‘The Boys’ has never been shy about changing major parts of the comics, but season 5 quietly included one of its smartest references yet. A few years ago, the series ditched the comic storyline, which had several Soldier Boys, but episode 7 managed to pay homage to the concept without making the show too complicated.
And honestly, it worked much better than a direct adaptation probably would have.
Soldier Boy’s New Look Has A Hidden Comics Meaning
Following the events of season 5, in which Soldier Boy played a major role in the turmoil surrounding Homelander, his story seemed to end abruptly when Homelander returned him to cryostasis. It was a strange feeling, given how involved he was in the final season.
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However, the show made a subtle reference that long-time comic fans would have easily picked up on. As Homelander tries to persuade Soldier Boy to remain loyal, he shows him a new suit that has brighter red, white, and blue. On the surface, it just seemed like another Vought rebrand.
In practice, however, the outfit is very similar to that of Soldier Boy III’s outfit in the original comic. That’s important because there were three very different Soldier Boys in different eras in the comics. All that was streamlined in the TV version, with only one Soldier Boy. And it was a good decision.
Why The TV Version Works Better
The show didn’t have to deal with several different versions of the same person; it just had to deal with the best of both worlds: a World War celebrity, a broken-down father, and one of the most dangerous Supes around. It’s a lot more personal and emotionally related to the main story than the comics’ rotating mantle ever was.
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However, the new outfit was a cute little nod to those who are familiar with the original. The TV version works better because legacy characters are common in comic books. Readers don’t mind when different people embody the same identity; comics have plenty of time to develop those ideas.
Television is not so lucky. Multiple Soldier Boys would have overwhelmed the already crowded storyline in a show like ‘The Boys’. More significantly, it might have taken away some of the emotional impact that Jensen Ackles added to the role.
His version became important because audiences spent real time with him, enough to understand his damage, his cruelty, and even his occasional vulnerability. That is why the adaptation decision seems like a clever one in retrospect.
Instead of taking everything from the comic, The Boys took what works for television. However, with ‘Vought Rising’ still in the pipeline, it’s obvious that the franchise is aware that there is still so much more to discover with Soldier Boy.
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