Following his work on Vertigo Comics’ Preacher with artist Steve Dillon, writer Garth Ennis firmly cemented himself as one of the most popular creators in comics with a twisted sense of humor, purveyor of extreme violence, and innate talent for skewering holy cows. Naturally, six years after the conclusion of Preacher, this lead Ennis and artist Darick Robertson to take on the biggest game in comics: Superhero universes.
The result was The Boys, a 90 issue combined story arc published from 2006 to 2012 by Dynamite Comics, with Ennis and Robertson returning for the “Dear Becky” epilog miniseries in 2020. The titular “Boys” are a CIA strike team focused on managing the rampant illegal activities of the superhero community. Whereas in more well established superhero universes this type of behavior tends to center around vigilante justice and unregistered policing, The Boys deals more with their casual violence, destructive behavior, and rampant drug use. Essentially, superheroes are the bad guys, whether they’re stopping crime or not.
Like much of Ennis’ work, mileage may vary depending on reader’s appetite for sexual depravity and gore, but there’s no denying his talent for satire and engaging narratives. The Boys endures as one of the most well received original comics Dynamite has published, and of course as the backbone of the adapted TV Show on Amazon Prime.
Below you’ll find a complete guide to issues and collected editions you should read in chronological order.
Last Updated: 4/23/26
The Boys Comics by Garth Ennis & Darick Robertson
Collects: The Boys #1–14 (The Name of the Game & Get Some story arcs)
Collects: The Boys #15–30 (Good for the Soul & We Gotta Go Now story arcs)
Collects: The Boys: Herogasm #1–6; The Boys #31–38 (The Self-Preservation Society)
Note that Herogasm should be read before continuing with The Boys #31.
Collects: The Boys #39–47 (The Innocents); The Boys: Highland Laddie #1–6
Highland Laddie to be read after The Boys #47 and before The Boys #48.
Collects: The Boys #48–59 (The Big Ride); The Boys: Butcher, Baker, Candlestickmaker #1–6
Butcher, Baker, Candlestickmaker can be read after The Boys #59 and before The Boys #60.
Collects: The Boys #60–72 (Over the Hill with the Sword of a Thousand Men & The Bloody Doors Off)
Collects: The Boys: Dear Becky #1–8
Epilogue series checking in on Hughie 12 years after the events of the original run.
The Boys Oversized Omnibus (15th Anniversary Editions)
The Boys Oversized Omnibus Vol. 1
Collects: The Boys #1–30 (The Name of the Game, Get Some, Good for the Soul, We Gotta Go Now story arcs), plus covers and bonus material
The Boys Oversized Omnibus Vol. 2
Collects: The Boys #31–47; The Boys: Herogasm #1–6; The Boys: Highland Laddie #1–6, plus complete cover gallery
The Boys Oversized Omnibus Vol. 3
Collects: The Boys #48–72; The Boys: Butcher, Baker, Candlestickmaker #1–6
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