A CIA analyst whom Butcher uses as an informant and it's thanks to him that Butcher finds "Wee Hughie" as a recruit. He is often bullied by Butcher but though he never complains in front of him. He served as the Boys' driver when in Russia where he went to see a race of disabled women. He's referred to as "Monkey".

He is would-be CIA Director and intends to ruin the Boys, but after he attempted to assault a paraplegic former athlete, Butcher blackmailed him into backing down while also having anal sex with Terror.

Major Story Arcs

The Name of the Game

For more information see: The Name of the Game

Kessler is in his office jerking it to pictures of paraplegic women when his secretary tells him there is "a Mister Butcher" to see him. Kessler tries to escape out the window but runs right into Butcher, who greets him with a "'lo Monkey" and a knee to the groin. While Kessler rolls on the ground in pain Butcher demands to see his files and some good tea.

Later, Butcher looks over Kessler's files in his office. He asks Kessler about Wee Hughie, and Kessler tells him he saw Hughie the other day and had him sign the release. Kessler then asked why Butcher needs five but doesn't get a response.

Glorious Five Year Plan

Other Media

The Boys (TV Series)

Joe Kessler is a CIA Operative in the Boys show on Amazon Prime. He worked with Billy Butcher during the War on Terror days before they parted ways. Kessler later reunites with Butcher in the wake of the 2024 Presidential Election to convince Butcher to pursue his quest to take out Homelander and Victoria Neuman on his own without the Boys. Through his time on the show, Kessler actively encourages Butcher to take more violent action against Supes and even encourages Butcher to commit genocide even if it means killing Homelander and Becky's son, Ryan. Kessler believes that since Ryan is a Supe and Homelander's son he's not worth saving, but Butcher believes that Ryan can be redeemed because Becky is his mother and she raised him. Also, Butcher promised Becky to protect Ryan. During this point in the show, Butcher realizes that Kessler is a hallucination manifested by the tumor he got from Temp V & Compound V. He learns that the real Kessler died during the War on Terror.

Kessler is played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan.