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The Boys season 5 episode 5 is out now and introduces a new Supe to the Prime Video series. Mister Marathon, played by Jared Padalecki, is a former member of the Seven who turned to acting after being replaced by A-Train.
In the latest episode (beware spoilers below), Stan Edgar sends Homelander and Soldier Boy to speak to him in their search for V-One. They end up at his house in Los Angeles, which is full of his old movie posters, including some thinly veiled Spider-Man parodies.
Among them is 'Mr. Marathon: Around the Speedy-Verse' and 'Madame Marathon: Mr. Marathon Origins', clearly spins on Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and Madame Web. The gag doesn't stop there either as Homelander says that Marathon's movies aren't even made by Vought but instead "where washed-up Supes go to die", e.g. Sony Pictures TV.
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Sony is the studio that produces the Spider-Man movies and it seems like just like their counterpart in The Boys, both have the same licensing issues. "It's a legit studio and I save half on their TVs," Marathon fires back. "Maybe we're not part of the official VCU, and maybe we can't mention Vought or you know any licensed Vought hero, but hey, I'm still making magic."
As its well known, there's a very tricky line between how Spider-Man interacts with the Marvel Cinematic Universe (which is owned by Disney). His inclusion in the main timeline is the result of several deals between Sony and Disney and means that often other Spider-Man characters can't make the same transition to the main MCU.
Once again, The Boys fans are loving how the show has proved itself as the perfect parody of the superhero genre. "This new episode of the boys makes a reference to the sony marvel universe and it’s the best fucking thing ever," wrote one on X as another added: "THE BOYS JUST DID A WHOLE JOKE ON THE SONY SPIDER-MAN SPIN-OFFS. Best joke of the show."
"They made Marathon the Sony Spider-Man of the VCU," tweeted a third. "Ig his cameo in Dawn of the Boys is like when they got Spidey to appear in Civil War."
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I’m the Deputy Entertainment Editor here at GamesRadar+, covering TV and film for the Total Film and SFX sections online. I previously worked as a Senior Showbiz Reporter and SEO TV reporter at Express Online for three years. I've also written for The Resident magazines and Amateur Photographer, before specializing in entertainment.
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