When I first learned of Amazon Prime's Gen V, an eight-episode spinoff of The Boys (and its cartoon sequel/prequel, Diabolical), it was compared to that conformist clique known as The Potterverse (ho-hum). But then I heard that this DC/Dynamite offshoot would be more Marvel/X-Men oriented, with young mutants nurtured by the corrupt corporation, Vought, as filtered through the prestigious, though questionable Godolkin (ahem) University. That sounded more up my alley and much more in touch with Garth Ennis' impertinent vision.
Jaz Sinclair is Gen V's lead, Marie Moreau, classified as a "blood bender," whatever that is (sounds gruesome, though).
She's joined by Chance Perdomo's Andre Anderson, a metal-morphing master; Sean Patrick Thomas' Polarity, Andre's dad and veteran superhero; Lizze Broadway's Emma Meyer, an Atom/Ant-Man/Termite variant; Maddie Phillip's Cate Dunlap, an empath; Asa Germann's Sam, the heir-apparent Homelander; Patrick Schwarzenegger's Luke Rioden/The Golden Boy, a Human Torch; Derek Luh/London Thor's Jordon Li, a gender/personality exchanger; Clancy Brown's Richard Brinkerhoff, a criminology professor/president/guru; and Shelly Conn's Idira Shetty, Godolkin's "superintendent" supreme.
Some of The Boys' top bananas will even guest star: Jessie T. Usher's A-Train, Jensen Akles' Soldier Boy and Chase Crawford's The Deep. (For whatever cause, puppet counterparts will also infiltrate the storyline. Hurrah!)
The spry supes are tested through Battle Royale-meets-The Paper Chase competitions, with Carrie-aimed meltdowns slated, which means we'll get more carnage than tears. Whether the harsh mix comes with polarizing politics isn't clear, though The Boys dealt its sarcastic assessments from both ends, so why would its companion piece skip the tried-and-true beat?
Just based on its trailers, Gen V looks like it'll carry The Boys' torch well, but we'll soon know for sure. The series starts Sept 29.
Though connected to THE BOYS, GEN V strikes me, at its earliest phases, as a coming-of-age concept: a DAWSON'S CREEK with superheroics. That's okay, but there's no question that DIABOLICAL is more in tune with its foundation.
ReplyDeleteOh, and how 'bout those unexpected demises of characters played by headliners. Sure didn't see those comin'; and all in the initial episode. Whoa!
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