The Boys' characters infamously satirize other established superhero characters, and while I don't think anyone would be surprised to know that Homelander is based on Superman, I was one of many readers surprised to learn that Black Noir isn't based on Batman. While they're both stealthy ninja characters who dress all in black and rarely speak, Black Noir is actually based on a totally different character.

The Boys #65 – written by Garth Ennis, with art by Russel Braun – contains one of the series' biggest twists, the reveal that Black Noir is a deranged Homelander clone. Like most fans, for the majority of the comic's run, I'd just assumed Noir was a Batman spoof – but this revelation made it clear he's actually Bizarro, Superman's twisted opposite.

Once I made this connection, it made me appreciate how deep Ennis's lampooning of superhero characters and tropes actually goes, which re-emphasized how pivotal The Boys...