Characters
Last Updated September 9, 2024.
Billy Butcher
William J. "Billy" Butcher is a towering, dark-haired former CIA operative who leads The Boys, a team dedicated to exposing and controlling the corrupt superheroes of the world. A natural leader with a sharp mind and brutal instincts, Butcher is a trained marksman and skilled fighter. After being injected with Compound V, he gains superhuman strength, further amplifying his dangerous presence.
Butcher's relentless drive stems from a tragic past. Raised in an abusive household, he grew up with a propensity for violence, which only intensified after the brutal loss of his wife, Becky. A superhero assaulted Becky, and the resulting fetus killed her. Butcher, left with nothing but his rage, killed the fetus himself, and vowed to eradicate the superheroes he holds responsible. He suspects Homelander, the leader of The Seven, as the one behind Becky's suffering, but his hatred extends to all superheroes, who he views as careless, dangerous beings.
His complex relationship with Hughie, a recruit to The Boys, shows a rare glimpse of Butcher's ability to form bonds, though it is often tinged with manipulation. Inspired by characters like The Punisher, Butcher's story embodies vengeance and the destructive power of unchecked rage.
Wee Hughie
Hugh Campbell, a mild-mannered conspiracy theorist from Scotland, stumbles into the violent world of The Boys after the superhero A-Train kills his girlfriend, Robin, during a reckless battle. Devastated and aimless, Butcher approaches Hughie, who offers him a chance at revenge.
Joining The Boys opens Hughie's eyes to the corruption beneath the superhero façade. He becomes a reluctant participant in their missions, struggling with guilt after killing a member of the young superhero group Teenage Kix. His internal conflict is central to his journey as he grapples with the morality of The Boys' mission versus his desire for justice. Injected with Compound V by Butcher, Hughie gains superhuman strength, but the emotional weight of the violence around him shapes his character the most.
His relationship with Annie January (Starlight), a member of The Seven, adds complexity to his life as they navigate their secret identities. Based on actor Simon Pegg, Hughie's character offers a blend of innocence and vulnerability, starkly contrasting the hardened world he's drawn into.
Homelander
John Gillman, known to the public as Homelander, is the leader of The Seven and the epitome of the all-American hero: tall, blond, blue-eyed, and powerful. He commands respect with his seemingly noble persona, spouting platitudes about duty and protection. However, beneath this polished exterior lies a deeply arrogant, unstable individual.
Created by Vought International through Compound V experimentation, Homelander possesses an array of superhuman abilities, including strength, speed, flight, and near invulnerability. Yet, his unchecked power and megalomania make him truly dangerous. Vought's public narrative is that he fell to Earth like a messianic figure, but in truth, he was manufactured to embody American ideals while masking the inherent corruption within him and the system that created him.
Homelander's first major mission, the disastrous handling of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, set the stage for his conflict with Butcher and The Boys. This failure and the subsequent cover-up marked the beginning of a rivalry between Homelander and Butcher, each viewing the other as a symbol of everything they despise.
Starlight
Rebecca Anne "Annie" January, known as Starlight, is a superhero born with Compound V in her blood. She is gifted with the ability to emit blinding light and fly. Despite her powers, Annie has lived a life of repression. Abandoned by her birth parents after she accidentally blinded them during her birth, she was raised by indifferent foster parents who pushed her into...
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pageants and the conservative superhero group the Young Americans.
Annie's journey is one of self-discovery and empowerment. Initially, she complies with The Seven's restrictive, often dehumanizing demands. However, her inherent kindness and morality clash with their corrupt, self-serving nature. Over time, she learns to assert herself and fight back against the toxic culture of superheroes, even as she begins a romantic relationship with Hughie, unaware of his ties to The Boys.
The Frenchman
The Frenchman, often referred to as Frenchie, is a volatile and unpredictable member of The Boys with superhuman strength and reflexes. A former soldier, Frenchie once embraced a pacifist life after serving in the military. However, his outlook changes after his enemy, Black Pierre, kills his father. Now, he uses his skills to gather dirt on superheroes, acting as an enforcer and strategist for The Boys.
His character adds an unpredictable energy to the team, with moments of extreme violence and unexpected compassion, particularly towards animals. Frenchie's past and his complex relationship with violence set him apart from the other members of the group.
The Female
Known only as The Female, she is a mute assassin with an insatiable bloodlust. Born in Tokyo, her life changed when she accidentally fell into a vat of Compound V, gaining superhuman abilities and a twisted compulsion to kill. Butcher rescued her from a life of captivity and experimentation, making her a vital member of The Boys.
Though she rarely speaks, her actions speak volumes. She often takes on the dirtiest and most brutal missions. She shows little mercy, except when it comes to animals, highlighting her complex nature.
Mother's Milk
Baron Wallis, better known as Mother's Milk, is the only member of The Boys born with Compound V in his system. A former military man and heavyweight champion, he serves as the team's investigator, with a sharp mind for gathering information. His unique name comes from his need to consume breast milk to survive, a side effect of his powers.
Mother's Milk is a stabilizing force within The Boys, offering a level-headed approach compared to the more volatile Butcher and Frenchie. His dedication to his daughter, Janine, and his sense of justice drive him to stay in the fight against the superheroes.
Blarney Cock
A member of the teenage superhero group Teenage Kix, Blarney Cock possesses the ability to fly. He is the illegitimate son of Queen Maeve and becomes one of Hughie's early targets. Their confrontation ends with Hughie accidentally killing Blarney, an act that haunts him.
Shout Out
Shout Out is a Teenage Kix member who is forced to reveal his sexual orientation publicly.
A-Train
A-Train is a speedster superhero and former Teenage Kix member known for his reckless behavior. His super speed and healing abilities make him one of The Seven's most dangerous members. However, his carelessness leads to tragedy when he kills Hughie's girlfriend, Robin, sparking Hughie's involvement with The Boys.
Black Noir
Black Noir is a mysterious, silent member of The Seven. He was explicitly created as a contingency plan to kill Homelander should he ever turn rogue, and in truth, he is essentially a clone of Homelander.
Queen Maeve
Queen Maeve is presented to the public as a symbol of female empowerment and justice, but in reality, she has grown jaded and disillusioned. She drowns her dissatisfaction with alcohol and flippant promiscuity, rarely caring about the noble causes she once championed. Despite her flaws, Maeve still holds a sliver of morality, though it is buried deep beneath years of cynicism and self-destruction.