The Boys season 4, episode 4 offers a revelation that all but confirms Butcher’s status as a Supe — a development that would provide the show with a much-needed way out of his impending death.

Butcher is battling with a brain tumor in The Boys season 4, which is leading him to experience images of Becca in the first few episodes. It also puts a time restriction on his attempt to save Ryan, since the season 3 finale of The Boys reveals that he only has about a year to live. This complicates things for the character, yet the series may use Compound V to avert his premature death.

Hughie steals Compound V for his father in The Boys season 4, episode 4, and Butcher admits to taking it following his diagnosis. He maintains that it had no desired effect on him or his shorter lifespan; in fact, he believes it may have accelerated “the big day.” However, earlier events in “Wisdom of the Ages” indicate otherwise. While this part does not establish Butcher’s Supe status, one scene implies such a revelation. There’s obviously more about Butcher than meets the eye, and episode 4 could reveal what it is.

When Butcher Took Compound V In The Boys

He Tells Hughie He Stole Some From Frenchie

The Boys shows Hughie and Butcher taking Temp V in season 3 — the very substance that lands the latter in his current predicament — but it never shows Butcher taking Compound V. He tells Hughie that he did though, not long after his season 3 prognosis. Apparently, Butcher stole some of the real drug from Frenchie’s desk, hoping that it could cure his cancer. Given his continued symptoms, he doesn’t believe his attempt was successful. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s correct.

Ezekiel’s Death All But Confirms Butcher Is A Supe In The Boys Season 4

There’s No Other Way He Could Defeat The Supe The Way He Does

Although Butcher doesn’t believe Compound V gave him powers, his confrontation with Ezekiel in The Boys season 4, episode 4 suggests otherwise. The Boys team has a run-in with Ezekiel while Frenchie searches Firecracker’s trailer. For those who don’t recall Ezekiel from The Boys season 1, his primary ability is elasticity. It gives him the ability to extend his limbs, and combined with his strength, it can be a deadly power. It nearly 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁s Butcher when he comes to Frenchie’s rescue, but Karl Urban’s character somehow survives his fight with the Supe.

“There’s no way an ordinary human could have 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁ed a Supe so brutally, but Butcher manages it.”

Butcher doesn’t just survive, either. As he’s being choked to death by one of Ezekiel’s extended limbs, Butcher sees Becca. She tells him to fight, and then he blacks out as there’s a splattering sound. When Butcher wakes up, his eyes land on a shocking scene: Ezekiel torn to pieces, with his blood coating Firecracker’s trailer. There’s no way an ordinary human could have 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁ed a Supe so brutally, but Butcher manages it. This all but confirms that he’s a Supe, with his Compound V tease at the end of the episode providing further evidence.

What’s Going On With That Thing Inside Butcher’s Body?

It Looks Like More Than His Veins Bulging

In addition to Butcher seemingly developing super strength during his episode 4 fight, The Boys season 4 alludes to changes in his body in another way. In the opening episodes of The Boys season 4, it seems as though Butcher’s veins are bulging, which might be expected with his tumor. However, the latest episode offers a closer look at what’s happening — and it appears as though something is slithering through his veins instead. It’s a disturbing revelation, but it could be related to him taking Compound V. After his fight with Ezekiel, it might be another clue that he’s a Supe.

Butcher Being A Supe Means His Illness Might Be Cured In The Boys Season 4

If Butcher is actually a Supe in The Boys season 4, it means there’s hope that his illness will be cured in future episodes of the show. This would make sense, as The Boys is confirmed for a fifth and final season. It just wouldn’t be right to have a character as important as Butcher absent from the series’ last hurrah. It also seems likely that the Amazon show will save Butcher and Homelander’s inevitable showdown for The Boys season 5. That means Butcher needs to survive the current outing somehow, and Compound V gives him — and the writers — an out.

“If Butcher is actually a Supe in The Boys season 4, it means there’s hope that his illness will be cured in future episodes of the show.”

Although Butcher is showing symptoms of cancer in The Boys season 4, these could very well be the result of his Compound V use. Having Butcher heal himself with Compound V would be an interesting parallel to Hughie’s storyline. Hughie considers curing his father with the drug, highlighting that this is possible. Knowing it can have this effect makes it all the more likely The Boys will use it to keep Butcher around. As this stage, that would be the more surprising turn of events.

How Butcher Being A Supe Changes His The Boys Comic Story

It Raises Questions About His Amazon Ending

At the end of The Boys comics, Butcher uses a specific sort of Compound V to commit genocide against Supes. This will most likely be replaced by Vought’s virus in The Boys season 4. Butcher isn’t concerned that he’s also a Supe in the comics, so this development may have little bearing on his decision in the program. However, Amazon’s depiction of Butcher differs significantly from Garth Ennis’ portrayal. As a result, he may not go in this route at all. Perhaps The Boys will surprise viewers with his direction, especially now that he is likely a Supe.