Consistently good graphic (and I mean GRAPHIC) novels. Moving straight onto the 4th! These do depart from the show quite a lot so don’t read if you’re expecting them to be the same

This volume is very much about setting up the backstory for the universe. Essentially the alternate timeline this all takes place in. Where supes come from, and how they've helped shape the world since World War 2. Early on there's a shot of a destroyed Brooklyn Bridge while the Twin Towers are standing in the background. If you wondered what that was about, this is where you find out.

Hughie and Annie remain the only likeable characters in the entire series, and it's almost like this volume is forcing them both down a dark path to ensure they also end up on the unlikeable character pile. From memory that doesn't happen, but come on Garth, throw us a bone.

The scene that stands out the most in this book, possibly the series is the 9/11 scene. It's horrific, but I find it the most realistic portrayal of super powered individuals in a real world setting.

A lot more talking than action in this volume but very interesting character development and world building.

Much much more than the Amazon Prime series, although the series is fab. Read first; then view.

Actual rating: 4.5 stars

Well, that was a turnout for the [comic] books.

After an underwhelming experience with Vol. 2 of this series, I ploughed on with Vol. 3 and was pleasantly surprised.

I didn't get the backstories I was hoping for in this volume of 'The Boys', but we did get the skinny on how the so-called 'supes' came to be, and a whole load of info about the role of Vought-American (the fat cats that are mentioned throughout Vols. 1 & 2 - [b:The Boys, Volume 1: The Name of the Game|1214485|The Boys, Volume 1 The Name of the Game|Garth Ennis|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1224646048l/1214485._SY75_.jpg|2642984] & [b:The Boys, Volume 2: Get Some|2891819|The Boys, Volume 2 Get Some|Garth Ennis|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388210740l/2891819._SY75_.jpg|2918074]). The plot thickened, and although I still feel like I'm missing out on the origin stories I wanted, this was definitely the one that I needed at this point.

I was pleased to hear more from The Legend. He's a great character that deserved a bit more page space and his revelations were perfectly timed for the development of the storyline.

There were a couple of interesting twists in this one, which has kept my interest piqued. So far this is the issue featuring the least action, but it needed to be in order to make room for all that backstory. What I love most about this series is the plot line, and how this turns all we know (and love) about comics & superheroes on its head. What we glean in this volume only adds to that, so I'm a happy camper. I'm finding the series is well balanced in terms of action vs. intrigue and I'm just enjoying the ride.

I only had one real gripe with this volume: Ennis has a tendency to include certain elements that I don't think add anything to the story. These are clearly intended to be humorous, but they're not hitting the right note for me. (In case anyone's wondering, it's the scene when Butcher picks Wee Hughie up from his motel. Yeeeeah, that one.).

Overall, a strong addition to the series and I'm looking forward to picking up the next one.

There are some comic writers who have excellent ideas, and are superb at translating them into stories as long as they have complete free reign. If you put them under an editorial umbrella like Marvel or DC's, their work suffers. And there are some comic writers who have excellent ideas who need editorial oversight or else their otherwise great story goes off the rails, or contains some unpleaant elements that an editor would have removed or altered.

Ennis falls in the latter category. His work on Punisher is far better than any of his indie work. There are certain knives he likes to twist that do his plots a disservice.

Volume two of the series contained deliberately provocative laguage to illustrate character growth, and decry its usage, so now whenever it's used, it stings more. A better writer would have used it more sparingly after volume two, but Ennis isn't a better writer here.

The main problem with this volume, though is The Legend. Having a Stan Lee or Julie Schwarz type character involved in this story could have been interesting, but instead you might as well call the character Captain Exposition. He provides a dull way to expand the mythology that Ennis has set as the back story.

I'd rather he had just done a side series that showed us the events than had a character tell the events with occasional flashbacks.

Also the 9/11 angle is just tacky. I know it's the lynchpin of this comic, that this is superheroing in a post 9/11 world, but it's so clumsily handled in this book.

I have my fingers crossed that they're not going to introduce The Legend in Season 2 of the TV series (if they do, I hope it's brief). And I imagine they've cut out the whole 9/11 angle, and will let the plane episode from Season 1 sit in its place.