Every Version of Compound V in ‘The Boys’, Explained

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Who’s the coolest superhero? It really depends on their powers. Homelander is basically Superman – flying and shooting lasers – which isn’t very interesting. A-Train is just fast, like The Flash, and that’s pretty dull too. The Deep is like Aquaman, but with a lot of insecurity. Sister Sage, though? She’s genuinely impressive. And Soldier Boy is pretty cool as well – he has a voice perfect for narrating nature documentaries!

Regardless of whether you like them or not, it’s fascinating to watch Supes use their abilities. All of their powers come from Compound V – without it, many wouldn’t even exist. Unlike some superhero origins, there were no accidental bites or alien planets in The Boys. These powers are all due to the serum developed by Frederick Vought. However, it turns out not all versions of Compound V are created equal. The show has recently explored V-One, a unique and previously under-explained variation of the serum.

V-One Is the First Variation of the Compound V Formula

V-One is first fully explained in Season 5, Episode 3. This version of Compound V appears only in the TV series and isn’t found in the comics. The episode reveals that V-One, a pale blue serum, was the initial successful attempt at creating the Compound V formula. It gives people incredible superpowers and also makes them biologically immortal, stopping them from aging.

V-One is ten times more potent than the current version of Compound V, but it’s also extremely unstable. It was only successfully given to a small number of the earliest Supes, and these individuals became some of the show’s strongest characters – including Soldier Boy, Stormfront, Bombsight, Private Angel, and Torpedo. Early testing of V-One resulted in thousands of deaths among American soldiers and victims of the Holocaust. Because of these dangers, Vought stopped using V-One in the 1950s and switched to a safer, more reliable formula.

Soldier Boy remains youthful and survived the Supe Virus thanks to V-One. While exposed to the virus at the Teenage Kix compound, he only experienced mild symptoms. This version of Compound V has a different molecular makeup than the standard formula, lacking the receptors the virus needs to attach. Now, Homelander wants V-One for himself, hoping it will grant him the same benefits – eternal youth and immunity.

V24, aka Temp V, Gives Its Users Powers for 24 Hours

Temp V is a tweaked version of Compound V, developed by Vought International through ethically questionable experiments at the Sage Grove Center. This green serum grants superpowers for a day, but comes with significant drawbacks. It’s incredibly expensive – a single dose costs $2 million, according to Stan Edgar – and severely damages the user’s health. Frequent use can lead to brain tumors and mental health issues, as seen with Billy Butcher after his sixth dose. Furthermore, Butcher’s troubled past and impulsive behavior – mirroring his father’s abuse of Gunpowder – have made him a likely candidate to die in Season 5, according to betting odds.

Okay, so here’s the cool thing about this new drug, V24 – it doesn’t give you powers based on how much you take, but on who you are. It’s all about your personality. Honestly, I was really intrigued by that. We see Billy Butcher finally taking the plunge, and it’s no surprise he ends up with powers mirroring Homelander’s – the guy’s always been a dominant personality with a burning need to take down The Seven’s leader. And poor Hughie? He gets super-speed teleportation, which is a clever way to even the playing field against A-Train. It’s a really interesting power dynamic shift, and I’m excited to see where it goes.

The real question is, why did Vought create V24 in the first place? Stan Edgar financed the Sage Grove Center with a specific goal: to develop a temporary power-granting formula. He believed that short-lived powers would make Supes much easier to manage. Of course, profit was a major factor too. Temp V would ensure a constant stream of revenue, as users would need to repeatedly purchase doses – at a cost of $2 million each – to maintain their abilities. Pretty clever, isn’t it?

The Refined Compound V Is the Source of the Modern-Day Supe Problem

There’s been a surge in people with powers, and it’s likely due to an improved version of the original Compound V. This new version is a light blue liquid, and when it enters someone’s bloodstream, they develop random superpowers. While injection is the usual method, we’ve even seen animals gain powers from drinking contaminated water. The problem is, you can’t predict what powers someone will get, which is why so many people end up with undesirable abilities.

Compound V works best on young people, and seems to be most effective when given at the earliest stages of development. For example, both Homelander and Marie Moreau received the serum as embryos during ‘Project Odessa’ and became incredibly powerful. However, it’s not always successful – several other young people who received the serum died. It’s also been observed that children and babies develop powers slowly after receiving Compound V, while adults develop them right away.

Other Little-Known Types of Compound V Exist

If you’ve been following Seven on 7 with Cameron Coleman, you may have heard about G-Fuel Compound V. This web series, found on Vought’s official (and satirical) YouTube channel, expands the universe of The Boys and sets the stage for Season 3. The show reveals that Vought has released a new energy drink, G-Fuel, which contains traces of Compound V. It’s advertised as a way to boost energy and improve concentration.

The comics also feature altered versions of Compound V, created by various scientists to give normal people super strength and resilience. These were primarily sold to criminals and individuals seeking revenge against Supes. Interestingly, the story also shows that sex workers sometimes used these illegally obtained serums to protect themselves from the physical power of their superpowered clients.

Is it time to call the DEA?

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2026-04-17 23:03