There have been a lot of variations of Compound V mentioned in The Boys, from the formula used on the Seven as babies to the Temp V, which turned Billy Butcher into a tentacle-wielding monster.
However, in The Boys season 5, it seems as though the most important strain of V is the original batch, which will play a huge role in whether Homelander survives or dies in the final season.
Warning: the following contains major spoilers for The Boys season 5 episode 1-5, so turn back now if you're not caught up yet.
Differing from the action-packed two-episode premiere, The Boys season 5 episode 3 is a little heavier on dialogue, but there's a good reason for it. After Billy Butcher and co tried to kill Soldier Boy with the Supe-killing Virus in The Boys season 5 episode 2, they soon realized that they had failed. As the Virus managed to get rid of Rock Hard and Teenage Kix member Jetstreak, the only explanation for Soldier Boy's survival was that he was turned into a Supe by taking the first strain, known as V-One.
This means that whatever is in that first batch holds some kind of immunity. Which is why the Boys went to talk to Stan Edgar to find out how they can get their hands on it before Homelander does. When MM, Kimiko, Frenchie, Hughie, and Starlight get to Edgar's hideout, the ex-Vought president explains where V-One comes from and how it differs from Compound V.
But Homelander is already hot on their tails. The Supe is desperate to get his hands on the formula, not only so he can survive the Virus, but so he can slow his aging process just like his biological dad, Soldier Boy. Below, we break down what V-One actually is, and what could happen if Homelander takes it.
What is V-One?
Created by scientist Frederick Vought sometime in the '40s, V-One is the first version of Compound V that was able to turn humans into superheroes. Throughout its inception, the formula was tested on various civilians, prisoners, and soldiers during the Second World War. It took a while for V-One to work, and it killed many test subjects in the process. But when it did work, it not only turned patients into Supes, but it made them biologically immortal and unable to age.
Known successful subjects of V-One include Stormfront, Soldier Boy, Bombsight, Torpedo, and Private Angel, who are set to appear in the upcoming spin-off Vought Rising. It is unclear where the V-One Supes are, but we know that Stormfront died in The Boys season 3 episode 1 after swallowing her own tongue to escape Homelander.
However, although V-One was ten times more powerful than what turned The Seven into Supes, it was also very unstable, leading Vought to abandon the serum and replace it with Compound V. The new version was mass-produced and injected into babies across the nation, creating most of the Supes in the series, including A-Train, Starlight, The Deep, and more. Homelander was created using Compound V, too. But, rather than taking V as a child, his embryo was injected with the Serum, making him more powerful than the rest.
Later on in the '60s, scientist Thomas Godolkin tried to recreate V-One. But his variant was even more unstable, killing all who used it, apart from Godolkin, who burned in the same fire that destroyed the formula. In Gen V season 2, it was revealed that the ageless Supe had survived the fire in 1967 and had been kept alive in a chamber with the help of his girlfriend, Sister Sage. The scientist managed to break out and regain his strength, but was killed by the Guardians of Godolkin.
As of right now, it is unclear if any batches of V-One still exist. In episode 3, Stan Edgar confirms that Vought destroyed any trace of the strain. Even after The Deep handed Edgar over to Homelander, the ex-Vought exec still kept his lips sealed. However, in The Boys season 5 episode 5, Mister Marathon told Soldier Boy that Bombsight either has a batch of V-One or knows how to make more. So it looks like Soldier Boy and Homelander may be taking a little field trip in episode 6 to visit the old Supe.
What will happen if Homelander takes V-One?
Due to the Supe-Virus being made to combat Compound V, those who have been injected with V-One seem to be immune to its effects. It's not clear at this point whether that is because V-One is more powerful or because it's just not compatible. Either way, Butcher needs to get his hands on a Virus specially made for V-One before it's too late.
And so, the hunt for V-One begins. Butcher and his Boys want to find the original formula so that they can either use it to kill Homelander or destroy it before he gets hold of it. Homelander, on the other hand, seems to be looking for V-One so that he can take it. But what will happen if he does?
There is no evidence of what can happen to an already super-abled person if they take V-One. But it can go either of two ways. The formula could grant Homelander even stronger powers and stop him from aging. But, as V-One is very unstable (especially the version created by Godolkin), it could also kill him. In a flashback to the '60s in Gen V season 2, the scientists who took V-One with Godolkin either died from its potency or formed uncontrollable, monstrous powers that ripped themselves apart.
It is important to remember that Homelander was created in a lab using Soldier Boy's seed, so the Supe may well already have V-One in his system. Could that alone render him immune to Butcher's Virus? We will just have to wait and see.
The Boys season 5 is releasing weekly on Prime Video. For more, check out our The Boys season 5 release schedule and our The Boys season 1-4 recap.
