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Supes Ain't Always Heroes

Inside the Complex Characters and Twisted Psychology of The Boys

Edited by Lynn S. Zubernis and Matthew Snyder
Published by Smart Pop
Distributed by Simon & Schuster

About The Book
Go deeper inside the hit TV show The Boys and its characters with psychologists, media experts, filmmakers, and more—including the original comic series' co-creator and the actors behind Soldier Boy and Stormfront.

Supes Ain’t Always Heroes offers a fresh look at The Boys, delving into the show’s unflinching depiction of celebrity, politics, social media, corporate greed, racism, sexism, and more:

  • The true difference between Homelander and Billy Butcher—and who the show’s biggest villain really is

  • What Soldier Boy’s characterization says about how we define masculinity

  • How today’s media landscape has contributed to The Boys’ success

  • What the evolutions of Hughie, Starlight, A-Train, Mother’s Milk, and other show standouts reflect about addiction, family, identity, and self-acceptance

    PLUS: Exclusive interviews with The Boys comics co-creator Darick Robertson and actors Jensen Ackles (Soldier Boy), Jim Beaver (Robert Singer a.k.a. Dakota Bob), Aya Cash (Stormfront), and Nathan Mitchell (Black Noir) provide a unique glimpse behind the scenes. Comments from editor interviews with more of the show’s stars give further insight into their experiences in bringing these complex characters to life.

    • Product Details
    • Publisher: Smart Pop (May 12, 2023)
    • Length: 304 pages
    • ISBN13: 9781637744161

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    Raves and Reviews

    """Toxic masculinity, misogyny, trauma . . . and tights? Zubernis and company have cracked the code to TV's nastiest do-gooders with both humor and X-ray-level insight. Let's hope Vought never gets their hands on this one.""
    —Damian Holbrook, senior writer for TV Guide Magazine and TV Insider

    ""A smart mix of thought-provoking essays and entertaining interviews, diving into the twisted and tangled world of The Boys.""
    —Travis Langley, author of Batman and Psychology

    ""Supes Ain't Always Heroes demonstrates the power of popular entertainment to teach us about life, politics, media, and ethics—among many other things . . . Zubernis and Snyder explore the nuances of the popular Prime Video show The Boys, including issues of trauma, extremism, masculinity, race, and many more.""
    —Paul Booth, professor of communication at DePaul University and author of Board Games as Media and Watching Doctor Who"

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    Supes Ain't Always Heroes

    Inside the Complex Characters and Twisted Psychology of The Boys

    Edited by Lynn S. Zubernis and Matthew Snyder
    Published by Smart Pop
    Distributed by Simon & Schuster