Chapter Summaries

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.

Homelander returned to Vought, afraid Soldier Boy would learn about his secret supply of Compound V and be disappointed in him. Soldier Boy confronted and struck him, then told him, “You really disappoint me,” leaving Homelander devastated.

• Ashley told Homelander that Soldier Boy already knew about the supervillains, and Homelander said he would return to Vought.
• Police found a murdered body in a park lake in Middleton and cordoned off the scene.
• Soldier Boy interrogated Raymond, tortured him, and concluded Homelander was secretly supplying Compound V to outsiders.
• Homelander hurried to the private conference room, where Soldier Boy confronted him about his actions.
• When Homelander said, “I don't know,” Soldier Boy punched him through the conference table and said he was disappointed in him.

Homelander admitted to Soldier Boy that he had secretly created supervillains but had decided to stop and become a real superhero. Soldier Boy believed him, forgave him as his son, and left Homelander determined not to disappoint him again.

• Homelander confessed to Soldier Boy that he had resolved to stop distributing Compound V and become a real superhero.
• Soldier Boy used Old Popsicle to confirm Homelander's statement was credible and viewed images of Homelander's recent actions.
• Homelander apologized for creating supervillains and told Soldier Boy that he regretted the harm he had caused.
• Soldier Boy acknowledged Homelander's guilt, forgave him, and reminded him that he was his son.
• Homelander was moved by Soldier Boy's forgiveness and promised not to let his father down again.

Raymond escaped the room where Homelander and Soldier Boy had reconciled, but Homelander caught up with him in an alley and pierced his chest. Raymond survived because his heart was on the right and struck back with Heat Vision, leaving Homelander intrigued by his power.

• Raymond broke free of his restraints and escaped through a shattered window, then ran through New York to a deserted alley.
• Homelander appeared behind Raymond as he tried to enter a manhole, and Raymond taunted him because Soldier Boy was not there.
• Homelander pierced Raymond's chest, but Raymond survived because his heart was on the right and his wounds began to heal.
• Raymond fired Heat Vision at Homelander, knocking him back and scorching his suit.
• Homelander extinguished the flames and praised Raymond's ability, his competitive streak stirred.

Homelander let Raymond recover before fighting him, then overpowered him and killed him with Heat Vision. As Homelander looked at Raymond’s corpse, he reflected on how much they resembled each other.

• Homelander gave Raymond time to heal and promised to let him go if he lasted five minutes in a fight.
• Raymond attacked Homelander and landed a punch while Homelander was distracted by thoughts of the conference room.
• Homelander dodged Raymond’s next attacks, broke his wrist, damaged his eardrums, and kicked him into a tree.
• Raymond and Homelander clashed with their Heat Vision, but Homelander increased his power and pierced Raymond’s eyes and skull.
• Homelander watched Raymond’s corpse and wondered what his own similarities to Raymond meant for him.

Ryan struggled to survive in the Amazon rainforest, where Black Noir raised the danger around him and a giant caiman and a Compound V-enhanced harpy eagle attacked him. Meanwhile, leaked surveillance videos of Homelander’s massacre sent public sentiment against Vought plunging, and Ashley realized the damage was worse than she expected.

• Homelander felt a tightness in his chest and suspected his father had left Raymond for him to handle for a deeper reason.
• Black Noir watched Ryan struggle to make a fire and eat poisonous fruit, then took Compound V to increase the danger around him.
• Ryan fled a giant Black Gate Caiman, whose chase destroyed his makeshift shelter.
• A harpy eagle seized Ryan in midair while the Black Gate Caiman pursued them through the rainforest.
• Ashley saw that two surveillance videos had gone viral, including footage of Homelander killing people with Heat Vision, and reacted furiously to the leak.