10 TV Shows That Improved Upon The Source Material

2. The Boys

The Boys Popclaw
Amazon

Amazon's deliciously irreverent superhero series The Boys is adapted from Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson's hit comic book series of the same name, yet even big fans of the comic will largely agree that the TV adaptation is just so far ahead of it.

First and foremost, the comic often feels like it's being edgy for nothing but its own sake, revelling in brutal violence and even making crass jokes out of sexual abuse.

It is, in that stead, a dated product of the 2000s and early 2010s - revolutionary and creative in its own way, but ultimately the TV show has quite expertly cherry-picked the characters and situations that worked, and abandoned those juvenile, immature parts that don't.

Yet The Boys certainly retains the spirit of the source - it's anarchic, graphically violent, hilarious, and unafraid to broach touchy topics more straight-laced shows wouldn't dare consider.

But it also knows when the comic devolves into being an edgelord circlejerk, and so pulls back just enough that it can actually, you know, resonate with general audiences.

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Contributor

Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes). General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.