The Boys’ Last Jab At Marvel Is Its Best

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Warning! This article contains spoilers for The Boys season 5’s finale.

The final episode of The Boys included another jab at the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and many are calling it the show’s most effective one yet. Since debuting on Prime Video in 2019, The Boys has consistently satirized various elements of society, politics, and popular culture. Given that it’s a superhero series itself, it’s been particularly focused on playfully criticizing both the highlights and low points of Marvel’s extensive film catalog.

This trend extends to other major superhero series, like The Boys, which has spent its five seasons satirizing characters from both Marvel and DC. Although many viewers anticipated a more action-packed final season, The Boys hasn’t abandoned the humor that defines it. Even in season five, the show continues to poke fun at Marvel, with subtle jabs like the fake posters in Mr. Marathon’s apartment and its own take on the famous Quicksilver scenes from the X-Men films.

The finale of The Boys keeps up the show’s tradition of playfully poking fun at Marvel Studios. While the team discusses their final showdown with Homelander, Mother’s Milk shows them a tablet counting down to Easter and hinting at Homelander believing he’s becoming a god. Beside the countdown is a director’s chair labeled ‘Homelander,’ with a tagline that reads, ‘Homelander reboots the universe.’

This is a clear reference to the upcoming Marvel movie, Avengers: Doomsday. The film’s initial promotion involved a five-and-a-half-hour livestream showcasing director’s chairs, each labeled with the name of a returning Marvel actor. Given the strong rumors that Avengers: Doomsday and its follow-up, Avengers: Secret Wars, will essentially restart the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Homelander’s catchphrase in the finale of The Boys feels like a final, pointed joke aimed at Marvel Studios.

The Boys’ Final Marvel Joke Goes Deeper Than Just Satire

It’s typical for The Boys to include jokes like this, but the reference to Avengers: Doomsday is more than just satire. Usually, the show’s jokes about Marvel and DC are simply meta-commentary, poking fun at popular superhero franchises. These jokes often don’t add much to the story or character development. However, this Avengers: Doomsday joke is different – it actually has a deeper connection to the narrative.

Within the story, Homelander’s countdown was actually building towards a catastrophic event he called “Holy Fire,” where he intended to kill everyone on Earth who didn’t worship him as a god. Interestingly, the title Avengers: Doomsday, while referencing the villain Doctor Doom, also carries religious weight. The term “doomsday” often refers to the Last Judgement in religious texts – a day when humanity is judged by a divine power.

Wow, that finale of The Boys really hit different! Seeing Homelander truly believe he is a god… it made that Avengers: Doomsday reference so much deeper. It’s funny, yeah, a little dig at Marvel, especially with the director’s chair and slogan. But it’s more than just a joke. Considering where Homelander’s head is at, and how he plans to ‘judge’ people, that religious connection in the movie title adds a whole new layer. Honestly, it’s a brilliant touch, and it makes this Marvel reference the show’s best one yet – it’s not just riffing, it’s meaningful.

The Boys’ Final Marvel Gag Marks The End Of An Era

Following a nod to The Avengers in the finale of The Boys, the show immediately jumps into the climactic showdown with Homelander at the White House. From there, The Boys expertly wraps up its storylines and character development, making the Avengers reference its final playful jab. With the series now concluded, it signifies the end of a significant chapter in television.

Since its debut in 2019, The Boys has been the most prominent show openly making fun of other superhero universes. While other series touch on satire, it’s always been central to what makes The Boys unique. With the show now finished, there’s a noticeable gap in mainstream television – a lack of a major series willing to playfully critique Marvel, DC, and the tropes within those franchises. The ending of The Boys is bittersweet not only because it was a fantastic show, but also because it filled a specific, satirical role in the superhero genre that won’t be easily replaced.

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2026-05-21 01:08