Existing within the same universe as The Boys, the latest superhero satire, Gen V, has its feet firmly under the table, busily pointing a parodical finger at the MCU. In the first episode of the spin-off, Marie (Jaz Sinclair) and Emma (Lizze Broadway) meet Justine (Maia Jae Bastidas), a promising talent at the Crimson Countess School of Performing Arts and in the superhero film industry.
“So my guys at Innovative are sending me out for this limited series on Vought Plus,” Justine says. The pitch for the “limited series” is “an elevated superhero” concept, described as “a meditation on grief told through 70 years of sitcoms. And Zach Braff is directing.”
The dialogue is a comment on Wandavision, the first Marvel TV series to debut on Disney Plus in 2021, and perfectly encapsulates the series, led by Elisabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany. Vought Plus is an expansion of the Vought business model, and alludes to Disney Plus, obviously. Zach Braff is best known as J.D in Scrubs.
The Wandavision reference is only one of multiple Marvel callouts in Gen V. At another point in the story, Justine talks about “parties” she’d attended with Bryan Singer (H/T ComicBook), the X-Men director who previously faced allegations of sexual abuse. In Episode 6 of The Boys Season 3, Soldier Boy controversially refers to sharing “strong drinks” with Bill Cosby.
Set in Godolkin University, an establishment for the latest generation of students with super-powered promise, is loosely connected to the comic book arc “We Gotta Go Now” created by Garth Ennis. Not to be confused with Episode 5 of The Boys Season 2.
The spin-off stars Jaz Sinclair, Chance Perdomo, Lizze Broadway, Shelley Conn, Maddie Phillips, London Thor, Derek Luh, Asa Germann, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Sean Patrick Thomas, and Marco Pigossi.
The first three episodes of Gen V aired on September 29, with the final five airing weekly until November 3. Episode 4 will debut on Prime Video on Friday, October 6, the same day Season 2 of Loki drops on Disney Plus.
