Starlight’s (Erin Moriarty) boyfriend reveal in the teaser trailer for The Boys can potentially transform her narrative in season 3. Throughout the first two seasons of The Boys, Starlight’s arc hinged on her core identity as a Supe "hero" amid the corrupted world of Vought, although in season 2, her character journey was largely sidelined in favor of other key developments. The Amazon Prime show is set to return with the controversial Herogasm arc in season 3, leaving much room for exploration in terms of character growth and the introduction of new characters.
As a part of their planned reveals on the 7th of every month until season 3 of The Boys drops, Amazon’s Vought International YouTube channel uploaded an edition of “Seven on 7 with Cameron Coleman.” Apart from shining light on what the remaining members of the Seven have been up to, the August video features Starlight’s ex-boyfriend: Supersonic (Miles Gaston Villanueva). While much has not been revealed about this connection and how it could potentially impact season 3’s narrative, it will be interesting to witness if it impacts Starlight’s relationship with Hughie (Jack Quaid).
Keeping this in mind, it is key to acknowledge the fact that The Boys season 3 could grant Starlight the arc she deserves. While her disenchantment with Vought and their covert machinations is already established, given that she is actually committed to working closely with The Boys to topple the organization, Starlight needs to reclaim her personal power in various ways. As Supersonic is set to feature in the new season as an actual character, the chances of him crossing paths with Starlight again remains palpable.
What We Know About Supersonic In The Boys Season 3
As per the teaser trailer and what is known so far, Supersonic will be presented as another remodeled character with no obvious ties to Garth Ennis’ source material. In the Tucker Carlson parody "Seven on 7", Cameron Coleman describes Supersonic as a Supe making a major comeback, as he “continues to shoot up Vought’s global superhero charts.” Whilst not explicitly stated, it seems as though Supersonic has shed his old ways, namely his “adolescent antics” and “rehab-ridden past”, courtesy of Vought’s very own Global Wellness Center meant for rehabilitation of Supes. Although the exact nature of Supersonic’s past actions is unclear, it is possible that he suffered from drug abuse, most probably Compound V, which brings up obvious parallels to The Seven’s A-Train. It is also interesting to note that the name Supersonic suggests a speedster, potentially setting him up as a rival to A-Train, especially after Shockwave’s death at the end of season 2.
Supersonic's Character In The Comics
Although there’s no character named Supersonic in the comics, the season 3 character could be based on Drummer Boy, who used to date Starlight while being together on The Young Americans, a group of teenage superheroes. Directly in competition with Teenage Kix, which A-Train use to be a part of, The Young Americans’ public image was that of a wholesome and less rebellious group. Apart from Starlight and Drummer Boy, a nun-inspired superhero named Holy Mary was also a part of the group, who Starlight walks in on in the midst of a sexual act with Drummer Boy, her boyfriend at the time. While Drummer Boy has been mentioned in passing in season 1, and he does briefly appear in the comics, little is known about the Supe apart from the fact that he cheated on Starlight with Holy Mary. As this is hardly enough exposition for a character, season 3 of The Boys could posit an interesting dynamic between Starlight and Supersonic, which could potentially create tensions in her relationship with Hughie.
What's Next For Starlight's Story In The Boys
Purely in terms of romantic interest, Supersonic’s presence could re-ignite sparks of the past, especially when one considers his clean comeback and revamped public image. Could Supersonic be a potential candidate for The Seven, given A-Train’s shaky record of Compound V abuse and burnout? While this is just speculation at this point, Supersonic could potentially be a planned insertion in The Boys universe, especially now that Homelander is aware of her true allegiances. This could also pose a problem for the perennially anxious Hughie, who, despite sharing an endearing relationship with Starlight, struggles to cement their bond in a concrete manner for the sake of her safety.
On the other hand, it is also possible that Vought might pressurize Starlight to engage in a public relationship with Supersonic in an attempt to add oomph to her image, given that the teaser addressed rumors of her suffering from burnout. Whatever the case, it will be interesting to witness Starlight embracing her intense hope of making the world a better place, irrespective of her romantic entanglements along the way. As Starlight has been relegated to the sidelines for most of season 2, despite her involvement in the exposure of Vought’s grander scheme, season 3 of The Boys could do right by Starlight by granting her a moment of glory. Furthermore, investing Starlight with a rich emotional arc wherein she can explore the true extent of her powers will prove to be a much more impactful storyline, especially in the context of the myriad developments that surround the overall narrative in The Boys.