10 Ways The Boys TV Show Is Different From The Comics
2. The Boys Take V
Because the majority of Supes are bulletproof, The Boys don't stand a chance against them in a fair fight. As a result, they rely on firepower, superior strategy, and fighting dirty. But when you are facing superheroes who can effortless crush a diamond or fly around the world in a minute, that isn't always enough.
To even the odds in the comics, The Boys inject themselves with a small dose of Compound V when they have to go toe-to-toe with Supes. Butcher explains to Hughie that the serum makes a person fifteen to twenty times stronger than normal. It takes 24 hours to kick in and wears off after three or four days. When Hughie asked if there were any side effects, Butcher casually mentions it turns your crap blue. (I'm not sure if he's joking.)
Because a Supes' powers are derived from Compound V, Hughie finds it hypocritical that all The Boys use it. According to Butcher, it's a necessary evil since they wouldn't survive a single punch from a Supe otherwise. Knowing that Hughie would oppose taking the compound, Butcher forcibly injected him with V for his first mission.