Our favorite heroes, like Batman and Spider-Man, want to make sure that what happened to them never happens to anyone else. The world of The Boys wonders what the world would be like if superheroes were actually real. The answer always ends up being “terrible.” Now, the latest chapter set in the world of The Boys, Prime Video’s Gen V, asks what it would be like to grow up in that world, ultimately confirming that it’s all but impossible to become a genuinely good superhero, fighting to make the world a better place, in this particular universe. Even if you try your hardest to be a superhero, you end up going down one of three paths: corruption, death, or ostracization.
Warning: Spoilers follow for Season 1 of Gen V.
The Boys began with a brand-new hero, Starlight, joining The Seven. Throughout three seasons, we’ve watched the optimistic hero be pulled down into the mud over and over again.