From the bright blue silliness of The Tick to the gloomy monochrome of Spider-Noir, Prime Video has proven an influential force in the landscape of superhero streaming. Despite Amazon releasing shows under both the Marvel and DC banners, however, it’s a completely different comic book adaptation that has become the platform’s flagship: The Boys.
Based on the comic books by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, The Boys exploded almost immediately, going toe-to-toe with the superhero genre’s biggest names in terms of cultural impact. That success led The Boys to a five-season run, two spinoffs (so far) in Gen V and Vought Rising, and broad acclaim from viewers and critics alike.
Despite the enormity of what The Boys became, another Prime Video superhero has slowly surpassed it, perhaps not in terms of franchise weight, but in terms of storytelling quality and positive reactions, proving once and for all that The Boys is far from…
The Boys Has Slowly Been Overtaken Across The Span Of 5 Seasons
The Boys debuted in 2019 and aired its fifth and final season in 2026, while Invincible premiered in 2021 and dropped its recent fourth season also in 2026. For the majority of Homelander’s tenure on Prime Video, Invincible has been right there flying alongside it. Both enjoyed enthusiastic receptions, both featured adult humor and elements of parody, and both proved the superhero race was more than just a two-horse deal between the genre’s powerhouses.
The subplot behind The Boys and Invincible‘s coexistence on the same service is that only Invincible has improved over time.
The Boys deserves immense credit for a consistently great run and a strong ending, but its pacing stalled in those final two seasons. The Boys could have cut its V-One storyline, condensed seasons 4 and 5 together, and been all the better for it. That didn’t happen, of course, so the show can be considered to have peaked around season 2.
Invincible traveled in the opposite direction, with a very strong first season spending a little time in feet-finding mode, a second season that maintained its quality, then two further seasons that rocketed into the stratosphere thanks to the arrival of the Viltrumites and a war that dominated Invincible‘s narrative. Invincible hit its peak in 2026, allowing it to inch past The Boys for the first time and claim Prime Video’s superhero crown for itself.
The Boys & Invincible Could Switch Places Again Soon
Invincible is moving ahead with seasons 5 and 6, while The Boys is turning its attention to the Vought Rising prequel spinoff, and these two releases present an opportunity for the tables to turn in The Boys‘ favor once again.
Invincible season 4’s finale brought a temporary pause in hostilities between the Coalition of Planets and the Viltrumites, meaning season 5 will find the series in a period of transition, somewhat smaller in scale compared to the recent battles against Thragg’s alien gaggle.
At the same time, Vought Rising offers The Boys a much-needed clean slate. It’s a whole new era, a mostly new cast, and a darker tone with a period setting. Starting from scratch not only resolves the pacing issues that hurt The Boys‘ final two seasons, it also offers the jolt of creative energy needed to revitalize the franchise after seven years. Prime Video did, of course, release Gen V, but that spinoff acted more like a companion piece to the main show.
If Invincible season 5 ends up causing the show’s first noticeable dip in quality, while Vought Rising simultaneously recaptures the feel and innovation of The Boys‘ early seasons, the narrow lead Invincible currently holds over its rival will quickly be eaten up, allowing Homelander and his cohorts to once again reign supreme.
- Release Date
-
March 26, 2021
- Network
-
Amazon Prime Video
This story originally appeared on Screenrant
