THE BOYS PRESENTS: DIABOLICAL REVIEW – AN ANIMATED APPETIZER
Amazon Prime now has The Boys Presents: Diabolical, with season 3 right around the corner. It’s a wild ride through The Boys’ delightfully grim and gruesome world, with different animators and directors for each episode. Although not all attacks are strong, some great stories are within the 13-minute limit.
The new Diabolical animated series is now available on Amazon Prime. Each episode is created by different talent and written by Invincible author Simon Racioppi. Each episode is unique, and some may feature plot elements from the third season. Some are better than others, depending on your taste.
It’s an exciting time to explore The Boy’s universe. The series features returning cast members and famous actors like Justin Roiland and Christian Slater. Even Garth Ennis (the creator of The Boys comics) has created an episode that feels right out of the series. There’s sure to be something you like, from the terrible superpowers to that iconic laser baby.
STORY – NEW and OLD FACES
The Boy presents Diabolical, An anthology of stories set in Garth Ennis’ bizarre and wonderful world. The majority of episodes occur after the Season 2 revelation of Compound V to all of humanity. We see the aftermath of the Season 2 reveal of Compound V to the world in all its blood-soaked glory, now that we know that Supes can be made and not born. The series is still heartfelt in specific episodes.
Some episodes are a little stale. These episodes are still entertaining, but they don’t compare to the others. Laser baby’s day out was okay, but not great, considering the carnage we have become accustomed to in the main series. The often savage social commentary felt uninspired in Boyd’s 3D. Negative consequences can result from not focusing on social media and social expectations around appearance. However, it does have a fun twist.
The series has a lot of gore and personality, with only minor quirks. Although each episode is different in tone and style, they all feel firmly planted in The Boy’s harsh and forgiving world. Garth Ennis delivers what we have come to expect from Garth Ennis. There are many bizarre deaths and sensitive turds. They are so delightful to watch unfold with different levels of cheese or grit that I don’t want too much to spoil.
Episode 7 John & Sun-Hee deserves special mention for telling the heartfelt story of an elderly couple dealing with their wife’s terminal illness. Surprise! Andy Samberg, The Lonely Island, and Brooklyn99 made it.
THE BOYS SEASON 3 CONNECTION to DIABOLICAL
Season 3 will have at least two episodes. One plus one equals two (episode 8) is centred on Homelanders’ first mission with Vaught and his relationship to Black Noir. Eric Kripke, primary showrunner, also linked Justin Roiland’s episode, An animated short where pissed-off supes kill their parents.
Episode 8 features Homelander’s first appearance. It is a beautiful story that highlights Supe’s traumatized nature. It introduces him to Black Noir, a mute, and makes it easy for us to sympathize with him. He’s still a violent sociopath, but I did say some. This episode should be your preparation for Season 3.
The Boys Presents: Diabolical is a well-written show with many different styles and approaches that will keep your attention. Each episode is unique in its way and has different themes. The diverse writers approach the world from many angles. The comedy skills and humour of the authors are fully displayed. There is something for everyone, except maybe the squeamish.
CHARACTERS & PERFORMANCES – THE BOYS BACK IN TOWN (WITH FRIENDS).
The Boys Diabolical offers an impressive package with a lot of high-level talent. All the characters are performed well by such talented actors. You can relate to the characters, even if they are not in your world.
Giancarlo Esposito and Antony Starr return as Homelander, Stan Edgar, and Elisabeth Shue. Madelyn Stillwell is brought back to life by Elisabeth Shue. In various episodes, Chase Crawford (the Deep), and Colby Minifie(Ashely Barret), reprise their roles.
Many voices will be familiar to you, including Christian Slater and Don Cheadle. It’s pretty entertaining to see how many Celebs enjoy the show. Simon Pegg can play Hughie, which is an excellent touch considering he is the main character. It is nice to see him play the role of Hughie’s dad in the main show.
Simon Pegg plays a funny Hughie.
Although you only have a few minutes with each character in the anthology’s episodes, both the actors and writers make the most of it. The attacks last between 12 and 15 minutes, so it’s not easy to develop the characters. However, these actors are experienced veterans. The characters are both funny when they’re needed and serious when it’s necessary.
Sky and her friendship with Areola, the turd, is sweet. I also have to thank Sun-Hee and John for their outstanding performances. Perhaps I am just a sucker to super grannies.
PACING AND EXECUTION – ALL ABOARD AN A-TRAIN
Each episode lasts less than 15 minutes. Given the violent, hedonistic world The Boys has, there is no time for things to slow down or to be, well, diabolic. The stories are set up quickly and pay off brutally. It moves reasonably, and scenes that link you to the characters are brief but powerful.
The legendary laser baby is back to wreak havoc.
The creators made the best of their short time and created a tight-knit, fast-paced series of stories. This works well for the series, but it is a shame that these characters don’t get more time due to the series’ quality.
CINEMATOGRAPHY & SOUND – ANIMATED BONANZA
The Boys Presents – Diabolical has a unique animation style for every episode. Animation is generally okay. Some episodes have a natural flair, but most animation is quite bland. Some fight scenes need more detail.
There are some standouts. John and Sun-Hee created a stunning Korean art design that featured some fantastic visuals. The episode BFFs about the poop wizard has a cute anime style. Justin Roiland’s episode is also in the Rick & Morty cartoon style. In many episodes, there’s a lot of use of vivid colours.
A strong relationship between a girl’s poop and her girl
It’s nice to see that the episode You’re Your Pusher was made to look more like comics. This is a nice touch for comics fans who have been around since the beginning.
The variety of animation styles has its highs and lows, but overall the quality is good. They are all good but sometimes a little bland. It’s a journey through various visual styles with different influences. You are only 12 minutes away from finding something new if one of the designs doesn’t grab your attention.
