The Boys' latest VNN "Seven on 7" segment is full of righteous anger, right-wing satire, and fascinating season 3 reveals about Soldier Boy, Mister Marathon, Groundhawk, and more. From Voughtify to "Dawn of the Seven," no media company is safe from parody in Amazon's The Boys, and as Vought's in-universe empire expands, more opportunities for meta marketing present themselves. Even so, The Boys season 3 has outdone itself by seizing upon the news talk show phenomenon with Vought News Network's "Seven on 7" - a Vought-produced news segment fronted by the somewhat biased Cameron Coleman.
As hilarious as The Boys' monthly VNN promos may be, each episode is also packed as tightly as Love Sausage's pants with fascinating season 3 tidbits. Past videos hinted toward a Black Noir replacement, made Hughie a right-wing heat magnet, and continued to build the mystery around Alastair Adana's explosive demise. Coleman's tirades have also set up a downward spiral for Homelander, a grand return for Stormfront, and future appearances from Cindy - the dangerous supe released from Sage Grove.
November's "Seven on 7" edition continues to - in Coleman's own words - deliver "journalism you can count on," and though his confidence might be a little misplaced, VNN isn't slowing down on the season 3 reveals. Here's every new detail as The Boys continues its campaign trail for a third term.
How Long Has Passed Since The Boys Season 2
The first "Seven on 7" item for November covers Victoria Neuman gloating over the success of her anti-supe group, the Federal Bureau of Superhuman Affairs, and buried beneath Cameron Coleman's thinly-veiled insults is confirmation of a time jump between The Boys seasons 2 and 3. The FBSA was established in the closing moments of The Boys season 2's finale, and now Coleman mentions Neuman's "first 120 days," advancing the timeline by around 5 months. With a premiere date for season 3 yet to be announced, that in-universe gap could get larger still.
Each character could be occupying a very different space when The Boys season 3 begins. Butcher likely hasn't spoken with the other Boys, and Vought's Stormfront embarrassment has already blown over. As Hughie excels on a less bloody career path, M.M. enjoys family life, and Frenchie bonds with Yumiko, Billy Butcher will need to be at his charismatic best to convince The Boys to do a reunion tour.
Victoria Neuman's FBSA Success Hints At Her True Goal
Since Congresswoman Victoria Neuman established the FBSA at the end of The Boys season 2, supe violence has apparently decreased by 23%, which hints Vought could find themselves on the back foot when season 3 begins. The stat also begs the question of whether weakening the influence of Vought's superheroes could be a step in Neuman's grand plan - whatever that might be. Curiously, Cameron Coleman doesn't mention exactly how the FBSA is combating supe violence without superpowers of their own. Could this mean The Boys season 3 echoes the comics by giving non-supes diluted Compound-V power-ups?
First Look At Groundhawk - The Boys' Wolverine
What comic book fan hasn't asked themselves what Wolverine would look like with hammers instead of claws? Garth Ennis' original The Boys comic parodied the X-Men's surly sideburn superhero through Groundhawk, who makes his live-action debut in season 3. November's "Seven on 7" episode gives an early look at this newcomer (or his outline, at least), unveiling a much taller, athletic figure compared to the comics. This could mean The Boys season 3 will use Groundhawk to parody Hugh Jackman's Wolverine specifically, and replacing the pointed mask with a sharp hairstyle (just as X-Men did in 2000) is another sign of fun being poked Jackman's way. Eric Kripke could be fielding some angry emails from Ryan Reynolds when The Boys season 3 airs.
Either way, Groundhawk does at least have his trademark ridiculous hammer hands in The Boys, and other Wolverine-isms include a reputation for being grumpy, an aggressive streak, and a reliance on alcohol, the latter of which has landed him in Vought's "Global Wellness Center" for a fifth time. This Vought-sponsored rehab has been mentioned throughout season 3's VNN promos, suggesting a significant role ahead. If previous seasons are anything to go by, the superheroes aren't getting counselling and coping strategies under Vought's care.
A Bigger Role For Jim Beaver's Bobby Singer In The Boys Season 3?
Cameron Coleman teases a presidential run for Bobby Singer - Jim Beaver's downtrodden protagonist politician. Though Singer has apparently denied such reports, the Secretary of Defense could get a bigger role in The Boys season 3 should he plump for the White House. This item is perhaps designed as a prelude to the upcoming presidential race. Victoria Neuman will surely stand for election, and her ascension to President could become a major storyline for future seasons.
A-Train Is In Bad Shape (& Mister Marathon's Return?)
A-Train was due to race an exhibition against Mister Marathon, but pulled out due to a "top-secret superhero mission." Despite Vought's excuses, this VNN report hints toward A-Train still struggling between staying the fastest man in the world and managing his Compound-V addiction. The Seven speedster used V to keep light on his toes, but suffered a cardiac arrest at the end of The Boys season 1. Kicked out of the Seven in season 2, A-Train maneuvered his way back into Vought's good graces, but cancelling the race against Mister Marathon could mean he's afraid of potentially losing to the veteran.
Mister Marathon properly appeared in Amazon's The Boys, but challenging A-Train to an exhibition suggests he's still in shape, and might be pushing for a glorious Seven return should A-Train's crown slip again. With Shockwave caught up in Neuman's massacre, Marathon is the only true rival to A-Train in The Boys season 3.
Soldier Boy's Legacy & Laurie Holden's Crimson Countess
A commercial for Vought's musical extravaganza "Soldier Boy, Ahoy!" offers a brief glimpse at Crimson Countess, played by The Walking Dead's Laurie Holden in The Boys season 3. Crimson Countess is affiliated with Soldier Boy's Payback group, and unlike Groundhawk, her costume is almost entirely accurate to the original comics. The fake ad plays up how Soldier Boy is a nostalgic hero, describing the musical as a "blast from the past" and "a musical journey into super history." This could lead toward Jensen Ackles' Soldier Boy debuting as a washed up has-been in The Boys season 3.
Sean Patrick Flanery's Gunpowder In The Boys Season 3
Championing Second Amendment rights (what else?), "Seven on 7" introduces Sean Patrick Flanery's Gunpowder. The character made a cameo (played by a different actor) in The Boys season 1, but returns with a brand new face and updated, sleeker costume in season 3. A parody of Judge Dredd, the new costume, ironically, shares more with Karl Urban's 2012 version of the 2000 AD character. Coleman confirms Gunpowder is yet another member of "legendary" supe group Payback alongside Soldier Boy and Crimson Countess.
Soldier Boy's Version Of Die Hard Retcons Season 2's Statue?
Reporting on the unprecedented success of "Vought+" and its extensive library of superhero content, Coleman mentions Soldier Boy's classic movie "Red Thunder" - a blatant rip on Bruce Willis' Die Hard. Released in 1983, "Red Thunder" retcons the Soldier Boy statue seen in The Boys season 2, which eulogized Jensen Ackles' character with "1910-1982." Though the film could've released posthumously, it's also possible The Boys is quietly sweeping that statue under the rug now Soldier Boy has a bigger part to play in the show's future. Whenever he kicked the bucket (if at all), VNN continues to paint Soldier Boy as a relic of the past, last famous when spandex and Bon Jovi were all the rage.
Everyone's Suing Vought Over Compound-V
An inevitable outcome of The Boys season 2, Vought is facing a wave of legal challenges after secretly dosing youngsters like Starlight with Compound-V. For any other company, the financial burden and reputation damage would be too much to bear, but if the roaring success of "Brave Maeve's Inclusive Kingdom" is anything to go by, Vought is doing just fine in The Boys season 3.