Warning: Contains SPOILERS for The Boys season 4, episode 4!

The Boys season 4 has just revealed a major detail about Billy Butcher, and since it is implied that the character now has superpowers, here are 10 powers that he could have in the series. The Boys season 4 is finally here, with the highly anticipated continuation of Amazon’s critically acclaimed superhero series now releasing on the streaming service. Although Butcher has been an important character for a while, his The Boys season 4 story has just made him even more important by giving him yet-unknown superpowers.

Billy Butcher’s abilities could be nearly anything, but these 10 seem likely based on the evidence that The Boys has provided so far. Butcher’s powers in The Boys are seemingly first activated while he is unconscious during his fight with Ezekiel, with Butcher passing out while he is being choked and waking up to find the room covered with blood and Ezekiel’s dismembered body strewn about the place. On top of that, Butcher has been seeing visions of Becca and his veins are occasionally moving on their own, with this potentially offering other hints.

10

Laser Eyes

Used By Butcher Under The Influence Of Temp V

Although Billy Butcher’s new The Boys season 4 superpower hasn’t been shown off yet, one of the most likely potential abilities in Laser Eyes. Season 4 isn’t the first time that Butcher has had powers, as Butcher took Temp V in The Boys season 3, with this giving him powers as well. Under the influence of Temp V, Butcher got the ability to shoot lasers from his eyes, and his use of Compound V could have simply brought this power back.

When Butcher wakes up, Ezekiel’s body has clearly been torn apart, and the blood that is splattered throughout the room makes it seem as if Ezekiel died due to a strong force ripping through him. Although there aren’t burn marks in the trailer that would signal the use of laser eyes, it is possible that a weaker version of them was used since Butcher was unconscious, or The Boys season 4 could provide another explanation.

9

Blood-Bending

Used By Marie Moreau & Victoria Neuman

Another superpower that perfectly explains the condition of Ezekiel’s corpse upon Butcher’s awakening is a common power seen in The Boys: blood bending. Blood bending was first officially revealed in Gen V, with the protagonist Marie Moreau having the power to manipulate blood inside or outside of people’s bodies. Gen V retconned Victoria Neuman’s powers to be blood-bending as well, with her head popping being a result of this power.

Since there is no damage to the trailer, it looks as if Ezekiel could have exploded from the inside, and Butcher using blood-bending powers would be the perfect explanation for this. His being able to move blood around would also explain why his veins are constantly moving throughout The Boys season 4, as Marie Moreau was able to manipulate her own blood in Gen V.

8

Super Strength

Used By Homelander, Soldier Boy, Queen Maeve, & More

Although it isn’t the most creative superpower, it is entirely possible that Billy Butcher’s use of Compound V could have simply given him super strength. Having enhanced strength and durability would explain why Butcher was able to take on supes like Ezekiel as well as other supes throughout season 4. It is possible that this power could have manifested itself in some form while Butcher was unconscious, allowing him to defeat Ezekiel.

Billy Butcher violently ripping Ezekiel apart would match up with the scene of the killing when Butcher wakes up, as his body parts are strewn across the trailer, and the blood has splattered in various shapes. Giving Billy Butcher super strength would also allow him to take on supes like Homelander in the future of The Boys, so this power would be a good long-term addition to the character.

7

Telepathy

Used By Cate Dunlap & Mindstorm

Since Billy Butcher was unconscious when Ezekiel was killed, it would make sense for Butcher’s powers to be something that can work while he isn’t awake. Luckily, telepathy is the perfect answer for this. Butcher’s powers could have manifested themselves when he was in a high-stress situation, and being choked to death by a supe is something stressful enough to activate this power. Butcher’s mind could have sent out a pulse powerful enough to rip Ezekiel apart, saving Butcher’s life.

Butcher admits that he took Compound V in an attempt to fix his brain after the effects of Temp V, but he says that this didn’t work. However, it is possible that Butcher just doesn’t realize that it has worked yet, with the Compound V overcompensating by making Butcher’s brain so powerful that it gave him telepathic abilities.

6

Energy Blasts

Used By Soldier Boy & Naqib

As was already mentioned, it definitely seems like Ezekiel suddenly exploded from a source that comes from within the trailer, so Butcher having energy blasts would be a perfect explanation for this. Butcher could have blasted a wave of energy out of his body upon going unconscious, with it ripping Ezekiel apart and allowing Butcher to peacefully sleep until he woke up later in the episode.

Energy blasts are a power that have been frequently seen in The Boys, with Naqib blasting energy pulses out of his body and Soldier Boy blasting radiation out of his. Although Soldier Boy’s blasts didn’t naturally come from Compound V, Naqib’s did, meaning that Butcher could have obtained the same power from his use of the substance. This would explain Ezekiel’s gory appearance in The Boys season 4, episode 4, with it being a powerful new addition to Butcher’s arsenal.

5

Pressure Manipulation

Used By Cindy

Although the effects of it may seem similar to Victoria Neuman’s powers of popping heads, it could be that Butcher has gained the ability to manipulate pressure, with him killing Ezekiel in this way. This power would work similarly to the pressure manipulation power used by Cindy in The Boys season 2, although Butcher undoubtedly wouldn’t have to consciously touch Ezekiel due to him being unconscious when Ezekiel is killed.

The movement in Butcher’s veins could also be due to him subconsciously changing the pressure within his own body, although he isn’t doing it enough to pop his own blood vessels. However, if he does have this power, he definitely overused it on Ezekiel, causing him to explode into a bloody mess. Since this power doesn’t require Butcher to break through skin, it could be used to finally kill Homelander in season 5.

4

Power Copying

Not Currently In The Boys

One of the most interesting powers that Billy Butcher could have in The Boys season 4 is the ability to copy the powers of other supes. Although it hasn’t been explained fully how this theorized power would work in The Boys, Ezekiel’s death makes it seem as if Butcher would simply have to be near another supe in order to mimic their powers, allowing him to use it against his assailant. For example, it is known that Firecracker and Starlight are nearby while Butcher is fighting Ezekiel, meaning that he could have copied either of their powers while he was unconscious.

Copying the powers of other supes would allow Butcher to have powers while keeping the show balanced, as he would only be able to fight fire with fire for the rest of the show. This would be an interesting new direction for Butcher, with it being the first time that this power has been seen in The Boys.

3

Reality Warping

Not Currently In The Boys

It is also entirely possible that the use of Compound V could have turned Butcher into one of the most powerful supes in The Boys universe, as he may have earned the ability to warp reality. Butcher may be able to change reality as he wishes, bending it to his own will. This would explain Ezekiel’s death, as the unconscious Butcher would have simply had to subconsciously wish that Ezekiel was dead, explaining his seemingly unexplainable death.

Cate Dunlap from Gen V‘s powers has already demonstrated that this is possible, as the spinoff series showed that her powers could be used uncontrollably while she was asleep. Butcher’s powers could have a similar flaw, explaining why he has only used them while unconscious so far. However, it could also be that his visions of Becca are a manifestation of his reality-warping powers.

2

Vein Control

Not Currently In The Boys

Although the aforementioned powers are frequently seen abilities that exist in all kinds of different pieces of superhero media, including The Boys itself, that isn’t all that the show has limited itself to. The Boys has also come up with oddly unique superpowers, with the supe villain Love Sausage having the power to control his penis and use it as a weapon. This is far from the show’s only original superpower, but it shows how unique the effects of Compound V can be.

Because of this, it is entirely possible that Butcher’s veins could have taken over while he was asleep, with them acting like a Venom-like substance. After all, they are seen pulsating throughout the season, and Butcher being knocked unconscious could have pushed them over the ledge and caused Butcher’s super-powered veins to activate.

1

An Alternate Super-Powered Personality

Not Currently In The Boys

Since Billy Butcher’s powers seemingly don’t activate until he is knocked out, another theory is that Butcher could have an alternate super-powered personality. This would be similar to the Marvel Comics character Moon Knight, who has various personalities, each with different levels of violence. To the personalities, they simply black out when another one takes control, and Butcher could be facing a similar situation in The Boys season 4, episode 4.

Butcher could have simply transitioned into another personality that has any number of powers when Ezekiel attacked, with this perfectly explaining how Ezekiel was killed without the main Butcher’s intervention. It is also entirely possible that someone else killed Ezekiel while Butcher was unconscious, but since The Boys teased Butcher’s use of Compound V, it seems likely that one of these powers is the answer.