10 Brutal Comics Like 'The Boys' That Also Deserve A TV Adaptation

The Boys took the world by storm when it came out on Prime Video, and became one of the most popular comic book adaptations in TV history. However, with the show finally ending, we’re already thinking about what’s next. There are many other incredible stories, as brutal as this one — or even more brutal — that also deserve an adaptation.

Garth Ennis, The Boys‘ co-creator alongside Darick Robertson, will be a huge player on this list. His cynical, brutal, and sometimes edgelord writing is perfect for that type of story; it’d be impossible to keep him out. Still, let’s present many other styles, including tamer comics and some that don’t focus on heroes at all. Even if you aren’t a fan of violence, you might find something here for you.

1. Marshal Law

Writer: Pat Mills

Artist: Kevin O’Neill

Starting with a comic that inspired The Boys, Marshaw Law follows the titular character, a vigilante who hunts down evil superheroes as he pursues a serial killer. The basic plot already might seem pretty familiar for fans of Ennis’ work, and it doesn’t stop there, since it’s also graphic, full of dark comedy, and a huge parody of the hero genre.

2. Brat Pack

Writer: Rick Veitch

Artist: Rick Veitch

Brat Pack uses sidekicks to show a cynical view of vigilantes and people corrupted by power, fame, and corporations. While the heroes indulge in their desires, their young partners are humiliated and abused, then later sent into these deadly battles with villains. Back in 2010 it was rumored for a movie adaptation, but that has yet to pan out.

3. Johnny the Homicidal Maniac

Writer: Jhonen Vasquez

Artist: Jhonen Vasquez

Straying from the superhero genre for a bit, we have Johnny the Homicidal Maniac. If you’re an Invader Zim fan, you’re bound to love this, since it’s by the same creator. It shares much of the cartoon’s vibe and comedic style. But this time, it follows a normal human, Johnny, who doesn’t think about world domination, only killing several innocent people to pass the time.

4. Irredeemable

Writer: Mark Waid

Artist: Peter Krause

Homelander is just one of the several “Evil Supermen” we can find in comics. But Irredeemable shines thanks to how Waid shows Plutonian’s fall from grace. And by highlighting that the same can happen to anyone, hero or not. A good companion piece is the spinoff series, Incorruptible, which presents the opposite, as it explores a villain searching for redemption. Irredeemable was originally planned for a film adaptation in 2016 by Adam MacKay, then in 2022 Netflix optioned both books for linked film adaptations produced by Jay-Z, though there hasn’t been an update since then.

5. Crossed

Writer: Garth Ennis

Artist: Jacen Burrows

Of course, this would be here. Ennis and artist Jacen Burrows imagined a world in which a virus forces people to act on their darkest and most violent desires, and they don’t hold back. It’s incredibly disturbing and by no means an easy read. But, despite the gore-fest and shock value, Crossed has a compelling story and characters. A Crossed movies is currently in post-production (it was filmed in 2025), but with 17 volumes, multiple spinoff series and continuations, there’s plenty of room for a TV version, too.

6. Über

Writer: Kieron Gillen

Artist: Daniel Gete

If you enjoy well-researched, violent war stories, Über might be perfect for you. When World War II is just about to end, super soldiers resurrect the Nazi war machine. The intriguing plot develops as Gillen explores the brutality of the conflict and the people behind it with marvelous writing.

7. Punisher Max

Writer: Garth Ennis

Artist: Leandro Fernández

Regarded as the best Punisher run ever, Max is a big collection that takes the character to a new level. Ennis explores Frank Castle’s origins to his last day on Earth. It’s a complete story that tells you everything you need to know about the character in the bleakest, cruelest, and most violent way possible.

8. Sara

Writer: Garth Ennis

Artist: Steve Epting

Now, a very different depiction of war and militarism. Sara demonstrates Ennis’ versatility, as it’s brutal in its real and harsh atmosphere rather than gruesome deaths. It’s also based on true events, following Sara, a soviet sniper, and her comrades killing as many Nazi invaders as they can.

9. X-Statix

Writer: Peter Milligan, Michael Allred

Artist: Michael Allred

X-Statix can be brutal in parts, but it’s the tamest comic in this list. If you wanna start things slowly or are an X-Men fan, this is the right pick for you. Like The Boys, it explores the commodification of heroes, putting the characters on a reality show and featuring a marketing team. To boot, its discussion about influencer culture and media, with its surrealism and comedy, have aged really well.

10. Judge Dredd: America

Writer: John Wagner

Artist: Colin MacNeil

“Justice has a price. The price is freedom.” America already begins by saying the quiet part out loud, but also making it clear this read will be a gut punch. As filled with commentary as it is with brutality, this is one of the best Judge Dredd stories ever. Rather than focusing on the titular character, it follows America Jara, who becomes involved with a terrorist organization in the Judge’s sights.

The Boys Season 5 Premiere Dates And Episode Guide:

The Boys Season 5 will officially premiere on Prime Video on Wednesday, April 8, 2026. The season will be eight episodes long, with two dropping on premiere day.

Here’s the full list of episodes in The Boys Season 5, with premiere dates:

Wednesday, April 8, 2026: The Boys Season 5, Episode 1, “Fifteen Inches of Sheer Dynamite”
Wednesday, April 8, 2026: The Boys Season 5, Episode 2, “Teenage Kix”
Wednesday, April 15, 2026: The Boys Season 5, Episode 3, “Every One of You Sons of Bitches”
Wednesday, April 22, 2026: The Boys Season 5, Episode 4, “King of Hell”
Wednesday, April 29, 2026: The Boys Season 5, Episode 5, “One-Shots”
Wednesday, May 6, 2026: The Boys Season 5, Episode 6, “Though The Heavens Fall”
Wednesday, May 13, 2026: The Boys Season 5, Episode 7, “The Frenchman, The Female, and the Man Called Mother’s Milk”
Wednesday, May 20, 2026: The Boys Season 5, Episode 8, “Blood and Bone” *Series Finale*