Prepare yourselves for a fresh dose of blood-soaked mayhem! Prime Video‘s notorious, darkly comedic superhero saga, The Boys, has gifted us yet again with a spin-off, Gen V. Set in a college backdrop, Gen V is all set to premiere on September 29. While it might have been a breeze to clarify how The Boys Presents: Diabolical fit into the larger picture (spoiler alert: it doesn’t, as it’s mostly non-canon), Gen V offers a more direct link to the main series.
Creator Eric Kripke spilled the beans to Deadline, mentioning that, “some of the issues and storylines in season three hand off to the first season in [Gen V].” Intrigued? Let’s dive into how all the pieces come together.
How Gen V Connects to the Comics?
Gen V loosely draws inspiration from the We Gotta Go Now story arc from the comics, but don’t expect a carbon copy. The Prime Video original TV show takes its own unique path, carrying only broad thematic echoes from the source material.
In the comics, Hughie infiltrates G-Wiz, a fraternity-like group of young superheroes assembled by a man named John Godolkin. These G-Teams, which include the G-Men, G-Style, G-Coast, and others, are Godolkin’s creations, partnered with Vought-American, the company behind the superhero-creating Compound V. However, since Vought doesn’t have direct control over Godolkin’s teams, he enjoys a certain level of autonomy, even as he becomes increasingly unstable. The G-Men, in particular, are Vought’s cash cows, making them too valuable to upset Godolkin without risking their profit margin.
As We Gotta Go Now unfolds, Hughie stumbles upon horrifying secrets within these G-Teams, leading to a catastrophic showdown with Vought. Even in The Boys‘ dark world, this story arc is particularly grim. Hence, it’s no surprise that Gen V takes a vastly different route.
Kripke explained to The Wrap that Gen V is, “loosely inspired by an element of the comics, which is the G-Men. Part of the G-Men is there’s sort of an educational, college experience. And we just used that as a jumping-off point, kind of similar to The Boys, where we sort of take an initial notion and then we are going to run with it in our own weird direction.”
So, in practice, Gen V unfolds at Godolkin University, a profit-driven institution exclusively for supers, owned and operated by Vought. Here, students vie for top spots on the school’s leaderboard, ranking them based on skills, branding, and personality, with the hope of securing a prime contract upon graduation. The series follows Marie Moreau (played by Jaz Sinclair), a freshman with the power to manipulate and weaponize blood, as she unravels a conspiracy at Godolkin. Her roommate, Emma Meyer (Lizzie Broadway), and the top-ranked student, Luke Riordan, aka Golden Boy (Patrick Schwarzenegger), add to the intrigue. Jordan Li (Derek Luh and London Thor) and Andre Anderson (Chance Perdomo) are also hot on Luke’s heels on the leaderboard.
How Gen V Connects to the TV Show
Gen V unfolds its story between seasons three and four of The Boys, offering an interesting perspective. As the show’s X account puts it, “the kiddos at God U all saw Homelander laser a guy’s head off to the sound of thunderous applause.” These are the first generation of supers who know their powers derive from Compound V rather than divine intervention, a stark contrast to the older generation of supers.
Moreover, due to a key storyline extending from The Boys, the political landscape could undergo significant changes. At the end of season three, it was revealed that Congresswoman Victoria Neuman (Claudia Doumit) is a supe and Stan Edgar’s (Giancarlo Esposito) adopted daughter, making her the CEO of Vought. Neuman’s actions dethroned Edgar, leaving Ashley Barrett (Colby Minifie) as the acting head of the company.
Congresswoman Neuman is just one of several characters from The Boys making appearances in Gen V. She’s on a campaign stop at Godolkin University as part of her bid for Vice President. If she and Presidential candidate Robert “Dakota Bob” Singer secure the election (which is quite likely, considering they did so in the comics), the United States could potentially have a morally questionable supe assassin in the second highest position of power. This storyline will probably unfold in The Boys‘ fourth season, while Gen V provides a backdrop for the campaign.
Ashley, another character crossing over to Gen V, seems deeply involved in hiding secrets within “the Woods,” a mysterious area at Godolkin University. Given the comparison to The Hunger Games, expect some gruesome happenings in there. A-Train (Jessie T. Usher) and The Deep (Chace Crawford) from the Seven will also make appearances, though their roles remain shrouded in mystery. They could be quick cameos as alumni or have more substantial parts in helping Ashley safeguard the Woods.
Perhaps the most intriguing crossover is Jensen Ackles’ Soldier Boy, who was last seen in cryogenic stasis at the end of The Boys‘ third season. Since Gen V takes place between seasons three and four, unless we’re in for a flashback, Soldier Boy’s presence will undoubtedly have a significant impact on future developments in The Boys‘ storyline. In essence, while Gen V has its own narrative to tell, it will also contribute to enriching The Boys’ expanding universe before season four hits the screens.
