The Boys, known for its gore and violence, has a secret revenge story that almost everyone missed. Apart from Hughie taking revenge on A-Train and Butcher finally slaughtering the Supe who killed his wife, there’s another bloodbath involving a character fans only meet twice.

Archer Leader’s Revenge

Archer Leader is a fighter pilot who was present on September 11 when the Seven horribly botched their response to the terror attack, resulting in the destruction of the Brooklyn Bridge. In The Boys #21, the Legend recounts the horrific day to Hughie, revealing that the Air Force was ready to shoot down the final hijacked plane, but were ordered to return to base and leave New York in peril. This was due to Vought-American’s machinations, who wanted the Seven to handle the situation as part of their efforts to insert superhumans into national defense. However, Homelander’s untrained superhero team botched their rescue mission, resulting in shocking death and destruction.

After Homelander becomes overwhelmed by the rescue attempt, he not only kills passengers in an effort to escape, but also accidentally sends the plane into freefall, becoming responsible for the destruction of the Brooklyn Bridge and temporarily ending Vought’s hopes of becoming integral to national defense. However, when Homelander finally enacts his own coup against the government years later, the air force is called in to combat his army of Supes, and Archer Leader gets revenge on the ‘heroes’ who turned his chance to save lives into a disaster.

The Final Supe Massacre

Archer Leader returns in The Boys #65, and while it’s without much fanfare, it’s clear that he’s seeking revenge. Ennis’ work is characterized by extreme regard for the military, so it makes sense that when it’s time for the Supes to answer for the power-hungry incompetence that cost so many lives, it’s the air force who take them to task, armed with Compound V-seeking missiles which Butler has secretly worked to provide. While Archer Leader doesn’t get to personally end Homelander, he does take part in obliterating the majority of the Supes present, including Homelander’s right-hand man, Oh Father.

The Boys’ Metaphor For Societal Ills

Ultimately, The Boys’ superheroes are metaphors for various societal ills, with big business the main focus of the series’ ire. While Butcher’s personal mission was to kill Homelander, the role of the Boys as a CIA-backed group was actually to keep Vought from involving superheroes in national defense, and by the end of the series, it’s suggested they did exactly that, with the Battle of Washington making Supes so toxic, they essentially disappear from society.

In its depiction of September 11, The Boys #21 remains perhaps the series’ darkest moment, and the issue underlines the stakes of Homelander’s error by focusing on the frantic pleading of Archer Leader that his mission not be in vain. Sadly, the Seven ensure that it is, but when The Boys reaches its crescendo, it makes sure to give Archer Leader a moment of gory revenge that pays off a grudge most fans never even realized was in play.