Deconstruction of the superhero subgenre in The Boys: A social satire through characters with mental disorders

Abstract

This article analyses the deconstruction of the superhero film subgenre by examining the demystification of the idealised hero figure and exploring their darker sides. Using Friedrich Schleiermacher’s hermeneutic circle and Jacques Derrida’s deconstructionism applied to the analysis of The Boys (2019–present), the study reveals that the series’ superheroes, portrayed as villains, display behaviours aligning with DSM-5 (2013) mental disorders, breaking traditional heroism narratives. The series employs parody and satire to critique contemporary social movements, using mental health as a narrative tool. Nevertheless, it risks reinforcing stigma by linking mental disorders to violence through unrealistic and exclusionary representations, complicating its intended social commentary.