A-Train is one of the key superheroes in the Amazon Prime series The Boys. His superpower is super speed, allowing him to run at incredible velocities. However, in season 1 of The Boys, A-Train suffers a heart attack after abusing the performance-enhancing drug Compound V. This leads many fans to wonder – is A-Train still alive in The Boys?
A-Train’s Heart Attack in Season 1
In episode 6 of season 1, A-Train is seen visibly shaken after accidentally killing his girlfriend Popclaw. To take his mind off things, he goes for a run and pushes himself to the limit. However, all the Compound V abuse catches up to him and he suffers a devastating heart attack that leaves him unable to walk or use his powers.
This is a major blow to A-Train, who has defined himself by his super speed and success as a member of The Seven. Now wheelchair-bound and depressed, his future as a superhero seems uncertain.
A-Train’s Recovery Process
Although A-Train initially resigns himself to life in a wheelchair, he soon becomes determined to make a comeback. In episode 7, he checks himself out of the hospital against medical advice to start intense physical therapy.
It’s an uphill battle, but A-Train works relentlessly to try and regain his strength and speed. There are setbacks along the way, but he refuses to give up hope that he can return to The Seven if he can just get back in prime physical shape.
A-Train Rejoins The Seven
In season 2, A-Train continues to train extensively and pushes his body to its limits. His hard work pays off when, after proving himself to Homelander and Vought, he is allowed to rejoin The Seven in episode 3.
Although he is still not at full strength and relies on doses of Compound V to maintain his powers, A-Train is ecstatic to be back on the team. After the depression of season 1, he is determined not to squander this second chance.
A-Train’s Ongoing Health Issues
However, despite reclaiming his spot on The Seven, A-Train still experiences lingering health problems from his heart attack. He keeps this secret to avoid getting kicked off the team again.
In episode 4 of season 2, A-Train suffers a scary bronchospasm attack where he starts coughing up blood. After popping some pills he is able to recover, but it’s clear his heart condition continues to threaten his superhero career.
A-Train also has to carefully manage his doses of Compound V to avoid another heart attack. However, this leads to moments of weakness where his speed sputters out, which could expose his health issues.
A-Train Starts Abusing Compound V Again
By season 3, A-Train becomes increasingly paranoid about losing his spot on The Seven and starts abusing Compound V again to boost his powers. This starts a dangerous cycle where the more he uses, the more he needs to take to maintain his speed.
In episode 2, he nearly overdoses after injecting too much Compound V at once. He collapses on the floor convulsing, with his eyes turning bright blue – a sign of the V about to burn him out. However, he manages to recover after the terrifying incident.
A-Train is Kicked Off The Seven
A-Train’s Compound V abuse backfires on him in season 3, episode 5 when he fails a race against Shockwave. Too reliant on V to compete, his body gives out and he humiliatingly finishes last.
Homelander is disgusted by A-Train’s poor performance and lack of loyalty to the team. As punishment, Homelander kicks A-Train out of The Seven, replacing him with Shockwave.
This is A-Train’s worst nightmare come true. After working so hard to regain his status, he is now back to square one through no fault but his own.
A-Train is Forced to Work for Blue Hawk
Removed from The Seven, A-Train tries to get back in Homelander’s good graces in season 3, episode 6 by being complicit in Blue Hawk’s crimes. However, this backfires when Blue Hawk nearly beats him to death in a paranoid rage.
After recovering, A-Train is forced to work for Blue Hawk as part of his new superhero team. Essentially a lackey, A-Train is humiliated but feels powerless to change his situation.
A-Train Betrays Blue Hawk
When Blue Hawk plans to kill innocent people at a civil rights rally, A-Train reaches his breaking point. Despite the risks, he uses his powers to evacuate the crowd to safety right as Blue Hawk attacks.
A-Train finally stands up for himself, refusing to facilitate Blue Hawk’s murderous plans. However, this act of defiance puts another target on A-Train’s back.
A-Train’s Current Status in Season 3
As of the end of season 3, episode 8, A-Train is in serious jeopardy:
– He has been kicked out of The Seven.
– He is badly injured from his beating by Blue Hawk.
– By sabotaging Blue Hawk’s rally attack, he has made a dangerous new enemy.
– With no allies left, he is isolated and vulnerable.
A-Train has burned all his bridges and made mistakes he cannot undo. While he is still alive for now, his future is more uncertain than ever. He is in a precarious situation heading into the season 3 finale.
Is A-Train Still Alive in the Comics?
In the comics, A-Train meets an untimely demise that provides clues about whether he will stay alive in the TV show:
– In issue #30 of The Boys comics, A-Train tries to escape retribution for his crimes but is confronted by Starlight, Queen Maeve and The Female.
– Backed into a corner, he suffers a fatal heart attack brought on by the stress and exertion of using his powers.
– The other superheroes simply watch and do nothing as A-Train dies helplessly. It’s a dark comeuppance for his misdeeds.
Given this history, A-Train may be living on borrowed time in the TV series unless the showrunners decide to diverge from the comics. His heart condition continues to foreshadow a potential similar fate.
Theories on A-Train’s Future
Here are some popular fan theories about whether A-Train will make it to the end of The Boys series alive:
Theory 1: A-Train will die of a heart attack
This aligns with the comics. A-Train pushing himself too far could cause his heart to finally give out for good.
Theory 2: Homelander will kill A-Train
Now that A-Train is kicked out of The Seven, Homelander may murder him to permanently tie up that loose end.
Theory 3: Blue Hawk will get revenge and kill A-Train
Blue Hawk was livid about A-Train’s betrayal and could target him in retaliation.
Theory 4: The Boys will take A-Train out
If A-Train causes more problems, Butcher and the Boys could decide to eliminate him themselves.
Theory 5: A-Train will redeem himself and survive
There’s still hope A-Train could turn things around and earn a happy ending.
Conclusion
A-Train is currently alive in The Boys series, but his future looks grim. Kicked out of The Seven and suffering from a weak heart, his days could be numbered if he’s not careful. However, there remains a chance he could find redemption before meeting a tragic end. Fans will have to wait for future seasons to see whether A-Train ultimately lives or dies in this dysfunctional superhero world.