The Boys: 10 Characters Who Are Stronger In The Comics

Highlights

• The comic version of
  The Boys
  is more gruesome and offensive than the TV show, which takes creative liberties with the characters and storylines.
• The live-action versions of Homelander, Black Noir, and Stormfront are weaker than their comic counterparts, with the comic versions showcasing more strength and brutality.

The Boys is an extremely popular and vulgar TV show that many might not know originated as a comic. Both versions of The Boys feature a satirical take on the superheroes that audiences love, but the comic takes a far more gruesome and offensive approach to the characters and situations, which is probably why Amazon Prime’s The Boys has taken some creative liberties and made its own thing from the characters and storylines.

One of the most noticeable changes isn’t just the characters and lack thereof, but the strength of said characters. Some characters in The Boys comic are far stronger than their live-action counterparts, so much so that it’s alarming to see such a difference.

This article contains spoilers for The Boys comic, which may spoil some surprises for the Amazon Prime show of the same name.

Updated on June 10, 2024, by Jake Fillery: As Butcher’s war with supes ramps up in Amazon Prime’s The Boys, it’s time to look at some true powerhouses of the series, and how the comic has some of their power scaled even higher than their depictions from Amazon Prime’s own live-action version. Some characters in The Boys comic are incredibly powerful, making them far more dangerous, with some characters even being surprising entries that are not discussed enough in the show.

10 The Female / Kimiko

• Comic Chapter Debut:The Boys #2
• Series Episode Debut: Season 1, Episode 4

Kimiko has proven herself as a valued member as part of the Boys, and she is loved by them and audiences alike. Her personality really shines in the show, and as she opens up more, she reveals her vulnerabilities, even with her incredible superpowers from strength, durability, and healing. Her abilities are incredible, but she’s still not as strong as Kimiko’s depiction in the comic, where she is referred to as The Female of the Species.

The Female is far more violent and quiet than Kimiko, and the fact that she fell into a vat of Compound V as a baby has only heightened her strength. The Female can easily dismember people like they are LEGO, and her speed and reflexes make her extremely dangerous, so try to stay away from her.

9 Frenchie

• Comic Chapter Debut:The Boys #2
• Series Episode Debut: Season 1, Episode 2

As seen in the show, Frenchie has a pretty open heart for Kimiko and explosives, but that’s really where Frenchie’s feats lie. At the end of the day, Frenchie is still human, and someone who is doubtful to experiment with Compound V, especially with his complicated history with drugs. That’s where the comic version comes in.

Frenchie from the comics is far more dangerous and violent, and since this version of the character has Compound V in his blood, the increase in strength, durability, and a sense of smell, makes him an avid hunter and an even more successful killer.

8 Jack From Jupiter

• Comic Chapter Debut:The Boys #1
• Series Episode Debut: n/a

It’s not exactly fair to add Jack from Jupiter, considering he hasn’t been added to the show, and it seems unlikely that he will ever be added in the first place. This troubled and toxic member of The Seven has only appeared in the comic, but his feats of strength have been shown multiple times, especially with his strange catchphrase, “Carpo”, which allows him to become invulnerable for a time.

With this invulnerability active, Jack is able to withstand all sorts of abuse, from fists and tank blasts alike. Jack also has great strength and the ability to fly, and although he’s no Homelander, he’s certainly a “hero” with powers worth discussing.

7 Queen Maeve

• Comic Chapter Debut:The Boys #3
• Series Episode Debut: Season 1, Episode 1

It’s hard to argue that Queen Maeve’s comic counterpart is stronger, especially when the version seen in the show has not survived her fight with Soldier Boy with her powers intact. Queen Maeve might still be alive, but she lacks her powers, allowing the comic version to dominate when it comes to being one of the strongest supes in the world thanks to the fact she’s practically Wonder Woman.

Queen Maeve in the comic has her own issues to deal with, and her alcoholism and years of abuse from the world have definitely dampened her ability to do good and show her strength, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t incredibly strong, as she can throw people faster than a bullet firing from a gun, and hurt those who she deems in need of pain.

6 Homelander

• Comic Chapter Debut:The Boys #1
• Series Episode Debut: Season 1, Episode 1

Homelander is a blatant parody of Superman, except the show has him much weaker, and with extreme mommy issues. Homelander is very dark and twisted in both the comic and the show, but his turn in the show is far darker, and the sinister nature of his character brews with each episode. However, if the comic and live-action Homelander were to fight, the show version would undoubtedly win out.

Whilst both versions of Homelander are extremely similar, comic Homelander wins out just for the sheer fact that he has killed far more people, including superheroes, without even batting an eye. Whilst Queen Maeve’s story might be over in live-action, her comic counterpart had her head punched clean off with just one strike, showcasing how strong Homelander is.

5 Black Noir

• Comic Chapter Debut:The Boys #1
• Series Episode Debut: Season 1, Episode 1

Black Noir is a character shrouded in mystery in The Boys, for both the comic and live-action. However, Season 3 of The Boys featured Black Noir having his guts punched out of him by Homelander, showcasing that maybe he’s not all that strong, and is simply just a man with extreme burns. This Batman parody becomes far darker when the comic reveals that Black Noir is a clone of Homelander and a stronger one at that.

Black Noir easily kills Homelander in a one-on-one fight, and it makes sense too, because Black Noir was literally trained for one purpose: to kill Homelander. It would make sense that the clone that has been trained to utilize agility and strength with the same powers as Homelander is in fact better, physically.

4 Mother’s Milk

• Comic Chapter Debut:The Boys #2
• Series Episode Debut: Season 1, Episode 3

Unlike the live-action show, Mother’s Milk got his name from the fact that his mother was a Compound V experiment, and her milk produced the drug known for providing humans with superpowers. Mother’s Milk is a born hero in the comic and has a vast amount of strength. So much so, that he managed to barely survive a grenade to the face.

Mother’s Milk is the strongest character in the comic, with his natural superhuman strength, agility, and stamina all allowing him to prove himself against the worst of the superhero clubs. In the show, Mother’s Milk is a great tactician, but he doesn’t have the powers of the comic version.

3 Stormfront

• Comic Chapter Debut:The Boys #7
• Series Episode Debut: Season 2, Episode 1

Whilst Stormfront may have received a gender swap in the live-action show, it certainly didn’t stop the character from keeping in line with their disgusting views. Stormfront in both versions is a Nazi, but it seems that the comic version is much stronger, due to the fact that he was the blueprint for the creation of Homelander. Stormfront doesn’t just harness lightning powers but has similar strengths to Homelander.

In the show, Stormfront is burned beyond repair by Homelander’s son, but the comic has a more grizzly death, with Stormfront having his skull beaten in by The Boys and Love Sausage. Considering it took a small army of super-powered folks to take Stormfront out, it’s clear that he’s stronger than the live-action version.

2 Billy Butcher

• Comic Chapter Debut:The Boys #1
• Series Episode Debut: Season 1, Episode 1

Billy Butcher isn’t the cleanest character by any means. In fact, he’s somewhat of a villain, but he just views himself as a lesser evil of superheroes. In the show, Billy’s vendetta and hatred for superheroes run deep, and he often has to rely on smart tactics and other ways to take out his foes. However, the comic character takes a direct approach and involves himself directly in the action.

Both versions of the character took a Compound V serum, except the comic version’s is more lasting, and isn’t slowly killing him. Butcher can fight basically any hero alone, especially with his combat experience in war. However, it’s debatable, as the comic Butcher only has superhuman strength and durability, whereas the live-action has heat vision as well.

1 Love Sausage

• Comic Chapter Debut:The Boys #11
• Series Episode Debut: Season 2, Episode 6

Love Sausage is one of the most beloved characters in The Boys, and made a lasting impression for his short appearance in the live-action show due to his overly large and seemingly tentacle-like sex organ that wrapped around Mother’s Milk’s neck. However, Love Sausage in The Boys comic is far superior, and he’s even an ally of the team that makes a few appearances, complete with said overly large sex organ.

Love Sausage in live-action can grow and control his genitals, whereas the comic version does not have this power, and instead, has superhuman durability, strength, and speed. Love Sausage may not be the strongest or fastest hero, but his powers are far superior, and his personality is far friendlier than that of the live-action version.