Chapter Summaries

Solomon knocked out The Deep in an elevator and acquired Ocean Enhancement, then headed to a private room at the club. He arrived to meet the Supes he had previously beaten, while several others remained difficult to identify.

• Solomon grabbed The Deep by the throat in the elevator, nearly suffocated him, then choked him unconscious.
• Solomon acquired The Deep’s Ocean Enhancement and checked how the ability and his attributes had changed.
• Solomon left The Deep unconscious in the elevator and went to the club.
• The club manager welcomed Solomon and led him to a private room upstairs, where Solomon saw several of the Supes he had beaten before.

Solomon knocked out five Supes at Vought and gained several minor abilities before Matthew Calbert’s super-speed healing upgraded the healing power he already had. Recognizing Matthew as Gecko, Solomon kept him in the room to drink with him.

• Solomon knocked out Jiesang, Mojiesi, Sangtuoli, and Leon, gaining Sound Mimicry, Nail Growth, Emotion Scent, and Hair Color Replication.
• Solomon struck Matthew Calbert, a Vought Research and Development assistant, and accidentally broke his neck.
• Solomon gained super-speed healing +1, which doubled healing speed, enabled rapid regrowth of severed limbs, and allowed him to block pain.
• Solomon recognized Matthew as Gecko, Starlight’s friend and a Vought experimental subject with powerful healing.
• Gecko healed his broken neck, and Solomon told the manager to leave him there for drinks.

Solomon questioned Gecko about the Supes studied by Vought’s Research Department and learned about three unusual abilities. He became eager to obtain the constant-temperature and storage abilities, though the latter required stuffing objects into the user’s cheeks.

• Gecko woke in Vought’s underground club and nervously joined Solomon for a drink.
• Solomon asked whether the Research Department studied Supes, and Gecko admitted that it had several.
• Gecko described a Supe who could break down and absorb poisons and toxins without harm.
• Gecko told Solomon about a Supe whose body-surface temperature never changed, and Solomon decided he wanted that ability.
• Gecko revealed that a third Supe stored objects in spaces inside his cheeks by stuffing them into his mouth, leaving Solomon disappointed by the method.

Solomon recruited Gecko to arrange meetings with Supe assistants and returned to his apartment to test how abilities could combine. He developed a strobe attack using Light Eyes and blinking, then became absorbed in refining it.

• Solomon asked Gecko to invite Supe assistants from the research department to meet him, offering to cover the costs and protect Gecko from trouble.
• Gecko accepted Solomon's offer of backing and celebrated after Solomon left the club.
• Solomon returned to Translucent's apartment and tested a clone, finding that Rubberization and Carbon-Fiber Super Skin combined to block electricity and physical impacts.
• Solomon activated Light Eyes and considered combining it with Laser Eyes, but discovered that Light Eyes temporarily blinded him.
• Solomon rapidly blinked while using Light Eyes to create a strobe effect that could disrupt powerful opponents' vision, and he focused on improving the technique.

At a memorial for the victims of Transoceanic Flight 37, Maeve struggled with guilt while Solomon was ordered to keep watch over her. By the river, Solomon suggested Homelander could have reached the plane in time, leaving Maeve stunned by his apparent knowledge of the truth.

• Homelander delivered a eulogy for the 123 victims of Transoceanic Flight 37 while Maeve relived her decision to abandon them.
• Maeve left the memorial, and Homelander signaled Solomon to follow her; Solomon paused when Homelander read the names Paul Shetty and Lily Shetty.
• Maeve shoved Solomon against a wall and warned him not to follow her, but he caught up and sat beside her by the river.
• Maeve snapped at Solomon when he told her not to blame herself for the victims’ deaths.
• Solomon said Homelander could have flown from Vought Tower to the Atlantic Ocean quickly, and Maeve stared at him in shock.

Solomon confronted Maeve about her guilt and resentment toward Homelander, then tried to read her memories while offering to listen. After Homelander joined her, they talked privately before returning to the memorial service.

• Solomon deduced that Maeve had been involved in the plane disaster and warned her that he would not expose her to Homelander.
• Maeve denied knowing what Solomon meant and cautioned him to watch what he said around Homelander.
• Solomon secretly used Memory Reading on Maeve and sensed her regret, anger, guilt, and wariness toward him.
• Homelander found Solomon with Maeve, and Solomon left them alone while watching from a distance.
• Homelander and Maeve spoke for about ten minutes, then returned to the square and resumed comforting the victims’ families.

After the memorial service, Homelander warned Solomon not to threaten members of The Seven and told him to keep watching Maeve. Maeve drove Solomon away from the square and confessed her regret over failing to save the passengers, but Solomon told her Homelander had never intended to rescue them.

• After the memorial service, Homelander confronted Solomon about The Deep’s claim that Solomon had threatened to kill him.
• Solomon assured Homelander that he had only meant to knock The Deep out and promised to report any future plans involving The Seven.
• Homelander ordered Solomon to keep watching Maeve, then flew away.
• Maeve invited Solomon to talk, and they left the square together in her car.
• Maeve regretted that she had not been more decisive during the plane disaster, but Solomon told her she could not have saved the passengers and that Homelander had never intended to help them.

Maeve confessed her guilt over the plane crash, and Solomon revealed that Homelander had likely destroyed the controls on purpose. Maeve accepted the truth and drove on in cold silence.

• Maeve told Solomon that Homelander had destroyed the plane’s controls while killing a hijacker, and blamed herself for the deaths of 123 passengers.
• Solomon suggested that Homelander had deliberately destroyed the controls, prompting Maeve to stop the car and recall how precisely he could control his Laser Eyes.
• Solomon explained that Homelander and Vought International had benefited from the crash by using it to gain influence and profit.
• Maeve recognized the truth, apologized to an angry driver who then asked for a photo, and resumed driving with her anger concealed.

Solomon went to Maeve’s apartment and used a conversation about Homelander to learn Black Noir’s weakness. After Maeve revealed that Black Noir was allergic to almonds, she kissed Solomon and pinned him to the sofa.

• Maeve brought Solomon to her apartment and invited him to drink with her.
• Maeve blamed herself for the 123 people who died on the plane, and Solomon tried to comfort her by saying Homelander could cause another disaster.
• Solomon argued that every member of the Seven had a weakness and used Memory Reading while speaking with Maeve.
• Maeve told Solomon that Black Noir was allergic to almonds and that Homelander craved approval, then warned Solomon not to challenge Homelander.
• Maeve kissed Solomon, stopped him from overpowering her, and pinned him to the sofa.

Solomon realized Hughie was heading to the Faith Expo to threaten the disguised Shapeshifting Person and tried to warn him before his cover was exposed. Hughie was already face-to-face with Homelander, and Butcher learned too late that the real Ezekiel was dead.

• Solomon saw footage of Ezekiel on television and remembered that Hughie planned to use a private video to demand information about Compound V.
• Solomon rushed away from Maeve and called Hughie, but Hughie rejected the call while Homelander stood beside him.
• Solomon called Butcher and warned him that Ezekiel was dead and that another Supe was impersonating him at the Faith Expo.
• Butcher revealed that he had already sent Hughie to question Ezekiel about Compound V.

After learning that the Ezekiel at the Faith Expo was an impostor and that Homelander was nearby, Mother’s Milk chose to risk his life to warn Hughie. He was stopped outside the baptism tent, where Homelander emerged and began questioning him.

• Butcher told Mother's Milk that the real Ezekiel was already dead and warned him to leave because Homelander was inside with Hughie.
• Mother's Milk initially turned away, but guilt made him run back toward the baptism tent to save Hughie.
• Vought guards blocked Mother's Milk from entering, and he shouted for Hughie as the ceremony neared its end.
• A guard drew his gun on Mother's Milk, but Homelander came out of the tent and intervened.
• Homelander asked Mother's Milk whether he was Hughie's friend and remarked that his blood pressure seemed high.

Hughie tried to blackmail the man impersonating Ezekiel into revealing details about Compound V shipments, while Mother’s Milk kept Homelander occupied outside. The impersonator grew wary and considered how to summon Homelander as Hughie demanded information about the crates.

• Mother’s Milk pretended to be a devoted Homelander fan, and Homelander told him Hughie was still inside the tent.
• Hughie’s water-damaged phone left him unable to contact Mother’s Milk, so he pursued “Ezekiel” and asked for guidance.
• When “Ezekiel” tried to leave, Hughie claimed they had slept together and threatened to release a video of them.
• Hughie demanded to know where the crates labeled as polio vaccines were being shipped and how many contained Compound V.
• “Ezekiel” became suspicious of Hughie and weighed how to get Homelander’s help, while Hughie offered to delete the video in exchange for information.

Hughie and Mother's Milk escaped the expo in Butcher's zinc-lined van after learning that the Ezekiel Hughie confronted was an impostor and the real Ezekiel was dead. The fake Ezekiel tried to warn Homelander about Hughie's questions regarding Compound V, but Homelander flew off before he could finish, so he reported the incident to Madelyn.

• Hughie ignored his failed threat against the fake Ezekiel and ran out of the tent, while the guards let him pass.
• Mother's Milk told Hughie that the real Ezekiel was dead and that Homelander was on his way, then hurried him toward the expo entrance.
• Butcher picked up Hughie and Mother's Milk in a zinc-lined van and said Solomon would try to draw Homelander away.
• The fake Ezekiel rushed to Homelander's tent, but Homelander flew off before hearing his warning about Compound V.
• The fake Ezekiel called Madelyn and recounted Hughie's threats and questions about Compound V.

Solomon lured Homelander away from the Faith Expo by revealing Maeve’s meeting with her ex-girlfriend, giving Butcher, Mother’s Milk, and Hughie time to escape. Homelander confronted Maeve outside the apartment and stopped her from attacking Solomon, leaving Maeve furious and her ex-girlfriend’s safety uncertain.

• Hughie spotted Homelander flying past the car, and Butcher and Mother’s Milk realized Solomon had helped them escape.
• Solomon told Homelander that Maeve had entered an apartment building, prompting Homelander to search for her and listen in on her conversation.
• Homelander learned Maeve had once been involved with the woman and nearly heard her reveal the secret of Flight 37, but Maeve left without telling her.
• Maeve saw Homelander and Solomon outside the building and charged at Solomon, blaming him for exposing her ex-girlfriend.
• Homelander seized Maeve’s wrist before her punch landed and told her she should thank Translucent for revealing her past relationship.

Homelander punched through Solomon’s chest in front of Maeve, then left for his speech at the Faith Expo. Solomon healed and departed, wondering why Homelander had attacked him, before Ashley notified him that The Seven had an emergency meeting the next morning.

• Homelander punched through Solomon’s chest to provoke Maeve, and Solomon cursed him as he collapsed.
• Madelyn reminded Homelander that his Faith Expo speech was about to begin, so he flew away without checking on Solomon.
• Maeve told Solomon he had brought the injury on himself and left to find Irina and help her escape.
• Solomon stopped suppressing his Super-Speed Healing, repaired his wounds, and left while considering why Homelander had tried to kill him.
• Ashley sent Solomon a notice that all members of The Seven had to attend an emergency meeting the next morning.

Solomon advised Butcher to investigate hospitals’ Neonatal Departments for evidence of Compound V and then found armed Vought guards inside Mercy Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Butcher arrived and invited Solomon to investigate with him.

• Solomon called Butcher and learned that Butcher needed a finished sample of Compound V to expose Vought to the CIA.
• Solomon suggested searching hospitals’ Neonatal Departments, reasoning that Vought might inject Compound V into infants there.
• Butcher decided to take the group to search hospitals before Vought ordered his arrest, and warned Solomon that Homelander had seen him.
• Solomon searched nearby hospitals and found armed Vought guards inside Mercy Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
• Butcher and Mother's Milk arrived at Mercy Hospital, and Butcher invited Solomon to go inside with them.

After escaping Mercy Hospital with Compound V, Butcher gave the evidence to the FBI in exchange for protection and help investigating Vought, though Susan refused to prosecute Homelander. At The Seven’s meeting, Homelander reviewed the exposed members of Butcher’s group and said Solomon had gone to a better place, just as someone arrived late.

• Solomon left Butcher and Mother's Milk, who then escaped Mercy Hospital with the laser-eyed baby and found Compound V.
• Butcher gave the Compound V and his account of Vought’s crimes to Susan, who agreed to protect the group but refused to prosecute Homelander.
• The FBI and CIA prepared to summon Madelyn and demand answers about Compound V and the military bill.
• Homelander convened The Seven and displayed the identities of Hughie, Butcher, Frenchie, Mother's Milk, Kimiko, and Solomon.
• Homelander said Solomon had gone to a better place, and The Deep mistakenly thought Homelander had exiled Translucent to defend him.
• As Homelander prepared to discuss capturing Butcher’s group, someone opened the conference room door and apologized for being late.

Solomon returned alive to the Seven’s meeting, while Homelander accused Hughie of targeting Vought and pressured Starlight over whether she had helped him. Starlight tried to deny involvement, but Homelander ordered her to lower her hands as his eyes began to glow red.

• Solomon appeared at the meeting alive, and Homelander welcomed him while scrutinizing his uninjured chest.
• Homelander showed Hughie’s photo and accused him of killing Translucent, coercing Mesmer and The Female, and planning to threaten Ezekiel.
• Starlight defended Hughie, while A-Train recognized him from the photo and accused Starlight of dating the man who had run through his girlfriend.
• Homelander suggested Hughie must have had help and implied Starlight had assisted him.
• Starlight stood up in fear and pleaded to explain, but Homelander ordered her to lower her hands.

Homelander accused Starlight of betraying The Seven and threatened to kill her, but Solomon intervened and defended her. Homelander lasered Solomon in the chest, only for him to heal and insist that Starlight knew nothing about Hughie's actions.

• Homelander ordered Starlight to sit down, accused her of colluding with the enemy, and threatened her with death.
• A-Train called Starlight a traitor, while she denied the accusation and pleaded to be heard.
• Solomon revealed himself and told Homelander to stop, arguing that Hughie had deceived Starlight.
• Homelander shot Solomon through the chest with his lasers, but Solomon's wounds rapidly healed.
• Solomon told Homelander that Starlight knew nothing about Hughie's activities and that he could confirm it.

Solomon protected Starlight from Homelander’s suspicion, but Homelander later killed him twice after learning that Solomon had Maeve’s scent on him. Starlight returned to find Solomon alive and helped reattach his head, leaving him wondering whether she had begun to like him.

• Solomon used Homelander’s threat to expose his spying request to persuade him to let Starlight remain under Solomon’s responsibility.
• Homelander dismissed the meeting, then snapped Solomon’s neck after everyone else had left; Solomon revived and explained why he avoided openly revealing his abilities or challenging Homelander.
• When Solomon asked why Homelander wanted him dead, Homelander accused him of carrying Maeve’s scent and crushed his neck, leaving his severed head and body behind.
• Starlight returned to the conference room, found Solomon’s head on the floor, and helped set it back on his body while his neck healed.
• Starlight thanked Solomon for protecting her and explained that she had come back to check on him, while Solomon wondered if her shy behavior meant she liked him.