Highlights
- Black Noir’s tragic death at the hands of Homelander, Supersonic’s brutal murder by Homelander, and Kenji’s death at the hands of a Nazi highlight the show’s dark and emotional moments.
- Popclaw’s overdose and Becca’s accidental death by her son showcase the tragic consequences of the characters’ actions and relationships.
- Hugh Campbell Sr.’s stroke and subsequent dementia lead to his euthanasia, emphasizing the emotional impact of losing loved ones and the consequences of using Compound V.
Not everyone gets the happy ending they deserve, and some characters in The Boys were definitely taken too soon. These characters didn’t deserve to die, and their tragic sacrifice provided overwhelming emotion for audiences and other characters within the show.
The Boys often stays grounded and satirical with a flair for superpowers, so it’s no surprise that human emotions come at the front and center of some important moments. It’s hard to lose favorite characters, especially when they go out so undeserving and unexpectedly.
Spoilers ahead for The Boys
6 Black Noir
Killed By His Friend, Homelander
- Portrayed by: Nathan Mitchell
- Episode of Death: Season 3, Episode 8 “The Instant White-Hot Wild”
Black Noir isn’t exactly a good guy. Noir is one of the leading members of the Seven, and that comes with a cost of cruelty and fear tactics. Even the actions Black Noir had done, it was a direct result of his conditioning and his brain damage from decades prior. Black Noir was always an intimidating yet fun watch, and he never seemed to explicitly hurt people who didn’t deserve it, but he certainly did take pleasure in the violence.
When Black Noir was killed, there was a notable absence in the Seven. Noir filled the hero team with so much joy without saying a single word, and his death at the hands of Homelander was tragic to watch as his guts spilled on the floor from the man he trusted to help him face his fears.
5 Supersonic
Murdered By Homelander For Trying To Be A Real Hero
- Portrayed by: Miles Gaston Villanueva
- Episode of Death: Season 3, Episode 4 “Glorious Five Year Plan”
An extremely friendly and promising hero, Supersonic was an old flame of Starlight and wanted to honor what they once had by helping her because it was the right thing to do. It was so rare to see a genuine superhero who wasn’t just in it for the fame and glory of joining the Seven. When Supersonic wanted to help Starlight, a collective sigh of relief could be heard from the good guys.
That was until Supersonic’s deformed body was shown to Starlight by Homelander, who took pleasure in mangling him for attempting to be on her side. Supersonic’s death does not linger for long, but it is haunting enough that remembering it feels like a scar yet to heal, as losing a genuine hero is never easy.
4 Popclaw
Forced To Overdose On Heroin By Her Boyfriend, A-Train
- Portrayed by: Brittany Allen
- Episode of Death: Season 1, Episode 5 “Good for the Soul”
A-Train’s secret relationship with Popclaw would never blossom to the degree that both of them wanted due to the negativity of stardom. Popclaw was an interesting way to look at the relationship of A-Train and how he views his status, as well as the opposite of what Hughie and Robin had together. Despite her misdeeds, Popclaw’s death was shocking and something that her murderer didn’t even want, but felt like he had no choice to do.
Popclaw’s death is tragic, for it uses her own crux against her. Popclaw is an addict, and when A-Train discovers that she is an informant for Butcher and company, he uses his super speed to fill her with heroin. It’s a quick and shocking death that hits fast.
3 Kenji Miyashiro
Killed By A Nazi For Saving His Sister, And Labelled In Death As A Terrorist
- Portrayed by: Abraham Lim
- Episode of Death: Season 2, Episode 3 “Over the Hill with the Swords of a Thousand Men”
Kenji is the younger brother of Kimiko and someone who has gone through a whole lot of trouble to find his sister. Kenji uses sign language to talk to Kimiko and explains the tragedy of their past and what made her the woman she is. The fact that Kimiko still had some family left was beautiful, but it was taken from her by a Nazi that killed him simply because she could get away with it.
Kenji was on the verge of escaping with Kimiko, bringing forth another powerful ally for the Boys, and a family member for Kimiko after all these years. Kenji was murdered by Stormfront by breaking his neck in front of Kimiko, and then in death, he is branded as a super terrorist so Stormfront can gain more angry followers. It’s heartbreaking to see family die, especially when the world will remember them as something they are not.
2 Becca Butcher
Accidentally Killed By Her Son When He Was Trying To Save Her
- Portrayed by: Shantel VanSanten
- Episode of Death: Season 2, Episode 8 “What I Know”
Becca’s life was forever changed after Homelander sexually assaulted her, causing her to have his child in secret. With Ryan in her life, she instilled all the values of a good person and hoped that with the right care and love, he would become a force for good with his gifts, and become nothing like his evil father.
Becca was accidentally killed by Ryan when his rage became too much to bear, and he unleashed his heat vision for the first time to try and save her from Stormfront. Becca died with Ryan and Butcher by her side, and she gave the heartbreaking last request for Butcher to watch her over her son and protect him as if he were theirs.
1 Hugh Campbell Sr.
Suffered A Stroke, And Became A Supe With Dementia Who Had To Be Euthanized
- Portrayed by: Simon Pegg
- Episode of Death: Season 4, Episode 5 “Beware the Jabberwock, My Son”
The father of Hughie, Hugh was a good man and someone who didn’t deserve anything bad happening to him. He looked out for his son and just wanted to protect him by giving him a normal life, as boring as that might have seemed to Hughie. Hugh’s life was cut short when he unexpectedly had a stroke, leading to him remaining in hospital care until it was time to let him drift off into the forever.
Hughie couldn’t let his father die and pumped him full of Compound V to bring him back. Yet, doing this degenerated his brain, giving him dementia and the power to walk through solid objects. When Hugh realized who he was, he elected to be euthanized so as to not harm anyone else. It’s emotional to see a son lose his father, especially when Hugh was so scared to go.