Given the cynical view of superheroism held by The Boys, it wouldn’t be surprising if Snyder himself took umbrage. But instead, Snyder himself retweeted the trailer with the message “Congratulations to Director Bourke. Excited to see your vision realized.” The “Bourke” in question is Adam Bourke, the film director introduced in season two. A production of evil Vought International, Dawn of the Seven exists in the world as part of a propaganda campaign to shore up more trust in the Seven after the world learned about the company’s role in creating Supes. More than mere entertainment, Dawn of the Seven seeks to maintain Vought’s control of public perception. While superhero references may be common to The Boys, it’s still surprising that Snyder would give his approval to the joke. The trailer gestures toward “the Snyder cut,” the online fan campaign that eventually led to the four-hour film Zack Snyder’s Justice League in 2021. The path to the movie’s release was filled with angry exchanges online, with some who used the hashtag “#releasethesnydercut” harassing journalists and critics who did not share their enthusiasm for Snyder’s films. Even after the movie was released, recent reports indicate that Snyder fans used Twitter bots to win recognition for a scene from Zack Snyder’s Justice League. Hopefully, the fact that Snyder’s being a good sport about the trailer will encourage those offended by it to refrain from attacking people online. After all, offense is what The Boys is all about.
