Compound V in the Amazon Prime Video original series, The Boys, is a critical piece of the show's world, but its nature and origin may remain a mystery to some fans. The Boys follows a group of vigilantes fighting back against the corrupt corporation, Vought International, and their team of genetically modified superheroes called Supes. Vought uses their money and power to cover up the twisted, selfish nature of its Supes and profit off their abilities.
People in The Boys universe generally think their Supes are born with their abilities. However, it's revealed in The Boys season 1 that it's actually the introduction of Compound V into one's blood that gives them powers. It quickly becomes evident that Compound V is the key to both Vought's power and its downfall. That means Compound V is the most valuable substance on Earth. It is prudent, therefore, to have a strong understanding of the nature and effects of Compound V.
How Compound V Works In The Boys
In The Boys, Compound V is a blue liquid that can be injected into one's circulatory system and cause them to mutate. Those who survive the mutations are granted special powers that vary from subject to subject. Most often, those abilities are physical superpowers, though some subjects gain abilities related to their minds rather than their bodies. The effects of Compound V can sometimes take years to manifest in a child or infant, though when it is injected into a full-grown adult, the effects are typically immediate. The abilities granted by Compound V vary greatly, and while some are incredibly powerful, others can be weak or ineffective.
The quantity of Compound V one is subjected to also affects the strength of the powers they receive. For example, Homelander, probably the most powerful Supe ever created, received an extremely high dose of Compound V. Homelander has killed at least 15 characters in The Boys, and his enormous power makes him seem almost invincible. Another character who received a higher-than-average dose of Compound V is Queen Maeve, whose abilities are stronger than the vast majority of Supes but less so than Homelander's. Characters like Eagle the Archer, who were given smaller doses of Compound V, have weaker abilities.
Compound V is immensely powerful, but not just anyone can take it. The drug is most effective in infants and young children, probably because their bodies are more open to change. However, the exact reasons for this are unknown. The majority of infants and youths that are istered Compound V survive the process and develop abilities as they grow. Adults, on the other hand, have a measly 20% chance of surviving the introduction of Compound V to their bloodstreams. This is why Compound V is primarily given to children. istering the drug to children also helps Vought maintain the illusion that people are born with their abilities.
Compound V Was Created By Frederick Vought - Origin Explained
Compound V was created by a Nazi scientist named Frederick Vought during World War II. Vought was a prominent Nazi geneticist with a strong belief in Nazi ideals. He developed Compound V to be used in the war and first began testing it on concentration camp victims after Hitler appointed him Chief Physician of the Dachau concentration camp. His first successful patient turned out to be his wife, who became known as Stormfront. Like Frederick, she had a vision of an army of Supes sweeping the world in a massive, racially motivated genocide.
Vought's original serum, used on Stormfront and Soldier Boy, was purer than the modern form of Compound V and caused much stronger abilities to manifest in its subjects. This is why Stormfront and Soldier Boy have stronger abilities than most Supes. The original Compound V was also usable on full-grown adults with much better results, and judging by Stormfront and Soldier Boy, it also extended subjects' lifespans. However, it seems the original Compound V may have been too expensive to mass produce, causing Vought to make a cheaper, less effective version.
Frederick Vought eventually defected to the Allies when it became clear the Nazis were going to lose the war. He brought Compound V with him, providing the American military with the dose that created Soldier Boy. After the war, Frederick started Vought American, which was later renamed Vought International. Vought became a multi-billion dollar conglomerate and made Frederick into an American icon. Vought has created a huge number of Supes since the company's inception, though its involvement in creating Supes was kept secret until the events in The Boys.
The Difference Between Compound V & V24
The Boys season 3 introduces a newly developed alteration of Compound V known as V24, or Temp V. V24 is commonly referred to as Temp V because it is designed to give the subject temporary powers. It is supposed to last for 24 hours, though development of the drug is shut down during research and design after Compound V becomes public knowledge. V24 has a host of negative side effects that have not yet been solved, but the drug does work to provide the subject with temporary Compound V-like abilities. Unlike Compound V, V24 is designed to be safe for fully grown adults, though being incomplete, it's not really safe for anyone yet.
By the end of The Boys season 3, V24 has become a huge part of the plot, but its differences from Compound V will have serious consequences for the characters involved. Where Compound V is a single dose that leads to a permanent mutation, V24 is only temporary and must be taken multiple times if one wishes to have extended powers. However, V24 can become deadly after 3-5 doses, commonly leading to brain lesions.
Billy Butcher finds this out in The Boys season 3 when it's revealed his repeated use of V24 has caused the growth of several tumors on his brain. Compound V often kills subjects during the initial mutation process, but unlike V24, it will not cause death after the body has accepted it. Moreover, Supes are able to take extra doses of Compound V for a steroid-like effect that temporarily boosts their abilities. This, too, carries side effects, though they are far less severe than those caused by repeated use of V24.