mike

The Female's full backstory hits hard. Seeing what was done to her in those labs and how Frenchie rescued her gives their relationship so much weight. The fact that she chooses to stay violent even after being free says everything about trauma and revenge. The parallel between her past and what The Boys are doing now is intentional. Everyone on this team is damaged, and they're all using the mission as an outlet. Ennis doesn't let anyone off the hook here. Robertson's art in the flashback sequences is deliberately harsher and more brutal than the present-day stuff. Really effective visual storytelling.

The reveal about what The Legend tells Hughie about the plane incident absolutely changes everything. Finding out that the Seven let all those people die because they couldn't figure out how to save them without looking bad is peak Ennis cynicism. Butcher's reaction when he realizes Hughie is getting too close to the truth is chilling. You can see him calculating how to handle this, and it's the first time you really question whether Butcher is actually one of the good guys or just using Hughie. This issue is essential for understanding the whole conspiracy at the heart of the series. Can't talk about it without spoiling, but if you've read this far, you need to see where this goes.

The payoff. Everything that's been building in this arc comes to a head and it's satisfying as hell. Butcher being Butcher, the confrontation with Teenage Kix, all of it lands. What I love is that even in the most over-the-top moments, the character stuff stays grounded. Hughie's arc through this whole thing feels earned. He's changed, but in a way that makes sense. This is The Boys firing on all cylinders. Dark, violent, funny, and somehow still managing to have something to say about power and accountability.

Here we go. The setup for infiltrating a superhero team, and it's exactly as uncomfortable as it should be. Hughie going undercover is brilliant because he's so clearly out of his depth. The satire is sharp here. Teenage Kix are obviously riffing on a certain other teen superhero team, and Ennis takes every opportunity to twist the knife. The contrast between what they show the public versus reality is the whole point of this book. Strong start to the arc. You can feel where this is heading and it's not going to be pretty.

The "Cherry" arc kicks off and we get some actual backstory for Frenchie and the Female. Their dynamic is one of the best parts of this series - no dialogue needed, just pure visual storytelling. The flashbacks are rough. Like, genuinely hard to read rough. But they give context to why the Female is the way she is. Ennis earns the violence here instead of just throwing it in for shock value. Also appreciated getting some downtime with the team. These characters work better when you see them as actual people between the crazy missions.

This is how you start a series. Ennis wastes no time showing you this isn't your typical superhero book. The first few pages alone set the tone perfectly - brutal, darkly funny, and completely unafraid to go there. Hughie is the perfect POV character. His reaction to what happens feels genuine and grounds the insanity. And Butcher? Immediately iconic. You know exactly who this guy is within two scenes. Robertson's art walks the line between realistic and slightly exaggerated in a way that just works. Fair warning though - if you're looking for heroes in capes saving the day, look elsewhere.

The second half of "Get Some" pulls no punches. The contrast between Teenage Kix's public image and what actually goes on behind closed doors is genuinely disturbing. Hughie's infiltration reaches peak uncomfortable here, and you can feel his disgust in every panel. Robertson's art really shines in the character moments. The facial expressions say everything without needing dialogue. What makes this issue work is how it balances the shock value with actual character development. This isn't just trying to be edgy for its own sake. It's showing us exactly why The Boys need to exist. Not for the squeamish, but if you want a brutal takedown of superhero worship and celebrity culture, this delivers.

Messiah Complex Chapter Four delivers strong character tension and sharp storytelling that keeps the larger crossover moving with high stakes. While the art and pacing shine, it falls just short of perfection.