Outside its unique narrative and compelling plot,The Boyshas captivated audiences by parodying and subverting hero tropes, while taking inspiration from the Marvel and DC universes. And the potency and genius of its satire takes the spotlight when it comes to its version of the X-Men, and the unforgettable changes made to the fan-favorite Nightcrawler.
One of the most captivating displays of subversion appears inThe Boys#29, which focuses onthe G-Men—a satirical take on Marvel’s TheUncanny X-Men. In one scene, Europa, a member of the G-Men’s Beta team, G-Force, and a clear parody of Marvel’s Nightcrawler, uses his teleportation ability to deliver a brutal “sucker punch” assassination of his former teammate, Dime-Bag, by seemingly teleporting his fist through the back of his head.
The attack is so shocking that even the grizzled Butcher is taken aback by its depraved intensity. More importantly, it also provides a stark contrast between Europa’s and Nightcrawler’s use of teleportation.
Where Nightcrawler Wanted Guardrails, Europa Was Willing To Take A Leap Of Faith
The Boys' Europa Weaponized Teleportation Into An Overpowered Assassination Technique
While Europa may not share Nightcrawler’s hip, demonic vibe, he does exhibit some of the fan favorite’s signature characteristics. As his name suggests, he also shares Nightcrawler’s European heritage. However, Europa’s obliteration of Dime-Bag reveals a stark divergence from Kurt Wagner’s approach – and this is where the parody truly shines.Unlike Nightcrawler, who adhered to a code governing his teleportation, Europa exploits his power for any advantage, demonstrating a ruthless willingness to prioritize results over personal safety.
Nightcrawler’s approach to teleportationreflects a nuanced understanding of the gift’s utility and optimal deployment, honed by years of practical use across a range of situations. He’s never hesitated to use his teleportation abilities strategically in combat, whether to evade crushing blows or to reposition for tactical advantage.However, Nightcrawler draws a firm line at using his powers in ways that could endanger himself or others. For example, he has stated that he avoids teleportation that risks placing any part of his body inside a solid object. InExcalibur#72, it’s made clear that merging with a solid object could have deadly consequences.
Though it’s only a slight overshoot, in a room five hundred feet deep and surrounded by solid rock, ‘slight’ can kill!
This point is reinforced inX-Men Gold#7, where Nightcrawler attempts a blind teleportation into an unfamiliar area and accidentally merges with a statue. But, perhaps the most striking illustration of the dangers of teleporting into solid objects appears inX-Force#26. Here, Nightcrawler teleports to help Hope Summers dodge a strike from theSuper Sentinel Bastion, but misjudges the timing by a fraction of a second. Although he completes the teleportation, he merges with the Sentinel’s forearm as it’s about to hit Hope. The outcome is devastating: the Sentinel’s arm effectively punches a hole through Nightcrawler’s chest.
InThe Boys,Europa seems unfazed by the risks of partially or fully teleporting into a solid object. In fact, he bypasses this restriction entirely in his attack on Dime-Bag. Judging by the success of the assassination, it’s clear he wouldn’t sacrifice that ability for the safety concerns Nightcrawler continuously points out, especially since it transforms him into a one-punch killing machine. This scene stands as one of the best — albeit subtle — parodies of the mainstream comic book universe in a series packed with them.
Europa’s Aggressive Tactics Perfectly Define The Boys' X-Men
The G-Men, founded, funded, and developed by John Godolkin, are a superhero team whose ranks are composed of children and teens specifically recruited for its membership. While clearly based on Marvel’s X-Men, unlike Professor Xavier’s approach, which sought to protect and train mutant children in the public’s interest, Godolkin targeted average children from vulnerable populations for his private interests. His desires weren’t as benevolent as Professor Xavier’s, however. Godolkin was not interested in protecting his wards, rather he wanted to find the best among them in order to staff his private superhero team. This entailed secretly shooting them up with Compound V, then training them to harness whatever superhuman abilities emerged.
While The Seven garner the most attention, they aren’t the only superhero entity inThe Boysuniverse. Similar to Marvel and DC,The Boysfeatures a multi-tiered superhero society addressing local issues and lesser crimes.Godolkin’s G-Men teamsspan the spectrum of criminal deviancy, with the G-Men serving as his elite squad. Selected for their experience,Compound V enhanced abilities, or natural ambition, the G-Men rival the Seven – many believing themselves equals.
Europa was raised in this environment of aggressive super-heroism inThe Boys, which likely contributed to his willingness to unleash his abilities without restraint.
The Boys
The Boysfranchise is a satirical and dark superhero series based on the comic book by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson. It explores a world where superheroes, or “Supes,” are corrupt, violent, and morally bankrupt, all controlled by the powerful corporation Vought International. The story centers around two opposing groups:The Boys, a vigilante team aiming to expose and defeat the corrupt heroes, andThe Seven, Vought’s elite team of Supes led by the ruthless Homelander.
