Finally! I've been wanting two things from the Boys since Vol 1: their individual back stories and to see some consequences for their actions. Thus far the Boys have terrorised the superhero community with almost no repercussions and don't get me wrong it's been great to see them put the supes in their place but sooner or later someone was going to take a swing at them and now it's finally happening.The first half of this volume sees the Boys having to go on the defensive as they are targeted by superhero A-listers 'Payback'. It's easily the most exciting story arc thus far with a awesome cameo (that I won't spoil) and some moments that are truly frightening (and it ain't the supes that were scaring me!).The second half is less on the action but instead gives us the long awaited histories of Mother's Milk, The Frenchman and the Female. The last two are narrated by Frenchie and they are told in a manner that is equal parts charming and bat shit bonkers.This volume has really raised the bar for this series, highly recommended. “The Boys” has always been a somewhat hit-and-miss concept for me. Starting out with goofiness and shock effects the series has gradually grown into a politically fascinating approximation of a society containing people with superpowers and as such has served as a good vessel for gutsy commentary about our own world.“The Self Preservation Society” contains one longer story that is one of the weakest offerings this series has made. But the volume is saved by fascinating, surprising and hilarious shorts about the characters’ pasts. Uneven, but ultimately worth your time.
lol! gratuitous sex and violence in comic book form. ya gotta love it!
—ramon
Always enjoyable, always grossly Ennis, always awesome
—Hailey
.love.this.series.
—ricky
4/5
—Vamlover12
