Hughie took three or four doses of Compound V24 (Temp V) in The Boys Season 3, stopping before Butcher, and experienced temporary powers with some side effects, unlike Butcher who continued and faced severe consequences, though Hughie's use led to a terminal diagnosis for his future.
Hughie stopped after three or four doses, Butcher kept taking it. Now he's all jacked up, permanent V style. Billy didn't get the V. His tumor did.
From then on, Butcher and Hughie take V24 to aid in their mission to hunt down the former Payback members. Both taking separate doses when they confront Crimson Countess, The TNT Twins, and Mindstorm. Despite the advantage V24 gave them against the Supes, it was slowly degrading their health.
In the show, Hughie gains the power of teleportation, accelerated healing, and superhuman strength after taking a temporary variant of Compound V; however, he is only able to teleport himself and not his clothes, leaving him (and anyone he teleports with him) naked when he re-materializes.
Homelander won't stand for having someone as powerful as Hughie on the Seven. He unsuccessfully tries to kill him, and probably tries to fly away in fear, but even an inexperienced Hughie with S1 Mark's powers would likely be able to catch him.
Trivia. Contrary to the comics, in the television show it appears that natural-born superhumans are extremely rare, with only one known natural-born superhero (Ryan). However, Homelander was born artificially through Soldier Boy's sperm and an unknown woman's egg, along with Compound V.
Intimidation: Stan is an intimidating man, commanding an imposing presence. He used to be able to intimidate Homelander himself.
The Boys features several LGBTQ+ characters, most prominently Queen Maeve, who is a lesbian, and Frenchie, who is bisexual, with his relationship with Colin highlighting this in later seasons. Other queer characters include Doppelganger (genderfluid/gay) and Jordan Li (bigender/bisexual) from Gen V, plus several minor supes and comic characters like Elena (Maeve's girlfriend) and Termite (bisexual).
Since The Boys Season 4 is set around November 2024, Annie had an abortion in May 2024, six months before the events of the season. This means she terminated the pregnancy shortly after Season 3. This revelation by Firecracker is exposed to be part of a master plan by Sister Sage to tarnish Starlight's reputation.
Mother's Milk (MM) seems skinnier in The Boys Season 4 because actor Laz Alonzo lost weight intentionally for a healthier lifestyle and a more "fit" look for the role, combined with shaving his beard, which significantly changed his facial appearance. The show even acknowledges this in-universe, with a character commenting he looks like he needs to eat more, while Alonzo's personal health journey involved dietary changes after a DNA test.
Powers under V24
Superhuman Strength: Under the influence of V24, Hughie possessed superhuman strength, which made him stronger than humans and some Supes.
Top 13 Supes from The Boys ranked from weakest to strongest
After taking V24, Butcher returns to Gunpowder, beating and interrogating him, demonstrating superpowers including super durability, super strength, and laser vision.
Vogelbaum reveals that Homelander had impregnated Becca, and that Becca and the baby died during birth.
No, Hughie's dad is not alive after The Boys Season 4 Episode 5. Hugh becomes a Supe in Episode 5 because of Compound 5. He also accidentally ends up killing several people at the hospital after he wakes up from the coma.
Homelander may be the most powerful supe in The Boys universe, but Gen V is setting up an equally strong enemy for the villain, and it's not Marie.
On her show, "Truthbomb," Firecracker reveals that Annie and Hughie decided to have an abortion. This proves to be the final straw for Starlight, who powers-up and beats the ever loving crap out of Firecracker on live TV.
No, Homelander and Starlight do not sleep together in The Boys series; they have a complex, antagonistic, and sexually charged relationship, with Homelander obsessed and manipulative, but they never actually sleep together, despite his attempts and a significant kiss in Season 3, as Starlight rejects his advances and tries to expose him.
According to the iQIYI app Sun Yinghao, Yoo Gwanwoo and Zhang Jijun have withdrawn from the Starlight Boys : r/kpop.
The character of Billy Butcher can be seen as a direct parody of The Punisher from Marvel. Both these characters operate outside the law using violent means and are highly skilled in combat.
Homelander learn that Queen Maeve slept with Billy Butcher. Homelander is able to smell Billy Butcher's scent on Queen Maeve, thus letting him know they had a tryst. In one of their occasional meetings, Maeve and Butcher have a fling and sleep with each other. Queen Maeve seduced Billy Butcher.
By the time of the finale, they'd grown close enough to finally admit their affection for each other, with Kimiko confessing she was just as filled with self-loathing as Frenchie was.
Despite being referred to as a "brain tumor", Kessler in actuality seems to be a worm-esque parasite existing under Butcher's skin, generally around the brain region. Homelander refers to it as a black mass swirling around his brain, implying the existence of many worms that function as a single entity.
Even in a world of supes, the real "hero" of The Boys is still Hughie, portrayed by Jack Quaid. Drawn into the main narrative after his girlfriend is killed by a runaway A-Train, Hughie is taken in by Butcher to join him and The Boys on a crusade to equalize the field between mankind and superheroes.
Homelander's milk obsession stems from his desire for a mother figure. Madelyn's false maternal act contributed to Homelander's Oedipal complex. Season 3 hints at a disturbing twist with Homelander potentially being Stormfront's son.