Grittier, darker, and funnier than other "traditional" superhero adaptations, Amazon Prime's The Boys has been praised for its more realistic take on the genre. Much of the traditional tropes and characters of superhero movies were parodied to perfection, with classic DC/Marvel superheroes being fair game.
The personal strengths and weaknesses of "supes" (as they are called on the show), makes The Boys a must-watch. A ton of supes were introduced in the show's first season and there's no doubt that there will be more in the upcoming second season. But for now, here's a ranking of the supes seen and mentioned in season 1 of The Boys (SPOILERS ahead).
Drummer Boy
Drummer Boy is only mentioned by name on the show. He was in a relationship with Starlight but nothing else is known.
It's possible that his power could be linked to manipulating sound, but audiences will have to see if he makes an appearance on season 2 (and moves further up this list).
Mesmer
On paper, reading minds by just touching someone sounds great. But while knowing people's thoughts can come in handy, it's a power that Mesmer can't turn off.
On top of always needing a barrier device to interact with people undisturbed, Mesmer has no other extra abilities. It leads to him being unable to protect himself once misusing his powers caught up with him.
Winged Believe Expo Singer
She's only seen at the Believe Expo, wowing the crowds with her singing voice and wings.
But since she's only shown there, there's no way of confirming whether or not her abilities are purely aesthetic or if she can use those wings to fly.
Doppelgänger
Doppelgänger's power is useful in getting things he wants and doing other people's dirty work for BIG bucks.
But if he can only take on the appearance of different people and not have any of their skills and abilities, then there's not a huge chance he can defend himself against other supes.
Tiny Guy
Only briefly seen in episode 1, the ability to shrink can be... helpful... in some situations.
While being tiny could allow one to stop catastrophes at a molecular level and make quick getaways, there's also the probability that this supe could be crushed by accident for any number of reasons.
Ezekiel
The Christian (and closeted) equivalent of Mr. Fantastic, Ezekial's powers are effective in overpowering multiple enemies at a time in some pretty creative ways. But, like Mr. Fantastic, Ezekiel's rubbery limbs could be compromised in colder weather which is a weakness that could be exploited by enemies.
There is also likely a limit to how far Ezekial can stretch. Sure, he could subdue an average person but he may not have a chance against supes with powers linked to speed or ice.
Popclaw
While Popclaw is in the has-been stage of her career during the events of The Boys, it is evident that she has lots of strength and potential, as seen during her Compound V high.
But without a constant supply of Compound V, she is definitely a lower-tier supe. Her strengths are limited to close range combat, making any crimes needing additional skills a non-option.
The Supe Baby
Okay, yes, the Supe baby was mainly a prop for Billy to kill some Vought agents; BUT, given that the lasers shooting out of its eyes killed an entire group of adults, the baby seems like it will have a lot of potential once it has grown up and is able to control its powers.
But until then, the Supe baby remains on the lower end of this list.
Ice Princess
She's only mentioned but her icy capabilities are said to be extremely potent (R.I.P Seth from marketing's... little Seth).
But like Ezekial, her strength might only be potent in certain conditions; in her case, the tropics is probably a no-go.
Nubian Prince
His powers were never explicitly stated BUT he seems to have super strength and combat skills. PLUS, he's singlehandedly fighting crime in the city of Detroit.
However, his being pawned off as a discount deal by Vought makes one wonder how highly he ranks among their other supes.
Shockwave
If it wasn't for A-Train, Shockwave would be higher on this list. Super speed is a hugely advantageous power to have but Shockwave will always be seen as only the 2nd fastest man in the world.
But given that A-Train is a regular user of Compound V, it's possible that Shockwave could beat him in a Compound V-free setting.
Tech Knight
Tech Knight has only been mentioned on the show. Based on how he's been described, his tech savvy might allow him to enhance himself in a similar way to Marvel's Iron Man.
His strength is enough to paralyze a civilian, so while he might not be gifted via Compound V, his smarts give him the chance to put his strengths above some of the supes on this list.
The Deep
The Deep can control ocean life and has enhanced abilities in the water (gills! on his stomach!). He has a monopoly on a demographic that not even some of the stronger supes on this list have.
But this niche also restricts what he's able to help out with. And his total lack of common sense has him squandering his powers in the stupidest ways.
Homelander Jr. (?)
Viewers were stunned to discover that Homelander has a son in the season 1 finale of The Boys. And that he potentially has inherited his father's super powers.
Under Homelander's tutelage (though he may not be generous enough to guide his own kid), HJ could end up being one of the strongest supes in the world. But for now he's just an 8 year old boy whose potential will be revealed in season 2.
Lamplighter
He's a parody of Green Lantern, though less extraterrestrial and with his powers appearing linked to controlling light/fire.
Starlight joined the Seven as his replacement so it can be assumed that he wielded his powers in a similar manner to her (minus the blinding factor... and him straight up murdering Grace Mallory's grandkids).
Translucent
The fan-favorite of The Seven, he has indestructible skin, enhanced strength, combat skills, and INVISIBILITY! All the makings for an extremely effective hero.
But viewers now know that he can be... rectally compromised. Plus, he's more interested in using his powers to perve on women.
The Female/Kimiko
Her powers have already allowed her to live after fighting A-Train and Black Noir.
She's in a feral state given her forcible injection of Compound V, but she's slowly improving. And once she does, her super strength and healing abilities will give her a HUGE edge.
A-Train
He's the fastest man in the world. He can fight using combat but can also use his speed to seriously harm or kill others (R.I.P. Robin).
His willingness to play dirty is what allows him to rank highly on this list. But if he's properly incapacitated with a broken leg or a crippling addiction to Compound V, then he is compromised. Can't outrun that.
Black Noir
Viewers only briefly saw Black Noir in action this season. But despite this, he's widely feared, mysterious, and one hell of a piano player.
The obvious counterpart to Black Noir could be Batman but, given the shroud of secrecy surrounding him it seems like there may be much more to him.
Queen Maeve
Queen Maeve is the show's Wonder Woman equivalent. She's incredibly strong and can shoot lasers out her eyes allowing her to excel in combat from all ranges.
But unlike Wonder Woman, she can't fly so she's only at her absolute best when fighting with Homelander.