Chapter Summaries

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.

Soldier Boy was forced to confront how much Black Noir had changed when Lynn’s children defended him at breakfast. After Lynn ordered him to split wood and wash dishes, Soldier Boy worked in the snow and watched the family sharing a peaceful afternoon, leaving him with an unfamiliar sense of belonging.

• When Soldier Boy insulted Black Noir, John threatened him, Reggie stole his egg, and Tommy aimed a floating butter knife at him while the other children backed Black Noir.
• Black Noir refilled his milk and returned to the studio without acknowledging Soldier Boy.
• Lynn told Soldier Boy to split the backyard logs and put away the dishes, threatening to send him back outside if he refused.
• Soldier Boy considered leaving but stayed inside the warm house and went out to chop wood in the snow.
• While working, Soldier Boy watched Lynn and the children relax together, then turned back to splitting logs.

After Lynn told Soldier Boy to leave the Long Island Estate, Soldier Boy tried to persuade the children to ask Lynn to let him stay. Everyone rejected him, and John made clear that being his biological father meant nothing to him.

• Lynn praised Soldier Boy's work but told him to change and leave that night.
• Soldier Boy decided to win over the children, but Buddy mocked him as he entered the living room.
• Reggie dismissed Soldier Boy's combat advice, and Tommy shoved him back with telekinesis.
• Kevin and Annie rejected Soldier Boy's candy, and Annie threatened to blind him and have gophers bite his toes.
• Soldier Boy asked John to persuade Lynn to let him stay and offered to teach him combat, but John said Black Noir had taught him better and warned him not to interrupt his reading.

Lynn told Soldier Boy that staying with the family depended on Black Noir’s forgiveness, forcing Soldier Boy to confront the harm he had done. Soldier Boy apologized, and Black Noir silently let him join the household by handing him a dirty paintbrush bucket to clean.

• Lynn told Soldier Boy that the family would not accept him unless he understood what he had done and sought Black Noir’s forgiveness.
• Soldier Boy hesitated outside Black Noir’s studio, then knocked and admitted he had mistreated Black Noir and others.
• Soldier Boy apologized and offered to accept a beating if Black Noir would let him stay.
• Black Noir handed Soldier Boy a dirty bucket and pointed him toward the utility sink, then returned to painting with the studio door open.
• Soldier Boy took the bucket to wash it, while Lynn heard him working from the kitchen.

Soldier Boy settled into the Long Island household, where Lynn gave him chores in exchange for food and shelter. While he repaired the backyard fence, John brought him hot cocoa and praised his work, leaving Soldier Boy unexpectedly moved by the small kindness.

• Soldier Boy woke in the guest room and joined the family for breakfast, where Lynn told him to repair the loose backyard fence.
• After breakfast, Soldier Boy cleaned the kitchen and learned to use the dishwasher while Buddy laughed at his mistakes.
• Soldier Boy carefully repaired the fence with a hammer and nails.
• John brought Soldier Boy hot cocoa on Lynn's instructions and complimented how neatly he had driven the nails.
• Soldier Boy watched John return to the house, holding the warm mug in silence.

Stan Edgar pitched the Department of Defense on a mass-producible Compound V weapon made from ordinary adults, but the general demanded a real-world combat demonstration before approving funding. Edgar was left facing the challenge of proving the new soldiers’ destructive power and obedience under extreme conditions.

• Stan Edgar met with an influential Department of Defense general at Vought Tower to discuss a defense contract.
• Stan Edgar presented photographs and described a new Compound V formula that could turn ordinary adults into obedient, heavily armored infantrymen.
• The general questioned whether Vought’s proposed weapons were reliable enough to replace conventional forces and noted that Washington would need concrete proof.
• The general demanded a demonstration against forces that could fight back, with the new soldiers’ destructiveness and obedience tested in extreme conditions.