now is much different.
He is part of the team that keeps an eye on any supe activities and prevents the horrors of the past from happening again.
The ending seems peaceful, but it still leaves us feeling a bit sad. The war came to an end, but it cost many lives and souls in the process.