Outside of its unique narrative and compelling plot, The boys captivated audiences by parodying and subverting hero tropes, while also taking inspiration from the Marvel and DC universes. And the power and genius of his satire come to the fore when it comes to his version of the X-Men and the unforgettable changes made to the fan-favorite Nightcrawler.
One of the most captivating displays of subversion appears in The boys #29, which focuses on the G-Men – a satirical version of The Mysterious 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 her teleportation ability to deliver a brutal “punch” to the murder of her former teammate, Dime-Bag, apparently teleporting his fist through the back of his head.
The attack is so shocking that even the grizzled Butcher is surprised by its depraved intensity. More importantly, it also provides a stark contrast between Europa and Nightcrawler’s use of teleportation.
Where Nightcrawler wanted guardrails, Europe was willing to take a leap of faith
Boys’ Europe turned teleportation into a mastered assassination technique
While Europa may not share Nightcrawler’s cool, demonic vibe, it does display some of the fan favorite’s signature traits. As his name suggests, he also shares Nightcrawler’s European heritage. However, Europa’s destruction of Dime-Bag reveals a stark divergence from Kurt Wagner’s approach – and this is where the parody truly shines. Unlike Nightcrawler, who adheres to a code that governs his teleportation, Europa exploits his power to gain any advantage.demonstrating a relentless willingness to prioritize results over personal safety.
Nightcrawler’s approach to teleportation reflects a nuanced understanding of the utility of the present and optimal deployment, honed by years of practical use in a variety of situations. He has never hesitated to use his teleportation abilities strategically in combat, whether to avoid crushing blows or to reposition himself for tactical advantage. However, Nightcrawler draws a firm line when using his powers in ways that could put himself or others in danger.. For example, he stated that he avoids teleportation which runs the risk of placing any part of your body inside a solid object. In Excalibur #72, it became clear that merging with a solid object could have deadly consequences.
Although it is only a slight excess, in a room 150 meters deep and surrounded by solid rock, ‘slight’ can kill!
This point is reinforced in X-Men Gold #7, where Nightcrawler attempts a blind teleport to an unknown area and accidentally merges with a statue. But perhaps the most striking illustration of the dangers of teleportation to solid objects appears in X Force #26. Here, Nightcrawler teleports to help Hope Summers avoid an attack from Super Sentinel Bastion, but misjudges the timing by a split second. Although he completes the teleportation, he fuses with the Sentry’s forearm just as he is about to hit Hope. The result is devastating: the Sentinel’s arm burns a hole in Nightcrawler’s chest.
In The boys, Europa seems unfazed by the risks of teleporting partially or completely to a solid object. In fact, he completely ignores this restriction in his attack on Dime-Bag. Judging by his successful assassination, it’s clear he wouldn’t sacrifice this ability for the security concerns Nightcrawler continually points out, especially since it turns him into a one-punch killing machine. This scene is one of the best – albeit subtle – parodies of the mainstream comic book universe in a series full of them.
Europa’s aggressive tactics perfectly define the boys’ X-Men
The G-Men, founded, financed and developed by John Godolkin, are a team of superheroes whose ranks are made up of children and teenagers specifically recruited to be members. Although clearly based on Marvel’s X-Men, unlike Professor Xavier’s approach, which sought to protect and train mutant children in the public interest, Godolkin targeted ordinary children from vulnerable populations for his private interests. However, his wishes were not as benevolent as Professor Xavier’s. Godolkin was not interested in protecting his charges, but rather finding the best among them to form his private team of superheroes. This involved secretly injecting them with Compound V and then training them to take advantage of any superhuman abilities that arose.
Although the Seven attract the most attention, they are not the only superhero entity in existence. The boys universe. Similar to Marvel and DC, The boys features a multi-level superhero society that tackles local issues and petty crimes. Godolkin’s G-Men teams span the spectrum of criminal deviance, with the G-Men serving as his elite squad. Selected for their experience, enhanced Compound V abilities, or natural ambition, the G-Men rival the Seven – many believing them to be equals.
Europa was created in this environment of aggressive superheroism in The boyswhich likely contributed to his willingness to unleash his abilities without restraint.