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Summary
- Unlike other superhero content, such as Marvel and DC, Amazon Prime Video’s Gen V is unapologetically explicit, tackling sexual, gory, and disgusting themes.
- Gen V explores storylines that Marvel does not, like the idea of a superhuman character becoming big and strong during a sexual situation, providing a contrast in realism.
- The Shehemoth storyline in Gen V puts a spotlight on the absence of realistic portrayals of intimate relationships in Marvel’s She-Hulk, emphasizing the different priorities of the two franchises.
Since Amazon Prime Video’s Gen V is based on the superhero satire series The Boys, it should be no surprise that the new series is willing to get explicit about its superhuman characters and their abilities, and in some ways, is even more honest than other superhero content is willing to be. Gen V follows the superhero students that attend Godolkin University, Gen V’s university for the best supes in the nation. The series is a spinoff of The Boys, which is based on comic books of the same name by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson.
Though Gen V has only four episodes so far, it is clear that the show does not shy away from the sexual, the gory, or the downright disgusting. This trend, which appears in The Boys as well, is actually quite different from other superhero content, which makes it stand-out. Though Marvel and DC are wildly popular for their superhero movies and series, neither brand pushes the limits that The Boys and Gen V do. There are definitely pros and cons to this difference, however one fact remains true. By censoring where Gen V doesn’t, Marvel and DC ignore the unfortunate realities of being a superhero.
Gen V’s Shehemoth Retells She-Hulk’s MCU Storyline (With A Gross Twist)
One storyline that Gen V explores and Marvel does not is the idea of a hero that can become big and strong in a sexual situation. In Gen V episode 4, The Boys’ Tek Knight appears on the Godolkin campus to cover up a controversy. This is ultimately his main job as a true crime TV host: to make controversies look better for Vought. During the episode, one of Tek Knight’s previous stories is revealed to be about Shehemoth, a supe that can become super strong and massive who crushed her boyfriend during sex. This joke is essentially a replay of Marvel’s She-Hulk, but with a much grosser ending.
In 2022, Marvel released a new series called She-Hulk: Attorney At Law. The show followed Jennifer Walters aka She-Hulk, as she seeks love. One aspect of Jen’s storyline was that she noticed she had much better luck dating when she was in She-Hulk form, rather than as herself. Despite the fact that, ultimately, Jen learns to love her human form over her superhero form, the show never really explains how Jen would be intimate with someone in her She-Hulk form. Though it isn’t a necessary diversion for the show, the fact that Gen V blatantly answers that question puts a spotlight on She-Hulk’s lack.
Gen V Admits What The MCU Never Could About She-Hulk
Ultimately, Gen V’s Shehemoth joke reveals what Marvel never could about a super strong, super sized character. Although She-Hulk delved into Jen’s dating life, the show wasn’t willing to be entirely realistic about the venture. Instead, the series took the tension off of the logistics of Jen dating as She-Hulk by inserting a different storyline about Jen being blackmailed with a sex tape. Though She-Hulk wasn’t willing to say it, Gen V now has. A character like She-Hulk wouldn’t almost certainly injure their partner while sleeping together.
Once again, it isn’t necessary for Marvel to dive deep into these logistics, especially since the franchise often veers away from inappropriate content, but its absence is made much more obvious by Gen V. It raises questions about other aspects of regular life that Marvel glides over. This isn’t to say that Gen V is better or worse than Marvel or DC, but rather, it allows audiences to be more thoughtful about what these franchises are prioritizing when telling superhero stories. In the case of Shehemoth and She-Hulk, Gen V was likely going for realistic humor while She-Hulk aimed for romance and identity.
Shehemoth’s Story Is A Callback To The Boys Season 1
In the end, the Gen V Shehemoth story is not just a reference to Marvel’s She-Hulk, but also to an aspect of The Boys season 1. In the first season of The Boys, the character Popclaw is introduced as a supe with cat claws and superhuman strength. She is in a relationship with A-Train, but when he refuses to go public, she takes Compound V and initates a sexual encounter with her landlord. Unfortunately, her super strength leads to his death during the act. This story, which is so similar to that of Shehemoth, is yet another example of The Boys franchise being overly realistic in sexual situations.
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