Why Did Black Noir Betray Soldier Boy?

Earlier today, Prime Video released the seventh installment in The Boys Season 3. “Here Comes a Candle to Light You to Bed” revealed new details about Soldier Boy’s past. In “Herogasm,” the show already unveiled that Black Noir betrayed Soldier Boy and sold him to the Russians. Ahead of the explosive upcoming season finale, we get to know why things went down the way they did.

What Happened Between Soldier Boy and Black Noir?

Soldier Boy and Black Noir had a huge fight when Soldier Boy was the leader of Payback. The Boys Season 3 Episode 7 featured a masterful animated sequence of Black Noir — or Earving, if you prefer — and his imaginary friends, who helped him recall what went down back in the day. Although reluctant, the Supe witnessed the enactment of his tragic past.

RELATED: The Boys Explained: What Happened in Herogasm?

Soldier Boy used to be an abusive and selfish leader. In addition to beating Gunpowder regularly, Soldier Boy didn’t want his team members to step out of his shadow. In The Boys universe, Black Noir should have portrayed Axel Foley in the Beverly Hills Cop movie. However, Soldier Boy badmouthed his team member to Don Simpson, who ultimately opted to call someone else to portray the iconic cop. When Black Noir confronted Soldier Boy for his actions in front of the rest of the team, the Payback leader didn’t appreciate that and beat him down before threatening to kill him if he moved out of the line again.

Stan Edgar then informed Black Noir Vought was on board with taking Soldier Boy out of the game. The company had already found a suitable replacement, a very young Homelander. In the 1984 mission to Nicaragua, all the Payback members turned on their leader. Soldier Boy put on a strenuous resistance and severely injured Black Noir, who lost part of his brain and half of his face due to flames during that clash, forcing him to wear a mask for the rest of his life. In the final assault, the Crimson Countess — Soldier Boy’s love interest at the time — sedated the Payback’s leader with the Russian nerve agent Novichok, the only weapon effective against the Supe’s impressive powers.