View source for Soldier Boy

{{Short description|Comic book superhero}}
{{About|the comic book character|the rapper|Soulja Boy}}
{{other uses}}
{{Infobox character
| name               = Soldier Boy
| series             = [[Herogasm]] {{no italic|and}} [[The Boys (franchise)|The Boys]]
| image              = Soldier boy.webp
| image_size         = 250px
| caption            = From left to right: Soldier Boy I as depicted in the television series' ''[[The Boys (TV series)|The Boys]]'' and ''[[Gen V]]'' and Soldier Boy III as depicted in the [[The Boys (comics)|comic series]]
| first              = {{ubl|'''Soldier Boy III''':|[[Herogasm|''Herogasm'' #1 "Bablyon"]] (2009)|'''Soldier Boy I''':|• '''Comics''': [[The Big Ride#Barbary Coast|''The Boys'' #52 "Barbary Coast, Part One"]] (2011)|• '''Television''': [[The Only Man In The Sky|"The Only Man In The Sky"]] (2022)|'''Soldier Boy II''':|[[The Big Ride#Barbary Coast|''The Boys'' #54 "Barbary Coast, Part Three"]] (2011; pictured)}}
| adapted_by         = [[Eric Kripke]]
| last               = {{ubl|'''Soldier Boy III''':|[[The Boys (comics)|''The Boys'' #34 "The Self-Preservation Society, Conclusion"]] (2009)|'''Soldier Boy I''':|• '''Comics''': [[The Big Ride#Barbary Coast|''The Boys'' #53 "Barbary Coast, Part Two"]] (2011)|'''Soldier Boy II''':|[[The Big Ride#Barbary Coast|''The Boys'' #54 "Barbary Coast, Part Three"]] (2011; pictured)}}
| creator            = [[Garth Ennis]]<br>[[Darick Robertson]]
| based_on           = {{based on|[[Captain America]] ([[parody]])|[[Joe Simon]]|{{quad}}[[Jack Kirby]]}}
| designer           = Laura Jean "LJ" Shannon<br>Greg Hopwood
| portrayer          = [[Jensen Ackles]]
| gender             = Male
| full_name          = Ben (television series)
| title              = Soldier Boy<br>B.C.L. Red (Big Chest-Laser)
| family             = '''Soldier Boy I''':<br>[[Homelander]] (son; television series)<br>[[List of The Boys characters#Ryan Butcher|Ryan Butcher]] (grandson; television series)
| significant_others = [[Homelander]] (Soldier Boy III; comic series)<br />[[List of The Boys characters#Crimson Countess|Crimson Countess]] (Soldier Boy I; season 3)
| weapon = [[Shield]]<br>[[Chest]]-[[laser]]
| species = [[List of The Boys characters#Supe|Supe]]{{Broken anchor|date=2024-06-28|bot=User:Cewbot/log/20201008/configuration|target_link=List of The Boys characters#Supe|reason=Anchor "List of The Boys characters#Supe" links to a specific web page: "Superhero". }}
| nationality = American
| affiliation = {{Plainlist|
* [[List of The Boys characters#Payback|Payback]]
* [[Central Intelligence Agency|Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)]]
* [[Vought-American|Vought-American (VAC)]]/[[Vought International]]
* '''Soldier Boy I''':
* [[List of The Boys characters#Avenging Squad|Avenging Squad]]{{Broken anchor|date=2024-06-28|bot=User:Cewbot/log/20201008/configuration|target_link=List of The Boys characters#Avenging Squad|reason= }} 
* [[List of The Boys characters#The Boys|The Boys]] (season 3)
* '''Soldier Boy II''':
* [[List of The Boys characters#Crimefighters Incorporated|Crimefighters Incorporated]]{{Broken anchor|date=2024-06-28|bot=User:Cewbot/log/20201008/configuration|target_link=List of The Boys characters#Crimefighters Incorporated|reason= }}
}}
| occupation = [[Superhero]] (only publicly)<br>[[Propaganda film]] [[actor]] (formerly)
| lbl22 = Abilities
| data22 = * [[Superhuman strength]], speed, stamina, durability, agility, reflexes, senses, and mental processing from Compound V
* Master martial artist and hand-to-hand combatant 
* Accelerated healing
* Slowed aging
* Master tactician, strategist, and field commander
* Using solid steel alloy [[shield]]
* Emanation of Compound V-negating [[nuclear radiation]] (Soldier Boy I; season 3)
}}
'''Soldier Boy''' is the name of three [[superhero]] [[Character (arts)|characters]] in the [[American comic book|comic book]] series ''[[Herogasm]]'' and ''[[The Boys (comics)|The Boys]]'', created by [[Garth Ennis]] and [[Darick Robertson]]. The first character introduced (but the third Soldier Boy in the timeline, with his two predecessors having died) is the elected leader of the [[Vought-American]]-sponsored superhero team [[List of The Boys characters#Payback|Payback]]. He is depicted as one of the only "Supes" (i.e. "[[Superpower (ability)|superpowered]]" or "[[superhuman]]" individuals, often acting as "[[superheroes]]") with selfless, benevolent motivations, who detests the use of profanity. However, Soldier Boy annually has sex with [[Homelander]] alone at the "[[Herogasm]]" [[orgy]], under the mistaken hope that the "test" of doing so will convince Homelander to let him join his own superhero team, [[List of The Boys characters#The Seven|The Seven]]. After his most recent dalliance with Homelander, Soldier Boy is captured by [[CIA]] [[black ops]] agent [[Billy Butcher]] and brutally tortured and murdered by him for information on Homelander's recent activities. The original Soldier Boy is later revealed to have been [[mercy kill]]ed by [[List of The Boys characters#Lieutenant Colonel Mallory|Mallory]] during his first mission at the [[Battle of the Bulge]], after his [[List of The Boys characters#Avenging Squad|"Avenging Squad"]] inadvertently caused Mallory's men to be massacred, and been replaced by the second for the remainder of the war.

In the [[Amazon Prime Video]] television [[The Boys (TV series)|adaptation]], Soldier Boy ('''Ben''') is introduced in the third season, portrayed by [[Jensen Ackles]]. A [[composite character]] of the comic book characters, this Soldier Boy is depicted as the first American [[Biological immortality|non-aging]] Supe, created by [[List of The Boys characters#Frederick Vought|Frederick Vought]] during [[World War II]], whom [[Mother's Milk (character)|Mother's Milk]] deems responsible for his family's downfall. A foul-mouthed "bonafide war hero", while working with the CIA during the [[Cold War]] as the leader of [[List of The Boys characters#Payback|Payback]], Soldier Boy was betrayed to the [[Russian government]] and experimented on for forty years. He is inadvertently freed by [[List of The Boys characters#The Boys|the Boys]] in the present-day while they were seeking the "[[superweapon]]" '''B.C.L. RED''' to use to kill Homelander, which in actuality is Soldier Boy himself, who, due to experimentation, can now emit an energy beam from his chest ('''Big Chest-Laser''') which negates the superpowers of any other Supes with whom it comes in contact. It is later revealed that Homelander is Soldier Boy's son. Ackles returned in the 2023 spin-off series ''[[Gen V]]'', portraying a Supe's imaginary friend '''Soldier Boyfriend''', modelled after Soldier Boy. The character has received a positive reception.

==Appearances==
===Comic book series===
====Soldier Boy III====
{{main|Herogasm}}
Soldier Boy is introduced in ''[[Herogasm]]'' as the "elected" leader of the [[Vought-American]]-sponsored [[superhero]] team [[List of The Boys characters#Payback|Payback]]. At the titular annual orgy of Supes, he is said to have had sex with [[Homelander]] alone every year out of the belief that he will let him join his own superhero team [[List of The Boys characters#The Seven|the Seven]] (a promise which Homelander has no intention of fulfilling), primarily existing as [[comic relief]]. As Homelander is inspired to begin planning a "Supe revolution" against Vought and their [[puppet ruler]]s in the [[White House]] shortly after having sex with him for the most recent time, Soldier Boy remains obliviously standing by Homelander's side as he prepares to announce his plans only for him to be interrupted by [[the Guy From Vought]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Leonte|first=Tudor|title=''The Boys'' Explained: Who Is Homelander's Predecessor, Soldier Boy?|url=https://www.comingsoon.net/tv/features/1224782-the-boys-explained-who-is-soldier-boy-homelanders-predecessor|website=[[ComingSoon.net|Coming Soon]]|date=3 June 2022|access-date=3 June 2022|archive-date=3 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220603213324/https://www.comingsoon.net/tv/features/1224782-the-boys-explained-who-is-soldier-boy-homelanders-predecessor|url-status=live}}</ref>

In ''[[The Boys (comics)|The Boys]]'' arc "[[The Self-Preservation Society]]", Soldier Boy has his nose bitten off by [[CIA]] [[black ops]] agent [[Billy Butcher]], the Homelander's [[archenemy]] and leader of [[List of The Boys characters#The Boys|the Boys]], who begins to brutally beat and torture him for information on the Homelander and his activities over the next few days, mocking him for having claimed to be the same Soldier Boy who fought in [[World War II]], kept alive by being frozen in [[Cryopreservation|suspended animation]], an identity he was forced to assume and impersonate by Vought. In the "What I Know" arc, Butcher is revealed to have killed Soldier Boy with a public funeral being held for him and members of the Seven (including the Homelander) serving as his [[pallbearer]]s.<ref>{{cite web|last=Howard|first=Kirsten|title=''The Boys'' Season 3: Soldier Boy Story to Explore Troubled History of America|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/the-boys-season-3-soldier-boy-details|website=[[Den of Geek]]|date=14 October 2020|access-date=14 October 2020|archive-date=30 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030004552/https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/the-boys-season-3-soldier-boy-details/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Gooden|first=Tai|title=Soldier Boy And Payback In ''The Boys'' Season Three, Explained|url=https://nerdist.com/article/who-is-soldier-boy-and-payback-the-boys-season-three-vought-supe-weapon-explained|website=[[Nerdist (website)|Nerdist]]|date=3 June 2022|access-date=3 June 2022|archive-date=3 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220603150646/https://nerdist.com/article/who-is-soldier-boy-and-payback-the-boys-season-three-vought-supe-weapon-explained/|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Soldier Boy I====
{{main|The Big Ride#Barbary Coast|l1=Barbary Coast}}
In ''The Boys'' arc "[[The Big Ride#Barbary Coast|Barbary Coast]]", in precedence of telling [[Hughie Campbell|"Wee Hughie" Campbell]] about the true sadistic nature of Billy Butcher, [[List of The Boys characters#Lieutenant Colonel Mallory|Lieutenant Colonel Greg D. Mallory]] tells him about his own history with Supes, beginning with his captaincy during World War II, when his company was made by government and Vought officials to supervise [[List of The Boys characters#Avenging Squad|the "Avenging Squad"]], a team of the first American-made Supes, led by the first Soldier Boy, during the [[Battle of the Bulge]]. While eager to serve, Soldier Boy had little military experience, and ordered the flying members of the team to inspect the area for a [[Nazi]] presence, oblivious to the fact that doing so would expose their position. Realizing what Soldier Boy had done, Mallory only had time to give his men a brief warning before the enemy (a nearby ''[[Waffen-SS]]'' platoon) attacked, massacring both his and Soldier Boy's men. After coming across a mortally wounded Soldier Boy, near-vertically bisected by a blast, in the aftermath, Mallory had then dropped a grenade by his feet before walking away, [[mercy kill]]ing him.<ref>{{cite web|last=Wiese|first=Jason|title=''The Boys''{{'}} Soldier Boy: What To Know About Jensen Ackles' Season 3 Character From The Comics|url=https://www.cinemablend.com/superheroes/the-boys-soldier-boy-what-to-know-about-jensen-ackles-season-3-character-from-the-comics|website=[[CinemaBlend]]|date=21 March 2022|access-date=21 March 2022|archive-date=25 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220325111057/https://www.cinemablend.com/superheroes/the-boys-soldier-boy-what-to-know-about-jensen-ackles-season-3-character-from-the-comics|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=McCoy|first=Joshua Kristian|title=''The Boys'': Who Is Jensen Ackles' Soldier Boy?|url=https://gamerant.com/the-boys-jensen-ackles-soldier-boy-explained|website=[[Screen Rant|Game Rant]]|date=21 March 2022|access-date=21 March 2022|archive-date=21 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220321232754/https://gamerant.com/the-boys-jensen-ackles-soldier-boy-explained/|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Soldier Boy II====
{{main|The Big Ride#Barbary Coast|l1=Barbary Coast}}
Continuing to tell Hughie about his own past in ''The Boys'' arc "Barbary Coast", Mallory reveals that by 1950, he learned that new versions (new Supes under the same designs and branding) of Soldier Boy and his brethren had been created by Vought to replace them, fighting elsewhere, known as "[[List of The Boys characters#Crimefighters Incorporated|Crimefighters Incorporated]]" after the war and making [[propaganda film]]s for the United States government. This second Soldier Boy would eventually later die in unknown circumstances, and be succeeded by the third in modern times, presented by Vought (like the second) as the first still-alive Soldier Boy. <ref>{{cite web|last=Prahl|first=Amanda|title="''The Boys''": 4 Things to Know About Soldier Boy From the Comic Series|url=https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/4-things-know-soldier-boy-020259332.html|website=[[Yahoo!]]|date=3 June 2022|access-date=3 June 2022|archive-date=22 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230222213558/https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/4-things-know-soldier-boy-020259332.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Television series===
====''The Boys'' (2019–present)====
{{main|The Boys season 3}}
In the [[The Boys season 3|third season]] of the television [[The Boys (TV series)|series adaptation]], [[Jensen Ackles]] portrays a [[composite character]] based on the various comic book characters known as Soldier Boy, created by Nazi defector Frederick Vought during [[World War II]] in 1944, via injections of Compound V into a normal soldier. After being mentioned by Stan Edgar in the 2020 second season as an early test subject for Compound V, represented via a statue,<ref>{{cite web|last=Jennings|first=Collier|title=''The Boys''{{'}} Writing Team Made Some Major Changes To Soldier Boy|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/811583/the-boys-writing-team-made-some-major-changes-to-soldier-boy|website=[[/Film]]|date=25 March 2022|access-date=25 March 2022|archive-date=25 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220325220616/https://www.slashfilm.com/811583/the-boys-writing-team-made-some-major-changes-to-soldier-boy/|url-status=live}}</ref> Soldier Boy is said by [[Mother's Milk (character)|Marvin T. "MM" Milk]] in the third season to be responsible for killing his grandfather whilst thwarting a carjacking, motivating his father's decision to "work himself to death" as a lawyer attempting to bring down Vought and causing MM's [[Obsessive Compulsive Disorder]]. Soldier Boy was said to have been killed while preventing a [[nuclear meltdown]] during the [[Cold War]]. Believing this story to be false and upon learning of the location of a Russian [[superweapon]] known as '''B.C.L. RED''' said to have actually killed Soldier Boy, [[Queen Maeve (The Boys)|Queen Maeve]] sends Billy Butcher to verify whether it did or not and then retrieve it, both hoping to potentially use the weapon to kill Homelander, the unstable leader of [[List of The Boys characters#The Seven|the Seven]], due to Vought having equated him and Soldier Boy to have been on a similar to equal power level.

Interrogating and killing Soldier Boy's former sidekick [[List of The Boys characters#Gunpowder|Gunpowder]] after injecting himself with "V-24" (a temporary variant of Compound V) given to him by Maeve, giving himself temporary superpowers,<ref>{{cite web|last=Chacksfield|first=Marc|title=5 things to know about ''The Boys'': S3 – according to Billy Butcher and Soldier Boy|url=https://www.shortlist.com/news/5-things-to-know-about-the-boys-s3-according-to-billy-butcher-and-soldier-boy-403254|website=[[ShortList]]|date=27 May 2022|access-date=27 May 2022|archive-date=27 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220527110901/https://www.shortlist.com/news/5-things-to-know-about-the-boys-s3-according-to-billy-butcher-and-soldier-boy-403254|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Dick|first=Jeremy|title=Jensen Ackles' Soldier Boy Is Front and Center in ''The Boys'' Season 3|url=https://movieweb.com/jensen-ackles-soldier-boy-the-boys-season-3|website=[[MovieWeb]]|date=15 August 2021|access-date=15 August 2021|archive-date=15 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210815201612/https://movieweb.com/jensen-ackles-soldier-boy-the-boys-season-3/|url-status=live}}</ref> Butcher learns that Soldier Boy was actually killed during a joint black ops mission between his Supe team [[List of The Boys characters#Payback|Payback]] and the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] in [[Nicaragua]] in 1984, working against the [[Sandinista National Liberation Front|Sandinista]]s, under the supervision of Butcher's own mentor [[List of The Boys characters#Lieutenant Colonel Mallory|Grace Mallory]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Wood|first=Robert|title=''The Boys''{{'}} Soldier Boy Is the Only Hero Considered Homelander's Equal|url=https://screenrant.com/boys-soldier-boy-homelander-more-powerful-better-herogasm|website=[[Screen Rant]]|date=21 April 2022|access-date=21 April 2022|archive-date=21 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220421225720/https://screenrant.com/boys-soldier-boy-homelander-more-powerful-better-herogasm/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Dunbar|last2=Price|first1=Jess|first2=Matt|author-link1=Jess & Matt|author-link2=Jess & Matt|title=''The Boys'' season 3: Jensen Ackles talks 'fighting' for Soldier Boy|url=https://cartermatt.com/481126/the-boys-season-3-jensen-ackles-talks-fighting-for-soldier-boy|website=[[Jess & Matt|Matt & Jess TV Commentary]]|date=18 May 2022|access-date=18 May 2022|archive-date=18 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220518223048/https://cartermatt.com/481126/the-boys-season-3-jensen-ackles-talks-fighting-for-soldier-boy/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Carter|first=Justin|title=''The Boys''{{'}} Eric Kripke and Jensen Ackles Tease New Baddie Soldier Boy|url=https://gizmodo.com/the-boys-season-3-jensen-ackles-soldier-boy-prime-video-1848963979|website=[[Gizmodo]]|date=23 May 2022|access-date=23 May 2022|archive-date=23 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220523183633/https://gizmodo.com/the-boys-season-3-jensen-ackles-soldier-boy-prime-video-1848963979|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Maas|first=Jennifer|title=Inside {{‘}}''The Boys''{{’}} Suped-Up Season 3: 'Herogasm' Orgy, Soldier Boy Intro and a Wild Premiere Scene That Tops the Whale|url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/features/the-boys-season-3-premiere-herogasm-soldier-boy-showrunner-interview-1235282817|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=3 June 2022|access-date=3 June 2022|archive-date=3 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220603062744/https://variety.com/2022/tv/features/the-boys-season-3-premiere-herogasm-soldier-boy-showrunner-interview-1235282817/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Schedeen|first=Jesse|title=What Do ''The Boys'' Cast Think Soldier Boy Missed from the '90s (to Now)?|url=https://www.ign.com/videos/the-boys-soldier-boy-catch-up-list|website=[[IGN]]|date=7 June 2022|access-date=7 June 2022|archive-date=7 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220607144925/https://www.ign.com/videos/the-boys-soldier-boy-catch-up-list|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last=Romano|first=Nick|title=Jensen Ackles on his naked Soldier Boy intro on ''The Boys'': 'Nothing on but a sock'|url=https://ew.com/tv/jensen-ackles-naked-soldier-boy-intro-the-boys-season-3|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=11 June 2022|access-date=11 June 2022|archive-date=11 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220611170556/https://ew.com/tv/jensen-ackles-naked-soldier-boy-intro-the-boys-season-3/|url-status=live}}</ref> Confronting Mallory, Butcher learns that the vast majority of her men had been massacred by Russian and Nicaraguan troops in an ambush in 1984 and that while she did see Soldier Boy fight off several soldiers in the subsequent battle,<ref>{{cite web|last=Nash|first=Anthony|title=''The Boys'' Explained: Who Is Homelander's Predecessor, Soldier Boy?|url=https://www.comingsoon.net/tv/news/1207337-the-boys-season-three-3-jensen-ackles-soldier-boy|website=[[ComingSoon.net|Coming Soon]]|date=9 January 2022|access-date=9 January 2022|archive-date=9 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220109235150/https://www.comingsoon.net/tv/news/1207337-the-boys-season-three-3-jensen-ackles-soldier-boy|url-status=live}}</ref> she had been knocked out while avoiding [[friendly fire]] from Gunpowder and only learned of Soldier Boy's death upon her awakening caused by an unknown "superweapon" (B.C.L. RED), witnessed by his then-girlfriend [[List of The Boys characters#Crimson Countess|Crimson Countess]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Adler|first=Matthew|title=''The Boys'' Season 3 Trailer: Jensen Ackles' Soldier Boy Explained|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/the-boys-season-3-soldier-boy-payback-crimson-countess|website=[[IGN]]|date=20 May 2022|access-date=20 May 2022|archive-date=18 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220518092533/https://www.ign.com/articles/the-boys-season-3-soldier-boy-payback-crimson-countess|url-status=live}}</ref>

Not wanting it publicly known that the Russian government had the capability of killing Supes, [[President of the United States|President]] [[Ronald Reagan]] had ordered the incident to be covered up with Vought receiving full immunity. In reality, Stan Edgar had orchestrated the whole incident to get rid of Soldier Boy by allowing Payback to betray him as revenge for the physical and mental abuse he had inflicted upon them, with the intention of replacing him with Homelander. The team managed to incapacitate Soldier Boy with [[novichok]], but not before he burned Black Noir's face and bludgeoned him repeatedly in the head with his shield, leaving Noir with significant brain damage.

After failing to track down the Crimson Countess in the present, Butcher and [[List of The Boys characters#The Boys|The Boys]] make their way to Russia and infiltrate the secret laboratory which Maeve believed to hold B.C.L. RED. After being overwhelmed by Russian soldiers, whom Butcher and Hughie Campbell then kill after taking more V-24, Butcher discovers and opens the B.C.L. RED. pod, only to find it contains a still-living, comatose, and bearded Soldier Boy. Inadvertently awakened from his [[induced coma]], Soldier Boy exits the pod and releases a powerful radiation blast from his chest ('''Big Chest-Laser''') that hits [[The Female (The Boys character)|Kimiko Miyashiro]] and leaves her powerless and wounded (counteracting her usual regenerative abilities). The Boys retreat to stabilize her as Soldier Boy escapes, Butcher surmising his new abilities to be a result of experimentation.<ref>{{cite web|last=Elvy|first=Craig|title=Why ''The Boys''{{’}} New Soldier Boy Backstory Fixes A Comic Problem|url=https://screenrant.com/boys-season-3-soldier-boy-backstory-change-comic-problem|website=[[Screen Rant]]|date=17 February 2022|access-date=17 February 2022|archive-date=18 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220218023852/https://screenrant.com/boys-season-3-soldier-boy-backstory-change-comic-problem/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Soldier Boy returns to the United States by smuggling himself onto a commercial flight. While wandering New York City, he experiences a powerful flashback (triggered by hearing a song that was played whilst he was being experimented on), causing him to relive several traumatic moments while in Russian captivity. The ensuing rage triggers a destructive radioactive burst and he levels the better part of a five-story apartment complex, drawing the attention of Homelander as a potential new supervillain. After finding his way to former Vought executive "[[List of The Boys characters#The Legend|The Legend]]," he recovers his original uniform and confronts the Crimson Countess, who Butcher had restrained as a show of good faith in a bid to join forces with him (with MM being falsely led to believe was to use her as bait to kill Soldier Boy). After revealing his torture and disappointment that Payback never came to rescue him, Crimson Countess reveals that she and the rest of Payback secretly despised him and betrayed him to the Russians for no money. Afterwards, Soldier Boy kills her with a radioactive burst.<ref>{{cite web|last=Miller|first=Adam|title=''The Boys'' star Jensen Ackles flat out refused to film season 3 scene: 'As a self-respecting human-being, I can't do this'|url=https://metro.co.uk/2022/05/24/the-boys-season-3-jensen-ackles-refused-to-film-soldier-boy-scene-16698192|website=[[Metro.co.uk]]|date=24 May 2022|access-date=24 May 2022|archive-date=24 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220524093034/https://metro.co.uk/2022/05/24/the-boys-season-3-jensen-ackles-refused-to-film-soldier-boy-scene-16698192/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Elvy|first=Craig|title=''The Boys'' Season 3, Episode 4's Ending Proves Soldier Boy CAN Kill Homelander|url=https://screenrant.com/boys-homelander-die-soldier-boy-kimiko-powers|website=[[Screen Rant]]|date=11 June 2022|access-date=11 June 2022|archive-date=11 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220611174123/https://screenrant.com/boys-homelander-die-soldier-boy-kimiko-powers/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Motamayor|first=Rafael|title=''The Boys'' Season 3 Villains On Redemption, Deep Voices, And Shifting Allegiances [Exclusive]|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/886224/the-boys-season-3-villains-on-redemption-deep-voices-and-shifting-allegiances-exclusive|website=[[/Film]]|date=6 June 2022|access-date=6 June 2022|archive-date=9 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220609012207/https://www.slashfilm.com/886224/the-boys-season-3-villains-on-redemption-deep-voices-and-shifting-allegiances-exclusive/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Meyer|first=Joshua|title=''The Boys'' Jensen Ackles Took Inspiration From Golden Age Actors To Portray Soldier Boy [Exclusive]|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/886776/the-boys-jensen-ackles-took-inspiration-from-golden-age-actors-to-portray-soldier-boy-exclusive|website=[[/Film]]|date=7 June 2022|access-date=7 June 2022|archive-date=7 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220607011025/https://www.slashfilm.com/886776/the-boys-jensen-ackles-took-inspiration-from-golden-age-actors-to-portray-soldier-boy-exclusive/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Flook|first=Ray|title=''The Boys'' S03E04: Hunt for Soldier Boy Begins; Homelander Takes Charge|url=https://bleedingcool.com/tv/the-boys-s03e04-hunt-for-soldier-boy-begins-homelander-takes-charge|website=[[Bleeding Cool]]|date=7 June 2022|access-date=7 June 2022|archive-date=7 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220607161123/https://bleedingcool.com/tv/the-boys-s03e04-hunt-for-soldier-boy-begins-homelander-takes-charge/|url-status=live}}</ref>

After joining forces with Butcher and Hughie, with Soldier Boy agreeing to kill Homelander in exchange for them helping him track down and kill the remaining members of Payback, the group infiltrates Herogasm, an annual superhero orgy hosted by Soldier Boys' former teammates the TNT Twins. After the TNT Twins claim Noir sold him out to the Russians, Soldier Boy suffers another PTSD episode and releases an energy blast, destroying the building, vaporizing the Twins and multiple guests, and injuring others. Before the group can escape, they are confronted by Homelander. Hughie, Butcher, and Soldier Boy manage to overpower Homelander after a fight, but he is able to escape the energy blast in the nick of time.

While hunting down Mindstorm, one of the two remaining members of Payback (the other being Noir), Soldier Boy starts to hear voices which greatly concerns Hughie and Butcher. Butcher reveals to Hughie that he has supplied Soldier Boy with marijuana in order to keep him from having another destructive episode. After triggering a booby trap, Mindstorm attacks Butcher by forcing him to endlessly relive his traumatic past. Soldier Boy leaves Butcher for dead despite Hughie's protests. Later, Hughie confronts Soldier Boy about his PTSD, drug use, and constant showboating of his military past. Hughie had previously learned from the Legend that Soldier Boy's service during the Second World War was mostly propaganda, having taken more active roles in suppressing race riots and opposing the [[Civil Rights movement|Civil Rights]] and [[Opposition to United States involvement in the Vietnam War|peace]] movements, with there being "rumors about [[the assassination of John F. Kennedy|Dealey Plaza]]". Later, realizing the error of his ways, Hughie betrays Soldier Boy and saves Mindstorm, who in turn frees Butcher in return for being teleported to safety. Soldier Boy arrives soon afterward and bludgeons Mindstorm to death with his shield, but not before learning from him Edgar's role in his capture and the reason for it. A few years before he was captured by the Russians, Soldier Boy had provided semen samples to Vought scientist Jonah Vogelbaum for genetic experimentation, which Vogelbaum had subsequently used to create Homelander as a more powerful replacement. After learning from Mindstorm, Soldier Boy reveals the information to a shocked Homelander during a phone call to him.

After Soldier Boy informs Butcher and Hughie of the revelation that he is Homelander's father, the two, and later the rest of the Boys and Maeve, become concerned that he and Homelander will team up. He tells Butcher of his own privileged background, starkly contrasting with the humble original story developed by Vought, which allowed him to enter Frederick Vought's Compound V trials. Soldier Boy's father, a prominent steel magnate, neglected him and regarded him as a disappointment, disowning him and his new superhero persona as he had not earned his superpowers himself. Soldier Boy, Butcher, and Maeve go to Seven Tower to fight Homelander and Black Noir, detaining the Boys in a disused safe at the Flatiron Building. However, Homelander, having earlier killed Noir (for keeping his parentage secret) and retrieved Ryan, attempts to connect with Soldier Boy saying that they and Ryan could be a family. After Soldier Boy disowns Homelander as weak, damaged, attention-seeking, and a disappointment, he attempts to blast him and fulfill his agreement with Butcher. However, after Ryan lasers Soldier Boy to stop him from attacking Homelander and Soldier Boy makes the mistake of striking Ryan in retaliation, he ends up fighting Butcher, Annie, MM, and Kimiko with Homelander reluctantly fighting Queen Maeve. When they attempt to use a batch of novichok improvised by Frenchie to knock out Soldier Boy, he attempts to release an energy blast in retaliation. Before he can kill the Boys, a grievously-injured Maeve pushes him out of the window to save them, losing her own powers when he discharges mid-air. In the aftermath, Soldier Boy is detained in cryostasis  on Mallory's orders, while his statue in front of Seven Tower is toppled by supporters of both Homelander and Stormfront after Vought's news media wing report that Soldier Boy's attack was motivated by Russian indoctrination.

{{main|The Boys season 4}}
In the season 4 finale when Speaker of the House Steven Calhoun assumes the office of President of the United States on behalf of Homelander, he discovers Soldier Boy is alive in a stasis pod and immediately brings Homelander to his location. Homelander overlooks his pod with a sad expression.

====''Gen V'' (2023–present)====
{{main|Gen V}}
Ackles reprised his role as Soldier Boy in a "[[Cameo appearance|cameo]]" in the episode "Jumanji" of the 2023 spin-off series ''[[Gen V]]''. While trapped inside Cate Dunlap's ([[Maddie Phillips]]) mind, the main group encounters Soldier Boy, who exists as an [[imaginary friend]] in Cate's mind, known simply as "'''Soldier Boyfriend'''". Soldier Boyfriend introduces himself and his relationship with Cate before explaining what is occurring in Cate's mind, such as the lightning being blood vessels bursting. Soldier Boyfriend warns them to find a way to escape before her mind collapses and they all enter a vegetative state, intending to tell them of the method himself before he is zapped by electricity from Cate's mind.<ref>{{cite web |last=Romano |first=Nick |title='The Boys' star Jensen Ackles says he has Soldier Boy cameo in 'Gen V' |url=https://ew.com/tv/the-boys-jensen-ackles-soldier-boy-gen-v-cameo/ |website=EW.com |language=en |date=April 4, 2023 |access-date=September 27, 2023 |archive-date=April 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405034110/https://ew.com/tv/the-boys-jensen-ackles-soldier-boy-gen-v-cameo/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Pitman |first=Robert |date=2023-10-20 |title=How Soldier Boy Appears In Gen V (Despite The Boys Season 3's Ending) |url=https://screenrant.com/how-soldier-boy-appears-in-gen-v-cameo/ |access-date=2023-11-08 |website=ScreenRant |language=en |archive-date=2023-11-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231118204901/http://screenrant.com/how-soldier-boy-appears-in-gen-v-cameo/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Promotional material====
Soldier Boy is mentioned and pictured throughout the 2020–2021 promotional [[web series]] ''Seven on 7 with Cameron Coleman'', with the last film he had starred in, 1983's ''Red River'', being released to Vought's new "[[Disney+|Vought+]]" [[streaming service]], while ''[[The Boys Presents: Diabolical]]'' first season finale "[[The Boys Presents: Diabolical#ep8|One Plus One Equals Two]]" mentions Homelander to be the first Supe since Soldier Boy to hold the same level of "caliber" as him in the public eye;<ref>{{cite web|last=Elvy|first=Craig|title=''The Boys'' Confirms Homelander's Connection To Season 3 Villain Soldier Boy|url=https://screenrant.com/boys-diabolical-homelander-soldier-boy-connection-season-3|website=[[Screen Rant]]|date=4 March 2022|access-date=4 March 2022|archive-date=4 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220304201903/https://screenrant.com/boys-diabolical-homelander-soldier-boy-connection-season-3/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last=Romano|first=Nick|title=EXCLUSIVE: Jensen Ackles details the fake Soldier Boy movie he shot for ''The Boys''|url=https://ew.com/tv/jensen-ackles-fake-soldier-boy-movie-the-boys|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=8 June 2022|access-date=8 June 2022|archive-date=8 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220608172742/https://ew.com/tv/jensen-ackles-fake-soldier-boy-movie-the-boys/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Eric Kripke]] additionally expressed interest in a future episode of ''Diabolical'' set in the comic series' [[Continuity (fiction)|continuity]], like "[[The Boys Presents: Diabolical#ep3|I'm Your Pusher]]", adapting Soldier Boy III's and Homelander's sexual relationship, which was not adapted to the live-action series' different Soldier Boy I, with Ackles potentially also voicing the younger character.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kiley|first=Rachel|title=''The Boys'' Might Be Doing ''Herogasm'', But They're Excluding This Scene|url=https://www.pride.com/tv/2022/5/25/boys-might-be-doing-herogasm-theyre-excluding-scene|website=[[Pride Magazine]]|date=25 May 2022|access-date=25 May 2022|archive-date=25 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220525172348/https://www.pride.com/tv/2022/5/25/boys-might-be-doing-herogasm-theyre-excluding-scene|url-status=live}}</ref>

To promote the character's appearances in the third season of ''The Boys'', [[Jensen Ackles]] appeared in several videos depicting Soldier Boy's in-universe promotional campaigns for Vought and the [[United States government]] in the 1980s, in particular recording several [[anti-drug]] [[Public service announcement|PSAs]] and serenading the dancers of ''[[Solid Gold (TV series)|Solid Gold]]'' with a rendition of [[Blondie (band)|Blondie]]'s "[[Rapture (Blondie song)|Rapture]]".<ref>{{Cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6QX_0tWp98|title=''Soldier Boy PSA — 1984''|date=May 30, 2022|last=Ackles|first=Jensen|author-link=Jensen Ackles|access-date=May 30, 2022|via=[[YouTube]]|work=[[Amazon Prime Video|Vought International]]|archive-date=May 30, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220530151622/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6QX_0tWp98|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Marca Staff|title={{'}}''The Boys''{{'}} shows drunk Jensen Ackles' Soldier Boy outtakes from Vought commercial|url=https://www.marca.com/en/lifestyle/tv-shows/2022/05/31/629683aeca474131348b45bc.html|website=[[Marca (newspaper)|Marca]]|date=31 May 2022|access-date=31 May 2022|archive-date=31 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531224654/https://www.marca.com/en/lifestyle/tv-shows/2022/05/31/629683aeca474131348b45bc.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li2WDMgHxD0|title=''Soldier Boy — Guest Appearance on'' Solid Gold|date=June 10, 2022|last=Ackles|first=Jensen|author-link=Jensen Ackles|access-date=June 10, 2022|via=[[YouTube]]|work=[[Amazon Prime Video|Vought International]]|archive-date=June 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220610153029/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li2WDMgHxD0|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Rowan|last2=Opie|first1=Iona|first2=David|title=''The Boys'' star Jensen Ackles breaks down episode 4's surprise rap scene|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a40263401/the-boys-jensen-ackles-soldier-boy-rap-scene|website=[[Digital Spy]]|date=12 June 2022|access-date=12 June 2022|archive-date=12 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220612120836/https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a40263401/the-boys-jensen-ackles-soldier-boy-rap-scene/|url-status=live}}</ref> Following the airing of this [[Cover version|cover]], Ackles additionally expressed interest in recording a potential [[album]] of similar [[Cover version|cover works]], tentatively entitled "Soldier Boy Sings The Hits".<ref>{{cite web|last=Zalben|first=Alex|title={{‘}}''The Boys''{{’}} Jensen Ackles Reveals Whether There Will Be a Soldier Boy Album: "I Hope So"|url=https://decider.com/2022/06/13/the-boys-season-3-jensen-ackles-soldier-boy-album-interview|website=[[Decider (website)|Decider]]|date=13 June 2022|access-date=13 June 2022|archive-date=13 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220613160627/https://decider.com/2022/06/13/the-boys-season-3-jensen-ackles-soldier-boy-album-interview/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Truitt|first=Brian|title='I just needed a break': Jensen Ackles on {{'}}''The Boys'',' toxic masculinity and {{'}}''Supernatural''{{'}} spinoff|url=https://eu.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2022/05/31/the-boys-jensen-ackles-talks-toxic-superhero-supernatural-spinoff/7455520001|website=[[USA Today]]|date=31 May 2022|access-date=31 May 2022|archive-date=31 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531200431/https://eu.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2022/05/31/the-boys-jensen-ackles-talks-toxic-superhero-supernatural-spinoff/7455520001/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Powers and abilities==
The character was designed as a [[parody]] analogous to [[Marvel Comics]]' [[Captain America]], a basic "[[supersoldier]]" trained in shield-fighting, who maintains a genuinely patriotic and innocent approach to his role, not realizing the depravity of the Supes around him (never resorting to [[foul language]] or joining his team during the "[[Herogasm]]" [[Orgy|orgies]], although he privately has [[Human sexual activity|sex]] with [[Homelander]] at each one, believing each encounter to be a "test" for him to join the Seven and leave Payback).<ref>Herogasm #1 (2009)</ref> He is in the habit of reciting the names of states while engaged in battle. It is claimed he fought in [[World War II]], though Butcher claims otherwise and refers to this story as an insult to the people who really did; Soldier Boy is later revealed to be the third Supe to have taken the mantle, after the first was killed during his first mission and the second fought during the war only to die later.

For the 2022 third season of the [[The Boys (TV series)#ep22|television adaptation]], Soldier Boy was redesigned by Laura Jean "LJ" Shannon and Greg Hopwood as analogous to both Captain America, [[Superman]], and [[Bucky Barnes|the Winter Soldier]], in particular [[Steve Rogers (Marvel Cinematic Universe)#Infinity War|the former's "Nomad" depiction]] in the 2018 [[Marvel Cinematic Universe]] (MCU) film ''[[Avengers: Infinity War]]'', as portrayed by [[Chris Evans (actor)|Chris Evans]], with a practical pointed shield for defense and attack. Soldier Boy also possesses the ability to produce radiation that can be released from his chest in beams of energy or explosive burst, that can also fry the Compound V out of a Supe's system, courtesy of [[Soviet Union|Soviet]]-era experimentation.<ref>{{cite web|last=Destito|first=Deanna|title=Amazon Prime reveals Jensen Ackles' Soldier Boy look for ''The Boys'' Season 3|url=https://www.comicsbeat.com/amazon-prime-jensen-ackles-soldier-boy-the-boys-season-3|website=[[Comics Beat]]|date=7 June 2021|access-date=7 June 2021|archive-date=7 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210607213509/https://www.comicsbeat.com/amazon-prime-jensen-ackles-soldier-boy-the-boys-season-3/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Elgenaidi|first=Deena|title=''The Boys'' Star Jensen Ackles Pitches a Soldier Boy/Captain America Face-Off|url=https://www.primetimer.com/news/the-boys-jenson-ackles-soldier-boy-captain-america-face-off|website=Prime Timer|date=7 June 2021|access-date=7 June 2021|archive-date=5 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221005061140/https://www.primetimer.com/news/the-boys-jenson-ackles-soldier-boy-captain-america-face-off|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Leonte|first=Tudor|title=''The Boys'' Explained: When Does Soldier Boy Meet Butcher and the Others|url=https://www.comingsoon.net/tv/features/1226108-the-boys-when-does-soldier-boy-meet-butcher-and-the-others|website=[[ComingSoon.net|Coming Soon]]|date=10 June 2022|access-date=10 June 2022|archive-date=10 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220610174609/https://www.comingsoon.net/tv/features/1226108-the-boys-when-does-soldier-boy-meet-butcher-and-the-others|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Conlin|first=Dan|title=New ''The Boys'' Photo Reveals A Battle-Ready Jensen Ackles As Soldier Boy|url=https://gamerant.com/the-boys-jensen-ackles-soldier-boy-new-photo-battle-ready|website=[[Screen Rant|Game Rant]]|date=10 June 2022|access-date=10 June 2022|archive-date=15 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220615223913/https://gamerant.com/the-boys-jensen-ackles-soldier-boy-new-photo-battle-ready/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Hemmert|first=Kylie|title=''The Boys'' Concept Art for Jensen Ackles' Soldier Boy Unveiled|url=https://www.comingsoon.net/tv/news/1178204-the-boys-concept-art-for-jensen-ackles-soldier-boy-unveiled|website=[[ComingSoon.net|Coming Soon]]|date=14 June 2022|access-date=14 June 2022|archive-date=1 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220901204630/https://www.comingsoon.net/tv/news/1178204-the-boys-concept-art-for-jensen-ackles-soldier-boy-unveiled|url-status=live}}</ref> Soldier Boy is frequently described as being nearly as strong as Homelander, which is proven in the episode Herogasm, where his superhuman strength and durability rivals that of Homelander, allowing him to fight him almost evenly. Soldier Boy is also shown to be a formidable hand-to-hand combatant as well, as he was able to overpower and defeat Butcher in their brawl when Butcher was empowered by Temp-V.

==Development==
[[File:Misha Collins & Jensen Ackles (48478258422)(c).jpg|thumb|Ackles at the 2019 [[San Diego Comic-Con]]|upright]]
Addressing Soldier Boy III's [[sexual relationship]] with [[Homelander]] in the ''[[Herogasm]]'' comic series, [[Eric Kripke]] confirmed that it would not be adapted to the [[The Boys (TV series)#ep22|television series adaptation]],<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Romano|first=Nick|title=EXCLUSIVE: ''The Boys'' showrunner explains one 'Herogasm' moment they didn't do|url=https://ew.com/tv/the-boys-herogasm-no-soldier-boy-homelander-scene|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=24 May 2022|access-date=24 May 2022|archive-date=24 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220524160414/https://ew.com/tv/the-boys-herogasm-no-soldier-boy-homelander-scene/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Miller|first=Leon|title=''The Boys'' Showrunner Reveals the Herogasm Moment That Wasn't Adapted for the Show|url=https://www.cbr.com/the-boys-herogasm-homelander-soldier-boy-moment-not-adapted|website=[[Comic Book Resources]]|date=25 May 2022|access-date=25 May 2022|archive-date=25 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220525110141/https://www.cbr.com/the-boys-herogasm-homelander-soldier-boy-moment-not-adapted/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="SFX">{{cite web|last=Cairns|first=Bryan|url=https://www.pressreader.com/australia/sfx/20220518/282471417452533|title=P. 46 — Edge Of Glory — Man Out Of Time — Jensen Ackles talks Soldier Boy — June 2022|work=[[SFX Magazine]]|date=18 May 2022|access-date=18 May 2022|archive-date=15 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220615223904/https://www.pressreader.com/australia/sfx/20220518/282471417452533|url-status=live}}</ref> with [[Jensen Ackles]] instead portraying the original [[World War II]]-era [[heterosexual]] Soldier Boy I introduced in the "Barbary Coast" arc of ''[[The Boys (comics)|The Boys]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Clark|first=Ellie|title=''The Boys'' Season 3 Image: Jensen Ackles' Soldier Boy Stands In Destruction|url=https://screenrant.com/boys-season-3-jensen-ackles-soldier-boy-destruction-image|website=[[Screen Rant]]|date=7 January 2022|access-date=7 January 2022|archive-date=8 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220108022134/https://screenrant.com/boys-season-3-jensen-ackles-soldier-boy-destruction-image/|url-status=live}}</ref> In the show, Soldier Boy survived the war into modern times, having been held prisoner and experimented on in a laboratory, in-and-out of an [[induced coma]], from 1984 to 2022.<ref>{{cite web|last=Holbrook|first=Damian|title=A Super Chat With Jensen Ackles on Going From {{‘}}''Supernatural''{{’}} to {{‘}}''The Boys''{{’}}|url=https://www.tvinsider.com/1044220/jensen-ackles-the-boys-season-3-soldier-boy-supernatural-winchesters|website=[[TV Insider]]|date=18 May 2022|access-date=18 May 2022|archive-date=18 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220518143843/https://www.tvinsider.com/1044220/jensen-ackles-the-boys-season-3-soldier-boy-supernatural-winchesters/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Hill-Paul|first=Lucas|title=''The Boys''{{'}} Jensen Ackles 'did everything to get cancelled' playing Soldier Boy|url=https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/1615951/The-Boys-Jensen-Ackles-cancel-culture-Soldier-Boy|website=[[Express.co.uk]]|date=28 May 2022|access-date=28 May 2022|archive-date=28 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220528040904/https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/1615951/The-Boys-Jensen-Ackles-cancel-culture-Soldier-Boy|url-status=live}}</ref> Prior to Ackles' casting, Kripke intended to "cast an older actor, because we were going for like a grizzled [[John Wayne]] sort of vibe",<ref>{{cite web|last=Miller|first=Adam|title=EXCLUSIVE: ''Supernatural''{{’}}s Jensen Ackles still 'fought' to play Soldier Boy in ''The Boys'' season 3: 'He really had to prove himself'|url=https://metro.co.uk/2022/05/23/the-boys-season-3-jensen-ackles-fought-to-pay-soldier-boy-16695153|website=[[Metro.co.uk]]|date=23 May 2022|access-date=23 May 2022|archive-date=23 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220523163021/https://metro.co.uk/2022/05/23/the-boys-season-3-jensen-ackles-fought-to-pay-soldier-boy-16695153/|url-status=live}}</ref> before instead offering Ackles the role. Kripke and Ackles had previously worked together on [[List of Supernatural episodes|the first five seasons]] of [[The CW]]'s ''[[Supernatural (American TV series)|Supernatural]].'' Ackles was also "in contention for a brief time" (although did not [[audition]]) for the role of [[Steve Rogers (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Steve Rogers / Captain America]] in the 2011 [[Marvel Cinematic Universe]] (MCU) film ''[[Captain America: The First Avenger]]'' (prior to [[Chris Evans (actor)|Chris Evans]]'s casting), a character of which Soldier Boy is a [[parody]]; Ackles characterised them as "[[Captain America]] on his ass, [and] as if [he] gave up super-heroism and was just your drunk and inappropriate uncle".<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Romano|first=Nick|title=EXCLUSIVE: Jensen Ackles clarifies longstanding Marvel rumor: 'Did I audition for Captain America? No, I did not'|url=https://ew.com/movies/jensen-ackles-captain-america-rumors-soldier-boy|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=23 May 2022|access-date=23 May 2022|archive-date=23 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220523180259/https://ew.com/movies/jensen-ackles-captain-america-rumors-soldier-boy/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Weekes|first=Princess|title=Jensen Ackles Shatters Long-Standing Captain America Rumor|url=https://www.themarysue.com/jensen-ackles-shatters-long-standing-captain-america-rumor|website=[[The Mary Sue]]|date=24 May 2022|access-date=24 May 2022|archive-date=24 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220524171956/https://www.themarysue.com/jensen-ackles-shatters-long-standing-captain-america-rumor/|url-status=live}}</ref> On the character's relationship with Homelander in the third season of the television series adaptation, Ackles stated that:<ref name="SFX" /><ref name="CBR">{{cite web|last=Dodge|first=John|title=''The Boys'': Jensen Ackles Reveals Soldier Boy's First Words After Seeing Homelander|url=https://www.cbr.com/the-boys-jensen-ackles-soldier-boy-homelander-meeting-amazon|website=[[Comic Book Resources]]|date=21 May 2022|access-date=21 May 2022|archive-date=21 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220521145012/https://www.cbr.com/the-boys-jensen-ackles-soldier-boy-homelander-meeting-amazon/|url-status=live}}</ref>

<blockquote>"[[Homelander]] is the new iteration of Soldier Boy. He's the new kid on the block in Soldier Boy's eyes. Going back to that [[toxic masculinity]]: very true to form, one of the first things that ever comes out of Soldier Boy's mouth after he looks at a big poster of Homelander is '[[Fuck#Modern usage|What the fuck?]]' It's just looking at the world around him, knowing he doesn't fit in and [that] things are different. And there it is, personified in this statuesque red, white and blue superhero. He's not thrilled about that. The relationship is immediately contentious. They have their words."<ref name="SFX" /><ref name="CBR" /><ref>{{cite web|last=Laudenbach|first=Sarah|title=''Supernatural''{{'}}s Castiel Intro Inspired ''Boys'' Season 3's Soldier Boy Debut|url=https://screenrant.com/boys-season-3-soldier-boy-intro-supernatural-castiel|website=[[Screen Rant]]|date=11 June 2022|access-date=11 June 2022|archive-date=11 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220611233759/https://screenrant.com/boys-season-3-soldier-boy-intro-supernatural-castiel/|url-status=live}}</ref></blockquote>

==Reception==
The character and Ackles' portrayal in the [[The Boys season 3|third season]] of the television series adaptation have received a positive media reception.<ref>{{cite web|last=Goodwin|first=Jess|title=19 Tweets That Prove Jensen Ackles Is One Of The Best Parts Of "''The Boys''" Season 3|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/jessg/the-boys-jensen-ackles-solider-boy-fan-tweets|website=[[BuzzFeed]]|date=14 June 2022|access-date=14 June 2022|archive-date=14 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220614151755/https://www.buzzfeed.com/jessg/the-boys-jensen-ackles-solider-boy-fan-tweets|url-status=live}}</ref>

Ackles' [[Cover version|cover]] of [[Blondie (band)|Blondie]]'s "[[Rapture (Blondie song)|Rapture]]" received additional praise from the band itself, with original singer [[Debbie Harry]] describing the rendition as "epic".<ref>{{cite web|last=Swanstrom|first=Kevin|title=Blondie Reacts To ''The Boys'' Season 3's Soldier Boy Cover Song|url=https://screenrant.com/boys-soldier-boy-cover-blondie-debbie-harry-reaction|website=[[Screen Rant]]|date=11 June 2022|access-date=11 June 2022|archive-date=12 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220612031452/https://screenrant.com/boys-soldier-boy-cover-blondie-debbie-harry-reaction/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Machine|first=Ror|title=''The Boys'' Releases Soldier Boy's Hilariously Awful Cover Of Blondie's "Rapture"; Debbie Harry Reacts|url=https://comicbookmovie.com/tv/amazon/the_boys/the-boys-releases-soldier-boys-hilariously-awful-cover-of-blondies-rapture-debbie-harry-reacts-a194240|website=Comic Book Movie|date=12 June 2022|access-date=12 June 2022|archive-date=18 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230418035336/https://comicbookmovie.com/tv/amazon/the_boys/the-boys-releases-soldier-boys-hilariously-awful-cover-of-blondies-rapture-debbie-harry-reacts-a194240|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite tweet|author=Debbie Harry/BLONDIE|author-link=Debbie Harry|user=BlondieOfficial|number=1535277547558166529|title=Holy sh*t!! Epic @TheBoysTV}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{The Boys}}

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