Recaps

John caught the falling impostor who looked like Lynn and realized Stormfront had staged the scene to provoke him. He attacked Stormfront with overwhelming force and stood over her, preparing to crush her head.

• John caught the falling fake Lynn and recognized him by his missing scarf, erratic heartbeat, and unfamiliar scent.
• Stormfront urged John to grieve and abandon his ties to mortal family, but his smile made her realize her plan had gone wrong.
• John laid the impostor in the snow, then slammed Stormfront through the rooftop and pinned her beneath him.
• John crushed Stormfront's chest and tore off both her arms while she screamed and bled.
• John raised his foot above Stormfront's head.

Lynn arrived on the rooftop and stopped John from killing Stormfront, revealing that the dead Lynn was a shapeshifter sent as a decoy. With Stormfront captured and the immediate danger over, Lynn and John headed home, joking about lunch.

• John nearly stomped Stormfront to death, but Lynn told him to pull back before he ruined his shoes.
• Lynn reunited with John and gently fixed his clothes, while John quietly said he had only wanted to come out and look.
• Stormfront realized Edgar had used a shapeshifter as a double and manipulated her into testing John and becoming expendable.
• Lynn ordered Black Noir to take Stormfront alive to the fortieth basement level, and he reminded John to change his bloodstained hoodie.
• John told Lynn that Tommy no longer wanted oatmeal for lunch, and Lynn offered to make beef brisket and tomato stew as they walked home.

Black Noir delivered the mortally wounded Stormfront to Edgar’s office, where Edgar ordered him to kill her. Edgar then had Madelyn secure the surveillance footage and arranged for Stormfront’s body to be taken to the underground laboratory for Compound V research.

• Black Noir brought Stormfront’s mangled body to Edgar’s office, and Stormfront cursed Edgar for deceiving her.
• Edgar ordered Black Noir to kill Stormfront, and Black Noir killed her with a dagger.
• Black Noir left the office, and Edgar summoned Madelyn.
• Edgar ordered Madelyn to copy and encrypt the office surveillance footage.
• Edgar instructed Madelyn to oversee the removal of Stormfront’s body and ordered the laboratory to extract the original constituents of Compound V from her cells.

Lynn returned to the Long Island Estate with John after the violence in Manhattan, and the household gathered in the kitchen to prepare lunch. As the beef brisket simmered, John’s fear of losing Lynn eased, and Black Noir quietly joined the cooking.

• Lynn returned to the estate and told John to change and shower before joining the others.
• Lynn promised to make beef brisket stewed with tomatoes, and Reggie and Tommy helped prepare the ingredients.
• John remembered the impostor who had looked like Lynn dying on the Manhattan rooftop and realized how deeply the thought of losing Lynn frightened him.
• Lynn corrected John’s tomato-cutting, and John’s unease eased as he followed the instruction.
• Black Noir entered the kitchen and silently peeled potatoes while the beef brisket began to simmer.

At the Long Island Estate, John shared a warm lunch and a quiet afternoon with Lynn and the others. Meanwhile, Stan Edgar studied an old file on Soldier Boy and ordered a private jet to Russia to contact the person in charge of the Black Mountain base.

• John ate lunch with Lynn and the others, and Lynn reminded him to eat his carrots.
• After lunch, Reggie and Tommy washed the dishes while Lynn made tea.
• Madelyn delivered old files to Stan Edgar, who examined a photograph of Soldier Boy.
• Stan Edgar ordered a private jet to Russia and asked to be connected with the person in charge of the Black Mountain base.
• John grew drowsy beside Lynn and asked for tomato-braised beef brisket for breakfast, but Lynn said they would have egg and ham sandwiches.

Stan Edgar brought Marge and Duke to a secret Siberian military base to awaken Soldier Boy, presenting the dangerous mission as a chance to protect him. The group reached the underground cell, leaving Soldier Boy’s condition and awakening for what came next.

• Stan Edgar reassured Marge and Duke aboard the plane that they would visit an old friend, while secretly relying on them as bodyguards and potential shields.
• The plane landed at a Russian military airfield, where a bearded officer greeted Edgar and confirmed that the captive had been kept frozen underground.
• Edgar promised the officer that Vought International would transfer the remaining payment after they confirmed the captive was intact.
• Edgar, Marge, and Duke rode armored snow vehicles to a mountainside facility and entered its underground passage.
• Edgar led the children toward a rusted metal door holding Soldier Boy.

Edgar had the Russian guards release Soldier Boy from his underground chamber despite their warnings. Soldier Boy broke his chains and confronted Edgar, who welcomed him back to the real world as Ben.

• Edgar told the Russian officer to drain the gas and open Soldier Boy’s chamber.
• The Russian officer opened the chamber, revealing a scarred, sleeping man bound in heavy chains.
• Soldier Boy woke, snapped his chains, and walked out while the soldiers aimed their rifles at him.
• Soldier Boy asked Edgar if he was American, and Edgar welcomed him back as Ben.

Edgar freed Soldier Boy from his Russian prison and tried to recruit him by revealing that he had a biological son named John. Soldier Boy saw through Edgar’s attempt to manipulate him and agreed to help only after he had seen the world for himself.

• Soldier Boy mocked Vought, seized a Russian officer, and accepted a military coat from Edgar.
• Marge stood up to Soldier Boy, called him stinky, and earned his approval for her courage.
• Edgar told Soldier Boy that Vought had used his genes to create a son who was adopted by a civilian named Lynn.
• Soldier Boy recognized that Vought wanted him to deal with Lynn, and Edgar admitted the company had run into trouble.
• Soldier Boy agreed to kill someone for Vought but insisted on seeing the outside world first.

Soldier Boy left Siberia with Stan Edgar and flew back toward the United States, while John found comfort in a peaceful morning at the Manor with Lynn and the others. The chapter ended with Soldier Boy looking down at New York and sneering at how gaudy it had become.

• Soldier Boy left the Siberian facility after Edgar arranged the remaining payment and headed for the exit.
• John woke at the Manor, heard the familiar sounds of his household, and felt reassured that Lynn and the others were safe.
• Lynn served breakfast, then ordered the children to clear the snow by hand before they could have fried chicken for lunch.
• John, Reggie, Tommy, Buddy, and Black Noir went outside to shovel the snow while Lynn watched from the porch.
• Soldier Boy flew toward the United States aboard Vought's private jet with Edgar, Duke, and Marge.
• Soldier Boy looked down at the New York skyline and complained that the city had become gaudy.

Edgar pitched Soldier Boy on a public comeback, but Soldier Boy cared only about revenge on the Payback Team that had betrayed him. After learning that Crimson Earl's Wife and Gunpowder had been killed by mutated rats, he asked Edgar what had happened to Black Noir.

• Edgar urged Soldier Boy to use his return as a Vought International publicity campaign and raise the company's stock price.
• Soldier Boy rejected Edgar's plans and said he wanted revenge on Crimson Earl's Wife and Gunpowder for selling him to the Russians.
• Edgar told Soldier Boy that Crimson Earl's Wife and Gunpowder had been eaten by Compound V-infected rats in Lower Manhattan.
• Soldier Boy laughed at their deaths, then asked Edgar whether Black Noir was still alive.

Soldier Boy learned that Black Noir had settled into a comfortable life at the Long Island Estate and erupted with destructive energy aboard the private jet. Marge saved Edgar and Duke by leaping into the bay, but the blast burned away her Compound V, leaving Edgar to pull her to the surface.

• Edgar told Soldier Boy that Black Noir was alive and enjoying family life while working security for Lynn.
• Soldier Boy's fury triggered a powerful energy eruption that threatened to destroy the jet.
• Marge grabbed Edgar and Duke, kicked through the cabin door, and jumped with them into the bay.
• Soldier Boy's energy blast engulfed the jet and grazed Marge, burning away the Compound V in her body.
• Marge began to drown after losing her superstrength, but Edgar hauled her and Duke to the surface and told her to relax and tread water.

After Soldier Boy’s blast stripped Marge of her powers, Edgar recognized its potential and Soldier Boy set out for Long Island. At the Long Island Estate, Black Noir received a warning that Soldier Boy was back and prepared himself as Lynn noticed his fear.

• Marge discovered that Soldier Boy’s blast had taken away her strength and healing, and Edgar resolved to get her ashore and investigate the ability.
• Soldier Boy emerged unharmed from the crater and headed toward Long Island to confront the traitor and his son.
• At the Long Island Estate, Black Noir received an anonymous message warning that Soldier Boy was back.
• Black Noir stopped painting, took his military dagger, and watched the sky while Lynn noticed his alarm.

Black Noir warned Lynn that Soldier Boy had returned and was John's biological father, then left the Manor. Though Lynn told him he could come back for dinner, Black Noir headed toward the New York coastline, intending to face Soldier Boy alone and keep him away from Lynn's family.

• Black Noir frantically warned Lynn to take his family and leave, revealing that Soldier Boy had returned and was John's biological father.
• Lynn said he already knew and insisted that the household would face trouble together.
• Black Noir looked at the peaceful family inside the Manor, picked up his tactical backpack, and left.
• Lynn told Black Noir he could hide for a while and come home for dinner once things were settled.
• After leaving the Manor gates, Black Noir drew his combat knife and walked toward the New York coastline, planning to die at Soldier Boy's hands.

Lynn warned the children that Soldier Boy was approaching and prepared them to defend the Manor, while Black Noir left to confront him alone at a bridge. Soldier Boy reached the bridge, where Black Noir stood ready to fight rather than let him threaten the home he had come to cherish.

• Lynn told the children Soldier Boy was coming, explained his strength and power-erasing energy blast, and assigned them defensive roles.
• Soldier Boy smashed a pickup truck, took a jacket from its cargo, and continued toward Long Island.
• Black Noir waited at the bridge with a dagger, determined to stop Soldier Boy before he could reach the Manor.
• Soldier Boy recognized Black Noir as a mute dog and advanced across the bridge as Black Noir prepared to face him.

Black Noir fought Soldier Boy alone on the Cross-sea Bridge, but Reggie and Lynn arrived before Soldier Boy could kill him. Soldier Boy recovered from Reggie's punch and faced the nine-year-old boy standing between him and Lynn.

• Black Noir attacked Soldier Boy, but his dagger broke against Soldier Boy's neck and Soldier Boy beat him down.
• Soldier Boy lifted Black Noir by the throat and realized he was fighting to protect Lynn and the boy he had never met.
• Reggie struck Soldier Boy with a powerful punch, sending him crashing through bridge pillars into abandoned cars.
• Reggie caught Black Noir, and Lynn pulled him up and reminded him they had planned to share snacks and apple pie.
• Soldier Boy climbed out of the wreckage and fixed his gaze on the nine-year-old boy standing in front of Lynn.

Soldier Boy discovered that John was his biological son and demanded that the boy leave Lynn and join him. John rejected Soldier Boy as his father, and the chapter ended as they exchanged punches.

• Soldier Boy recognized John as the son Vought had created using his genes and claimed him as his own.
• Soldier Boy ordered John to hand over Black Noir and come with him, but John refused.
• John called Soldier Boy disgusting and declared that Lynn was his only father.
• Soldier Boy threatened to crush Lynn and struck at John, who threw a punch back at him.

John fought Soldier Boy on the sea bridge, overpowering him with strength and the close-combat techniques Black Noir had taught him. As Soldier Boy began charging his chest beam, John threw him into the sea, where the blast was muffled underwater.

• John and Soldier Boy exchanged a powerful punch, and John matched Soldier Boy's strength.
• John dodged Soldier Boy's attacks and used Black Noir's combat techniques to strike his nerves, throat, and liver.
• Soldier Boy praised John as his son while John continued attacking him to avenge Black Noir.
• Soldier Boy's chest began glowing as his energy surged toward an uncontrolled blast.
• John seized Soldier Boy and hurled him into the sea, where the blast churned the water and cooked nearby fish.
• Tommy joked that John might get banned for smurfing, and Kevin clenched his fists.

After John spared Soldier Boy and threw him into the sea, Lynn confronted him over his past abuse and his criticism of Lynn’s parenting. The family left the bridge for home, while Soldier Boy remained behind, weakened and shaken.

• Reggie suggested collecting cooked fish from the sea, but Tommy warned him about radiation and Kevin’s reaction.
• John told Lynn he had spared Soldier Boy, and Lynn praised him for protecting the family.
• Soldier Boy climbed back onto the bridge, and Lynn told him their conflict was over because John had spared his life.
• Soldier Boy challenged Lynn’s claim that he deserved betrayal, but Lynn blamed his past cruelty and defended how he had raised John.
• Lynn and the family helped Black Noir into the SUV and drove home, leaving Soldier Boy alone on the bridge.

After rejecting the idea of returning to Vought, Soldier Boy reflected on his painful relationship with his father and decided to seek a quiet retirement in a nursing home. His attempt to charm an elderly resident went badly, and he fled into the December night.

• Soldier Boy rejected returning to Vought because he expected Stan Edgar to mock him and exploit him for profit.
• Soldier Boy envied John’s loving family and remembered how his own father had called him a failure despite his becoming a superhero.
• Soldier Boy decided that, as a man in his seventies, he should retire in a nursing home, and he stole a long gray coat to cover himself.
• Soldier Boy reached a nursing home near Long Island and tried to charm a silver-haired resident in the sunroom.
• The resident mistook Soldier Boy for a perverted vagrant, and two care workers chased him out with mops and brooms.
• Soldier Boy fled down the street without looking back.

Soldier Boy hid in a sewer rather than risk being seen begging or stealing, while Stan Edgar learned that Vought had developed a stable compound V hybrid capable of creating a mass-producible super army. Lynn and the others returned to Long Island Estate, where Buddy complained about their smell.

• Soldier Boy, cold and hungry, climbed into a warm sewer to avoid being photographed in his humiliating state.
• Madelyn told Stan Edgar that Stormfront’s remains had yielded original compound V samples, though replicating them would take more genetic research.
• Madelyn reported that Marge had recovered her powers and become more obedient after her near-death experience.
• Madelyn revealed that Vought had fused compound V with material from the Poison-Horned Lion, creating a formula that reliably granted recipients enhanced bodies, scales, and venomous horns.
• Lynn and the others returned to Long Island Estate, where Buddy complained that they smelled like Charlie and seafood.

Lynn welcomed Black Noir home with a warmed slice of apple pie, and Black Noir felt he could finally belong to a family rather than live as someone’s weapon. As snow fell outside, Lynn prepared a hearty dinner for John, Annie, Reggie, Tommy, Buddy, and Black Noir, bringing them together around the table.

• Lynn told Black Noir to wash up and come to the kitchen, then served him the apple pie he had saved for him.
• Black Noir ate the pie and realized that Lynn would leave a light on and a warm meal for him whenever he came home.
• John joined Lynn in the kitchen and asked what was for dinner, while Reggie and Tommy cheered at the promise of beef brisket and tomato stew and onion rings.
• Lynn prepared onion rings, garlic bread, mushroom soup, and beef brisket and tomato stew as Black Noir set out the cutlery and Annie brought orange juice.
• Lynn called everyone to wash their hands and eat, and the family gathered around the dinner table as the snow intensified outside.

After fleeing into a New York sewer, Soldier Boy slept hungry until four upright turtles and a large rat found him. One turtle shared a piece of pizza with him, and Soldier Boy ate it before the creatures left him alone in the sewer.

• Soldier Boy hid in the sewer, exhausted and hungry, and fell asleep beside a heating pipe.
• Soldier Boy woke to the sounds of an approaching group and prepared to fight whoever was coming.
• Four upright turtles appeared with a large rat, and Soldier Boy lowered his fists when he saw them.
• The orange-masked turtle offered Soldier Boy a piece of pizza, which he accepted and ate.
• Soldier Boy thanked the turtle and told the group to leave him alone, and the rat led them away into the sewer darkness.

Soldier Boy went to the Long Island Estate hoping to get food and shelter from John, but John refused to let him in. Soldier Boy and Buddy traded insults outside the gate while John continued shoveling snow.

• Soldier Boy left the sewers and decided to seek help from his biological son at the Long Island Estate.
• Soldier Boy reached the estate and demanded that John open the gate and give him food.
• John refused, saying Lynn had told him to pretend he had not seen Soldier Boy, and warned him not to damage the gate.
• Soldier Boy backed down from trying to force the gate open because he was weak and his chest blast was still out of commission.
• Buddy came outside, mocked Soldier Boy's stench, and argued with him about his defeat by John and Buddy's neutering.
• John continued clearing snow as Soldier Boy and Buddy hurled insults at each other through the gate.

Lynn let Soldier Boy into the villa on the condition that he clear snow, then offered him clean clothes and breakfast. After working alongside John, Soldier Boy followed him toward the house and the smell of food.

• Buddy stopped arguing with Soldier Boy and went inside for breakfast after Lynn called him.
• Lynn opened the gate and told Soldier Boy to clear the driveway and lawn edge in exchange for breakfast.
• John brought Soldier Boy a snow shovel, and the two cleared their separate sections of the yard.
• Soldier Boy adjusted to the work and found the quiet task beside John grounding.
• After they finished, Soldier Boy followed John along the cleared path toward the backyard and the food.

Soldier Boy joined Lynn and the others for breakfast, then smacked Buddy when the dog strutted past him. Buddy threatened to plant a turd on the rug, and Black Noir laughed as he realized Soldier Boy had become someone who needed to fear a dog’s revenge.

• Soldier Boy washed up, changed into Black Noir’s old clothes, and sat down to eat with Lynn, Annie, Reggie, Tommy, and John.
• Soldier Boy slapped Buddy’s rump as the dog passed his chair, making Buddy yelp and accuse him to Lynn.
• Lynn warned them not to hit during meals but otherwise ignored their squabble.
• Buddy threatened to hide a foul turd on the rug so Soldier Boy would step in it later.
• Black Noir came out of the studio for warm milk after Lynn reassured him, then heard Buddy’s threat and laughed at Soldier Boy’s predicament.