In The Boys, how does Butcher know Joe Kessler? An examination of their intricate relationship.
Billy Butcher’s partner and CIA agent Joe Kessler is introduced by The Boys in Season 4, and he shares Billy Butcher’s objective of apprehending the Supes.
“Almost everyone in Butcher’s life is trying to pull him back and say, “Don’t do that, Butcher!”” says showrunner Eric Kripke. “And we said, well, what if there was someone in his life who was like, “No, you definitely have to do that. And go further, and go harder.”
With Butcher’s days numbered and his failures catching up with him, Kessler could be the force that pushes him to complete his mission once and for all, regardless of the means.
Who is Joe Kessler in The Boys Season 4?
Very little is revealed of the new character in the first three episodes, except to establish his past relationship with Butcher and his passion for fighting Supes.
Despite calling him out for missing a clean shot at Homelander in the Season 3 finale, Kessler recognizes Butcher’s fight in him and how it will be helpful in their conflict versus Supes, remembering how the latter saved him despite all odds when they were comrades in the Army.
Is Joe Kessler a character from the source material?
While the characterization of Joe Kessler is original to the series, his name is a reference to a character in the comics: Howard Kessler, also known as Monkey, a CIA operative with a complicated relationship with Butcher.
“It’s more of a nod and feeling like we’re still in love with the comics,” according to Kripke. “Since he was a CIA guy, I said, well, we should call them Kessler and just do our version of Kessler… we’re always trying to nod that we’re paying attention.”
Battle of good versus evil in Billy Butcher’s head
With Kessler, Butcher now has a pal to keep him grounded on his anti-Supe agenda. Still, fans speculate that Kessler may just be a trick of his addled brain, a devil on his shoulder taunting him to complete the job whatever it takes, parallel to his hallucinations of Becca appealing to his humanity.
Aside from fans noticing that Kessler has only appeared in scenes with Butcher, followers of Vought HQ on Instagram may also remember a Q&A where Kessler’s image references the antagonistic alter-ego from Fight Club:
