The Boys has carved out its niche with bold storytelling, not shying away from controversy as it openly features graphic violence, nudity, and explicit language. The show often explores the dark side of power brokers and superheroes with their own twisted stories. Starlight, aka Annie January, played by Erin Moriarty, is one such character with a troubling past. While season 1 featured Chace Crawford’s character, The Deep, asking Annie for sexual favors, the comics featured an even darker scenario. In the original story, it was not The Deep but Homelander who tried to blackmail her. Other characters such as A-Train and Black Noir also pressured her to perform sexual acts if she wanted to be part of the Seven.

In the comics, Annie’s introduction scene takes a dark and disturbing turn, as she is subjected to horrific abuse by Homelander. Later, when A-Train and Black Noir also coerce her, Annie is traumatized and throws up in the bathroom. The TV series, however, changed this storyline. In Season 1, The Deep, with Homelander’s approval, pressures Annie into having sex with him. The only scene cut from the comics is when she throws up in the bathroom. As the series progresses, Annie exposes The Deep, prompting him to take a break from the team. Despite this, he rejoins the Supes, and Annie eventually leaves the Seven.

The show later took a more realistic approach, as it shows The Deep going through emotions and past mistakes, which shows the growth of his character. However, Season 4 almost brings back the comedic accurate moment. In the pilot episode, Homelander, played by Antony Starr, becomes irritated by the team’s loyalty and orders The Deep to perform oral sex on A-Train. After his order, Deep actually tries to make contact with A-Train, but is immediately stopped by Homelander himself.

Homelander, who is often described as the evil Superman, is not a character that fans should idolize, and even Antony Starr, who plays him, agrees with that sentiment. According to CBR, the actor said, “He shouldn’t be anyone’s real hero, but I hear a lot of people say they have very mixed feelings about him because he does all these horrible things, but he’s desperately trying to be a good father. He really loves the kid. He just doesn’t know how. Because how would he do that? He’s never been loved.”

In addition to Antony Starr, Erin Moriarty and Chace Crawford, The Boys also stars Karl Urban, Jack Quaid, Dominique McElligott, Jessie T Usher, Laz Alonso, Tomer Kapon, Karen Fukuhara, Nathan Mitchell and Elisabeth Shue.