Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for The Boys season 4, episode 5, “Beware the Jabberwock, My Son.”
Summary
The Boysseason 4 hints at Billy Butcher being a Supe, andepisode 5 may feature a disturbing clue about the power he obtained by taking Compound V. Butcher tells Hughie that he injected himself with Vought’s drug after his cancer diagnosis, but he believes it didn’t do anything. Of course, his encounter with Ezekiel inThe Boysseason 4, episode 4 all but confirmsthat he’s wrong. There’s no way he could rip a Supe to pieces without some sort of ability. Since Butcher blacks out, it’s difficult to say what power the drug might have given him.
Butcher’s powers inThe Boyscomicsinclude all the usual staples of being a Supe: super strength, speed, and endurance. However, he doesn’t exhibit any of these inThe Boysseason 4— except when he faces off against Ezekiel. Even then, it’s desperation that pushes him to destroy the Supe. As the Amazon show differs significantly from the source material, there areother powers Butcher might havethat allow him to do this level of damage. From vein control to power copying, the possibilities seem endless — butepisode 5 may hold a clue about what’s going on with Butcher.
All 6 Supes Billy Butcher Has Killed In The Boys
Billy Butcher is one of the most dangerous characters in The Boys universe, and here is a complete list of every supe that he has killed.
There Has To Be Some Meaning Behind Their Interactions
Butcher and The Boys encounter numerous animals injected with Compound V inThe Boysseason 4, episode 5— but he pays more attention to one that’s been given Temp V, and there might be a deeper reason for that. When The Boys discover Neuman’s lab in “Beware the Jabberwock, My Son,“Butcher frees a rabbit that’s been left inside a cage after being overloaded with Temp V. It doesn’t display the same aggressive behavior that the other superpowered animals do, andThe Boyssoon reveals why.
Butcher runs into the rabbit again later, and it’s dying. There are tentacles protruding from its mid-section, seemingly an ability Temp V granted it — though its body clearly can’t handle this new power. As Butcher is also dying because of Temp V, the rabbit seems to be a disturbing portrayal of what awaits him. However,it could also be a hint about Butcher’s Supe power. After all, previous episodes show something dark moving through Butcher’s body. Although it initially looks like his veins, later scenes suggest it’s something more sinister.
Perhaps Butcher’s Temp V usage will result in a similar physical manifestation of power. This doesn’t bode well for him, as he may still wind up dead, just like episode 5’s rabbit. But with Butcher later taking real Compound V, it’s possible he’s able to use this power without instantly perishing.Such an ability would explain what happens to Ezekielafter he nearly kills Butcher. The Boys' former leader might be suffering the physical effects of Temp V while also demonstrating secret Supe powers. And episode 5 contains another clue that backs this up.
An MM Line In The Boys Season 4 Could Be Another Hint Of Butcher’s Powers
Episode 5 Suggests Butcher Has A More Monstrous Ability
The rabbit isn’t the only hint that Butcher has Supe powers inThe Boysseason 4, episode 5.A line from MM also alludes to this potential, even if it seems like a throwaway. While the group is debating whether they should use the last dose of the Supe virus to kill the animals outside, Butcher suggests they save it for Homelander and “leg it.” He’s willing to risk the others' lives to get his revenge, and Starlight calls him “a monster.” MM then tries to appeal to Butcher’s humanity, telling him that he isn’t a monster.
This line suggests that, if Butcher is a Supe, his ability won’t be something flashy like laser vision or super speed.
Starlight’s and MM’s words don’t initially stand out as an omen, but the phrasing used during this conversation is interesting. Given what Butcher does to Ezekiel, it’s very possible there’s something monstrous inside him. This line suggests that, if Butcher is a Supe, his ability won’t be something flashy like laser vision or super speed. It’s more likely to be grotesque, just like what happens to the rabbit. This further fuels the idea that Butcher has something inside him waiting to claw its way out. Whether it’s tentacles or another beastly ability remains to be seen.
Hopefully, the last threeepisodes ofThe Boysseason 4will reveal what’s going on with Butcher — and if it’s related to the Compound V he stole from Frenchie. If he does have Supe powers, it’ll be interesting to see if the show foreshadows them in earlier installments. Such a development could also change Butcher’s fate ahead ofThe Boysseason 5 and turn the tables in the fight against Homelander.
The Boys
Cast
The Boys is a gritty and subversive take on the superhero genre, focusing on a group of vigilantes who confront powerful superheroes abusing their abilities, exploring themes of corruption and moral ambiguity in a world where heroes are not always what they seem.
