‘The Boys Presents: Diabolical’ is a diabolical thrill ride with great writing, hard-hitting, bloody action, and stylistic animation
Prime Video has now expanded not only their adult animated series library but has also expanded the world of ‘The Boys’ with ‘The Boys Presents: Diabolical’. Executive produced by Simon Racioppa, Eric Kripke, Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, James Weaver, Neal H. Moritz, Pavun Shetty, Ori Marmur, Ken F. Levin, Jason Netter, Garth Ennis, Darick Robertson, Michaela Starr, Loreli Alanís, Chris Prynoski, Shannon Prynoski, and Ben Kalina.
The Boys Presents: Diabolical also brings forth a star-studded voice cast and writers which include the likes of Awkwafina, Garth Ennis, Eliot Glazer, Ilana Glazer, Evan Goldberg, Seth Rogen, Simon Racioppa, Justin Roiland, Ben Bayouth, Andy Samberg, and Aisha Tyler. All who bring their own unique style and voice to truly expand the world of ‘The Boys’ in its own unique way. This series of animated shorts work perfectly to quell the thirst of those wanting to jump right back into The Boys. With its upcoming third season, ‘The Boys Presents: Diabolical’ couldn’t have come at a much better time.
The great Billy Butcher once said that “people love that cozy feeling that Supes give them” and that statement couldn’t ring more true with this new series. The thing that works best for this series is that despite being a spin-off of ‘The Boys’ and filling in certain gaps in the story from the live-action series. It has enough beef to stand on its own two feet. The series does give us new supes to follow, new perspectives on how the outside world views specific members of The Seven, but also hits on real-life themes, like child abandonment, divorce, the fickleness of social media, and the influence it plays into our daily lives.
While we get these real-life themes, the series doesn’t take itself too seriously and never forgets to have fun, while also being as brutal, bloody, and as gory as the live-action series that precedes it. Whether it the Laser Baby II, Picante Balls and his ragtag group of friends, or even Great Wide Wonder. We get the same hijinks and bloodbath we’d come to expect from the Supes that reside in this universe.
Additionally, ‘The Boys Presents: Diabolical’ also does a great job at showcasing the consequences of the events from the live-action series like the world learning that Supes are not born that way but rather genetically created (or rather mutated) within Vaught using Compound V. And how Compound V is being moved in the streets and ordinary people want to get their hands on it (willingly or unwillingly). These plot threads come into play immediately, and while other episodes are much more standalone stories, others really focus on these revealing moments from ‘The Boys’ series.
Conveniently there’s not much need to watch the main series to understand ‘The Boys Presents: Diabolical’ plot threads. Coming hot off the heels of the huge success from ‘Invincible’, I feel it truly paved the way for this series to be ultimately made. Bringing in different animation studios with different animation styles also lends a huge helping hand in making this series a truly unique viewing experience and something that wouldn’t have been able to have been pulled off if this was a live-action spin-off, rather than the animated one that it turned out to be.
Regardless of the steps that it took to get there, I’m glad that this series exists because just like ‘Invincible’, it showcases that animation is a medium worth investing in and worth consuming. Animation almost gets tossed away to the wayside because “it’s for kids” but adult animation has been having a good run and ‘The Boys Presents: Diabolical’ further proves that.
There are a few episodes of this series that really didn’t hit as good as the others and that’s ok. The short runtime for each episode makes even the forgettable episodes easy to consume. If these were 30-minute episodes then consumption of these episodes would’ve felt like a torturous chore and no one likes that.
All in all, ‘The Boys Presents: Diabolical’ is a diabolical thrill ride from start to finish. Bringing forth great writing, acting, hard-hitting, bloody action, real-life themes, comedy, animation, and everything that made the live-action series the success that it is today. ‘The Boys Presents: Diabolical’ is the perfect appetizer to hold you off until the premiere of ‘The Boys’ Season 3!
‘The Boys Presents: Diabolical’ is streaming now on Prime Video.
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