Recaps

Mother's Milk asked to join Vought, and Ashley accepted him on a one-month trial after Frenchie vouched for him. After settling into a Vought apartment, he wrestled with whether to use Novichok to pursue revenge or protect the stability he had gained.

• Ashley questioned Mother's Milk about his past attacks on Vought, and Frenchie vouched for his loyalty.
• Ashley approved Mother's Milk's trial membership and said his wife and daughter could return from Belize, revealing that Vought had tracked them and Soldier Boy had stopped Homelander from bringing them back.
• Ashley told Mother's Milk that Soldier Boy had ended Vought's shady operations after taking power, leaving him confused by the claim.
• Frenchie celebrated Mother's Milk's canceled wanted notice and offered him a place to stay, then Mother's Milk moved into an apartment on Vought's sixty-fourth floor.
• Mother's Milk took a bottle of Novichok from his backpack and struggled over whether to sacrifice his newfound stability for revenge.

Ryan spent a terrifying night alone in the Amazon Rainforest after Black Noir used a monkey to imitate Homelander’s voice and lure him into the bushes. Ryan fled in panic, while Black Noir saw that the ordeal had pushed his running speed beyond ordinary limits.

• Ryan stayed awake in his tent, unaware that the poisonous fruit he had eaten came from a fake survival guide made by Soldier Boy.
• Black Noir watched Ryan from the canopy and planned to frighten him by exploiting the uncanny quality of an ordinary thing behaving strangely.
• Ryan left his tent to relieve himself, then heard a voice from the bushes claiming Homelander had come to pick him up.
• Ryan followed the repeated voice and found a red-eyed monkey imitating Homelander, then screamed and ran in terror.
• Black Noir watched Ryan run in circles and flee, then discarded the monkey’s corpse and noted Ryan’s extraordinary speed.

Ryan fled a frightening encounter in the Amazon, discovered he could fly, and awakened Super Speed, while Black Noir tracked and filmed him. Soldier Boy and Private Angel urged Black Noir to intensify the trial, and Homelander learned what had happened and gave Noir new instructions.

• Ryan panicked after seeing the red-eyed monkey imitate Homelander's voice, then flew above the rainforest in an attempt to escape.
• After flying for over an hour without finding the forest's edge, Ryan cried, landed in a tree, and fell asleep clinging to its trunk.
• Black Noir tracked Ryan's bracelet, recorded him crying, and reported that Ryan appeared to have awakened Super Speed.
• Soldier Boy received a system reward that raised his Super Speed to level 4 and, after consulting Private Angel, told Black Noir to make the trial more intense.
• Homelander learned that Ryan had been frightened and awakened Super Speed, then told Black Noir not to imitate his voice when scaring Ryan again.

Black Noir followed Soldier Boy’s new plan to frighten Ryan into growing stronger, while Soldier Boy’s careless treatment of Mother’s Milk drove him to finally confront his family’s past. The chapter ended as Mother’s Milk pulled out neurotoxin and moved to spray Soldier Boy.

• Black Noir placed Soldier Boy’s supernatural-tales book in Ryan’s tent and went searching for fierce beasts to drive toward him.
• Soldier Boy extended Pete’s confinement by a month and Neuman’s by two months, then went to breakfast with Homelander.
• Soldier Boy told Homelander that Ryan had cried from fear and that he had given Black Noir more advice, leaving Homelander unable to raise his concerns.
• Frenchie introduced Mother’s Milk to Soldier Boy and Homelander in the dining hall.
• Mother’s Milk asked Soldier Boy if he remembered him, and Soldier Boy said he did not recognize him.
• Mother’s Milk recalled his family’s suffering, lost control, and pulled out neurotoxin to spray Soldier Boy.

Mother's Milk tried to kill Soldier Boy with Novichok, but Soldier Boy shrugged off the toxin and demanded to know why he had attacked. Mother's Milk's failed revenge attempt ended with Soldier Boy knocking him away, while Homelander and the gathered Vought employees watched.

• Mother's Milk sprayed Soldier Boy with nerve agent, but Homelander quickly knocked him down and pinned him by the throat.
• Soldier Boy inhaled the remaining toxin, recognized it as Novichok, and revealed that even the entire canister barely affected him.
• Homelander released Mother's Milk at Soldier Boy's request, and Soldier Boy asked why he had attacked him.
• Mother's Milk cursed Soldier Boy and punched him twice, furious that Soldier Boy did not remember him.
• Soldier Boy dodged Mother's Milk's next punch and countered with a blow to his side that sent him flying several meters.

Soldier Boy beat Mother's Milk before learning that his actions had caused Mother's Milk's family tragedy, leaving both men shaken. Homelander stopped the employees from recording the incident as Vought's medical team arrived.

• Soldier Boy punched Mother's Milk until he explained that Soldier Boy had killed his grandfather and that his father had died fighting Vought for justice.
• Soldier Boy realized he had no memory of the incident, lowered his knee, and struggled with how to respond as Mother's Milk broke down.
• Homelander's murderous intent toward Mother's Milk faded as he watched him cry.
• Hughie and Ashley arrived, and Soldier Boy ordered Ashley to bring the medical team; Frenchie came to Mother's Milk's side.
• Homelander ordered the employees to delete their videos and caught a bald employee trying to save a copy.
• Vought's medical team arrived and began examining Mother's Milk.

Homelander watched Soldier Boy apologize to Mother's Milk and choose to release him with financial compensation. Seeing his father take responsibility and restrain his anger helped Homelander embrace Soldier Boy’s idea of being a true superhero.

• Homelander noticed his doubts about Soldier Boy came from the contrast between his teachings and his actions, then warned the medical staff about Mother's Milk's brain injury.
• Soldier Boy apologized to Mother's Milk for the harm his past actions had caused, and Mother's Milk silently cried as he let go of his long-held obsession.
• Soldier Boy reassured Ashley that the incident was not her fault, then punished Frenchie by assigning him another week of toilet cleaning.
• Soldier Boy told Homelander he would release Mother's Milk and provide financial compensation because he had been in the wrong.
• Homelander saw his father restrain his anger and decided he, too, could become a true superhero.

Soldier Boy refused to have Private Angel heal Mother's Milk again, while Butcher discovered Mother's Milk had left him and agreed to help Becca find Ryan. In the rainforest, Ryan found his tent, unaware that Black Noir had placed it there as bait for nearby jaguars.

• Homelander asked Soldier Boy why the first generation of superheroes did not age, but Frenchie interrupted before Soldier Boy could answer.
• Soldier Boy told Frenchie to have Ashley bring Mother's Milk's wife and daughter back from Belize and stop troubling them.
• Butcher found Mother's Milk's farewell letter and realized Mother's Milk had drugged him with sleeping pills before defecting to Vought.
• Becca told Butcher that Homelander had taken Ryan and she could not reach him, and Butcher agreed to come help her.
• Ryan cautiously descended from a tree and found his tent in the rainforest, while Black Noir left meat nearby to lure jaguars toward him.

Black Noir lured two jaguars toward Ryan’s tent as Ryan dismissed the strange book he had found. The jaguars attacked Ryan, but his super durability protected him, and he discovered that he could barely fly while carrying their weight.

• Black Noir watched two jaguars approach Ryan’s tent while the Animal Friends discussed the trap.
• Ryan struggled to read the Eastern Strange Tales Collection, then tossed it out of the tent, accidentally hitting the male jaguar.
• Ryan stepped outside and the jaguars attacked, pinning him down and biting him.
• Ryan realized the jaguars’ teeth could not pierce his skin and regained his confidence.
• Ryan tried to escape using super flight but could only rise briefly before falling back down.

Ryan’s first unstable burst of strength let him escape a jaguar attack, but he mistook the danger in the Amazon for bad information in his survival guide. After bathing in a pool, he was seized by a huge anaconda while Black Noir watched from nearby.

• A female jaguar tore Ryan’s pants and lunged at his crotch, triggering him to punch the male jaguar hard enough to kill it.
• Black Noir concluded that Ryan had shown only the first signs of Super Strength, while the female jaguar fled.
• Ryan blamed the guide’s publishers for claiming the Amazon had no jaguars and went looking for water to wash off the saliva.
• Ryan found a pool, entered it to bathe, and failed to notice a seven-meter anaconda approaching beneath the surface.
• The anaconda bit Ryan and wrapped its thick coils around him, while Black Noir watched from above.

Ryan was trapped and swallowed by an anaconda, while Black Noir prepared to intervene if he could not escape within ten minutes. Meanwhile, Soldier Boy and Homelander finished breakfast and discussed Ryan’s safety and Soldier Boy’s lack of work.

• The anaconda constricted Ryan until he was too exhausted to escape, then swallowed his head and body.
• Black Noir drew his Katana and decided to give Ryan ten minutes to free himself before rescuing him.
• Soldier Boy and Homelander finished breakfast, and Homelander worried because Black Noir had not sent an update about Ryan.
• Soldier Boy reassured Homelander that Ryan would be fine and joked that he might want more wilderness trips after returning.
• Homelander headed to work and suggested Soldier Boy take commercials to raise his public profile, thinking he was neglecting his real work.

Soldier Boy rejected Homelander’s suggestion that he work for Vought, then encouraged A-Train to beat Supersonic without using Compound V. Stormfront questioned A-Train about their conversation and grew resentful that Soldier Boy seemed colder toward her, while Soldier Boy remained unaware and wandered toward a convenience store.

• Soldier Boy accused Homelander of trying to make his centenarian father work, then left after Homelander promised to support him unconditionally.
• Soldier Boy met A-Train, praised his training, and warned him not to use Compound V to improve his speed.
• A-Train told Soldier Boy that Private Angel had healed his heart and helped him train harder, and Soldier Boy said he preferred A-Train to remain in the Seven over Supersonic.
• Stormfront ordered A-Train into the elevator and questioned him about what Soldier Boy had said.
• Stormfront sent A-Train out on the twelfth floor, then angrily wondered why Soldier Boy had become so cold toward her.
• Soldier Boy walked outside, satisfied with New York’s public safety, and stopped to peer into a convenience store.

Soldier Boy visited a convenience store displaying a statue and merchandise of him, then learned the owner was the man he had helped before. When Soldier Boy asked about crime, the owner told him that supervillains had recently appeared in cities near New York.

• Soldier Boy entered the renovated convenience store and recognized the life-size statue of himself, then found his image on shelves of merchandise.
• Soldier Boy bought a bottle of cheap whiskey, and the owner recognized him and tried to give him an expensive bottle instead.
• The owner explained that Hughie had rented him the store cheaply, paid for its renovations, and arranged for Soldier Boy's statue to be installed.
• The owner told Soldier Boy he had named his grandson Soldier Lad to honor him, but Soldier Boy told him to change the name.
• Soldier Boy asked about active criminals, and the owner said supervillains had recently been spotted in cities near New York.

Soldier Boy learned that an organized group of Supe criminals was attacking areas near New York and suspected Homelander might be behind them. Homelander discovered the group had used Compound V from Vought’s recent supply and resolved to cover up his continued operation before Soldier Boy found out.

• Soldier Boy watched a report about organized Supe criminals committing brutal crimes near New York and wondered whether Homelander was secretly responsible.
• A shopkeeper lent Soldier Boy an umbrella, and Soldier Boy noticed storm clouds gathering as he left.
• Ashley told Homelander that Vought had identified nine local supervillains and found empty vials from a recently produced batch of Compound V.
• Homelander told Ashley not to tell Soldier Boy, then realized the new criminals threatened to expose his secret operation.
• Homelander recalled that he had decided that morning to stop creating supervillains and resolved to eliminate the problem before Soldier Boy learned the truth.

Homelander learned that the supervillains were hiding in Middleton and rushed there, while Raymond killed the Gray River Gang’s boss and took control of the gang. The gang members faced Raymond’s lethal power as Homelander closed in on the city.

• Anika showed Homelander intelligence placing the supervillains in Middleton, and he flew off before she could finish her report.
• Homelander’s sonic boom drew Middleton residents’ attention as he arrived above the city.
• In a basement hideout, Raymond killed the Gray River Gang’s boss after the boss ordered the gang to lie low and prepare to move.
• The gang’s underlings panicked, and one challenged Raymond about what they would do without the boss.
• Raymond shot the challenger through the chest with Heat Vision.

Raymond took over the Gray River Gang and used its remaining Compound V, then set off for New York to challenge Homelander. Luther managed the gang in his absence, but after most of the injections ended in death or dangerous mutations, Homelander arrived and confronted him.

• Raymond killed the Gray River Gang leader, seized control, and forced dissenting gang members to submit.
• Raymond gave the remaining Compound V to his men, injected one man himself, and appointed Luther deputy leader before departing for New York.
• Luther demonstrated his telekinesis, then watched eight men die, one mutate, and another go berserk after the injections; he killed the two attackers and learned the sole survivor had a weak water-shooting ability.
• A terrified underling reported that guards at the basement entrance had suddenly lost their heads.
• Homelander entered the basement, inspected the empty vials and dead recipients, and asked Luther what he had done.

Homelander confronted the Gray River Gang in its basement and massacred its members after discovering their crimes and the abused woman they held captive. With only Luther left to answer, he abandoned his attempts to negotiate and explained how the gang had obtained the drug that gave them Supe powers.

• Luther tried to reason with Homelander and offered information about the riots in Middleton.
• Homelander used his vision to inspect the basement and found criminals, weapons, and a chained, injured woman.
• Homelander swept the basement with his heat vision, killing the Gray River Gang leaders.
• A burly man emerged from the woman's room, and the gang member with water-shooting hands died after losing control of his power.
• Homelander asked Luther what the gang had done, and Luther confessed that they had collected a drug that could turn people into Supes.

Homelander learned that Raymond and the Gray River Gang had gone to New York to cause trouble, but he stayed behind to free a captive woman and confront his guilt. His reflection challenged him to tell Soldier Boy what he had done, leaving Homelander silent.

• Homelander learned Raymond had left for New York with the Gray River Gang, then delayed his flight to deal with Luther and the basement.
• Homelander ordered Luther to bring out a captive blonde woman and told her she was free.
• The woman recognized Homelander, thanked him through tears, and left for the police he had called.
• Homelander wondered whether his Supervillain Plan had enabled the gang to torment her, then defended himself by claiming he had saved more people than the supervillains killed.
• Homelander argued with his reflection, which accused him of acting for approval and demanded to know why he had not told Soldier Boy; Homelander fell silent.

Homelander accepted that he had to stop pretending to be a hero and take responsibility for his past. After defeating Luther's attempts to hurt him, he called the police, who discovered a blonde woman emerging from a trapdoor.

• Homelander confronted his reflection and resolved to become a real superhero and make amends for his crimes.
• Homelander questioned Luther about the Gray River Gang's cruelty and decided to kill him.
• Luther tried to crush Homelander's heart and eyes with his psychic powers, but failed and suffered severe pain.
• Police arrived at a house after Homelander identified himself as the caller and Vought confirmed his identity.
• The officers found a blonde woman in tattered clothes climbing out of a trapdoor and ordered her to raise her hands.

Homelander freed Ellie from the Gray River Gang and horrified arriving police officers with the massacre in its basement. Meanwhile, Soldier Boy learned that eight supervillains and dozens of gang members were attacking New York.

• Ellie told the police to find Homelander in the basement, where the officers discovered him standing amid the Gray River Gang's corpses.
• Homelander left the bloody basement, apologized to Ellie, and promised Vought would provide counseling and financial assistance.
• Soldier Boy searched for Homelander at Vought Tower but found him missing and suspected he had fled or destroyed evidence.
• Ashley reported to Soldier Boy that dozens of gang members and eight supervillains were causing widespread havoc in New York.

The Seven and Stormfront fought the supervillains rampaging across New York while Homelander and Soldier Boy dealt with other groups. Raymond continued attacking civilians outside a Queens mall, leaving the final confrontation unresolved.

• Ashley told Soldier Boy that Homelander had gone to Middleton and The Seven were handling the supervillains in New York, so Soldier Boy asked for their location.
• A-Train, Maeve, and Starlight defeated Dung Beetle and the fire-wielding supervillain in Midtown Manhattan.
• Anika showed Maeve surveillance footage of Stormfront using lightning to defeat two supervillains, prompting A-Train to say that Stormfront was losing her mind again.
• Anika reported that Homelander had eliminated another group and Soldier Boy had gone after the last one.
• In Queens, Raymond shrugged off gunfire, cut through cars and people with yellow beams, and killed a person he threw into the air while a tall, thin man howled beside him.

Soldier Boy confronted Raymond after killing his companion, demonstrating that Raymond's Heat Vision could not hurt him. He seized Raymond and repeatedly dragged him across the street as Homelander arrived and watched from a distance.

• Raymond boasted that he was stronger than Homelander, until Soldier Boy hurled his tall, thin companion's head into him and sent him crashing through a building.
• Raymond returned to the street and accused Soldier Boy of sneaking up on him, while Soldier Boy insisted he had warned him before attacking.
• Raymond fired Heat Vision at Soldier Boy, but Soldier Boy's arm remained unharmed, and he taunted Raymond to try harder.
• Soldier Boy flew at Raymond, grabbed him by the neck, and repeatedly slammed him into the street.
• Homelander arrived, saw Soldier Boy handling Raymond, and chose to watch from a higher altitude.

Soldier Boy brutally beat Raymond while trying to learn where he came from and how his powers worked, but Raymond could not answer through the pain. Watching from high above, Homelander feared Soldier Boy would turn the same treatment on him.

• Soldier Boy dragged Raymond across the streets, then stopped and questioned him about his origins and superpowers.
• Raymond could not speak while Soldier Boy gripped his throat, and Soldier Boy mistook his attempts to signal surrender for defiance.
• Soldier Boy hurled Raymond through buildings and continued beating him, leaving police and military personnel to question whose side he was on.
• Soldier Boy stopped when Raymond neared death, intending to get answers and find out whether Homelander was behind the incident.
• Homelander watched from ten thousand meters above and worried that approaching Soldier Boy would make his anger worse.

Homelander put off facing Soldier Boy and wandered into a town park, where he recognized Klee from the plane disaster incident. After saving her from a predatory man, he reunited with Klee and learned she was afraid to go home because she had gotten into trouble.

• Homelander avoided going to Vought and wandered into an unfamiliar town, thinking about Soldier Boy as he watched a bird defend its nest.
• Homelander recognized Klee, who had spoken up for him during the plane disaster incident, sitting alone in the park.
• A balding man offered Klee a lollipop, then hid nearby and approached her again after she threw it away.
• Homelander confronted the man, drowned him in the park's artificial lake, and washed the blood from his body.
• Homelander found Klee again, and she told him she had gotten into trouble and was scared to go home.

Homelander talked with Klee after she ran away from home over a fight at school, then watched her return to her mother and reflected on his own family. He called Ashley and learned that Soldier Boy had interrogated Raymond and destroyed Pete and Neuman’s home.

• Klee told Homelander that she had broken a classmate’s ribs after he repeatedly bullied her, and she was afraid her mother would scold her.
• Klee explained that she planned to apologize to her mother, then left the park while Homelander watched her go.
• Homelander saw Klee’s mother chase and hit her with a clothes hanger, and he wondered whether his father was worried about him.
• Homelander switched on his phone and called Ashley after seeing the flood of messages and missed calls.
• Ashley told Homelander that Soldier Boy had interrogated Raymond and torn apart Pete and Neuman’s home.