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=== We're even Now===
 
=== We're even Now===
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{{Quote|Fuck that Nazi bitch!|A-Train|What I Know}}
 
Enraged about hearing from Adana and Edgar agreeing to not let A-Train back into The Seven, A-Train breaks into the Archives and steals the Private Data Reserve for Stormfront. He then tracks down Hughie and Annie and spooks them, causing them to panic stop their car. They all get out of the car and ask A-Train questions. After Annie asks about A-Train's heart condition, he threatens Annie, prompting Hughie to remind A-Train they saved his life. A-Train pulls out a folder with information on Stormfront, explaining that they're even now. A-Train then tells them not to tell anyone he gave them the information and to say they got it on their own. Hughie, still confused, questions A-Train why he'd help them. A-Train explains that he wants back into The Seven and Stormfront is really the one in his way. So he's counting on them to get rid of her, allowing A-Train to come back into The Seven uncontested.
 
Enraged about hearing from Adana and Edgar agreeing to not let A-Train back into The Seven, A-Train breaks into the Archives and steals the Private Data Reserve for Stormfront. He then tracks down Hughie and Annie and spooks them, causing them to panic stop their car. They all get out of the car and ask A-Train questions. After Annie asks about A-Train's heart condition, he threatens Annie, prompting Hughie to remind A-Train they saved his life. A-Train pulls out a folder with information on Stormfront, explaining that they're even now. A-Train then tells them not to tell anyone he gave them the information and to say they got it on their own. Hughie, still confused, questions A-Train why he'd help them. A-Train explains that he wants back into The Seven and Stormfront is really the one in his way. So he's counting on them to get rid of her, allowing A-Train to come back into The Seven uncontested.
   

Revision as of 05:38, 16 October 2020

For the Dynamite version of the character, see A-Train/Comics.
I'm A-Train. I'm the fastest fucking man alive!
―A-Train[src]

A-Train (real name Reggie Franklin[1]) is one of the main characters in the Amazon series The Boys. He is a speedster who used to be a part of the team known as the Teenage Kix, and is a returning member of The Seven. He inadvertently killed Robin Ward (Hughie Campbell's girlfriend) with his powers while high on Compound V, the event which ultimately lead to Hughie joining The Boys.

A-Train was let go from The Seven, but has since been asked to rejoin, and is the current "fastest man in the world". Underneath the cavalier exterior of a celebrity superhero lies the soul of a mortal athlete, with a deep insecurity about staying at the top. He’ll do whatever it takes to remain in The Seven, because he knows it’s only a matter of time until a younger, faster challenger takes his place — and that’s a problem even the fastest man in the world can’t outrun.

The Boys Series

Compound V Abuse

A-Train has a history of abusing Compound V — a chemical substance engineered by Vought International — to ensure he is the fastest speedster in the world. This abuse, however, comes at a price when he accidentally kills Robin Ward, by running through her. Vought covers the incident up, however at a press conference revealing that A-Train was attending a bank robbery. Vought offers Hughie Campbell compensation for A-Train's mistake, but Hughie is reluctant to take it, turning to Billy Butcher and The Boys for revenge.

A-Train's abuse continues, however, as his race with Shockwave approaches in Get Some, he juices up again despite warnings from girlfriend Popclaw. The Compound V ensures he is, yet again, the fastest speedster on Earth, gaining positive publicity for Vought. Despite warnings from Vought and his brother, Nathan, A-Train abuses Compound V yet again to heal his leg after an encounter with The Female, which leaves his leg shattered. Eventually in You Found Me, the abuse takes a toll on A-Train. Leading to him having a heart attack while he is fighting Starlight and Hughie. A-Train is first seen in a hospital bed recovering while Starlight oversees his recovery until he surprises her later on, seemingly making a full recovery. However later into season 2, it becomes apparent his recovery was not complete, as A-Train now suffers from intense heart palpitations every time he speeds up. These health issues would be noticed by Homelander. In Nothing Like It in the World, Homelander personally kicked A-Train out of the Seven due to his heart not being able to withstand his super speed and prompted to replace him with Shockwave.

Relationship with Popclaw

A-Train's relationship with Popclaw is rocky, with him refusing to ask for Madelyn Stillwell's permission for them to take the relationship public. She is against his continued use of Compound V, warning him that he does not need it to be the fastest out there; something she refuses to admit, however.

The relationship between the two becomes strained after Butcher and The Boys blackmail Popclaw into revealing information about A-Train's Compound V runs — information that eventually leads to multiple deaths. A-Train confronts Popclaw, asking who she revealed the information to, however she is reluctant to admit. After the two relocated, a distraught A-Train murders Popclaw in Good for the Soul in order to ensure Compound V remains a secret. Despite his efforts to keep Compound V a secret, Starlight would later blackmail A-Train by threatening to exposing him as a murderer if he didn't allow her to expose Compound V to the public.

The "Healing" Process

After suffering from a heart attack at the end of You Found Me, A-Train is first seen in a coma recovering. A-Train does awaken, however his recovery was not perfect, as he now suffers from intense heart palpitations. A-Train then is shocked when he sees Shockwave at The Seven tower, enraged, A-Train confronts Ashley. To which Homelander enters the office and announces that A-Train is out of The Seven due him no longer being able to run at super speed without heart problems and that makes The Seven look weak if The Seven's Speedster isn't in the top 20 anymore. A-Train reappears to participate in the upcoming movie, Dawn of the Seven in We Gotta Go Now. A-Train is reluctant to say his line where he admits that he is leaving the Seven, however the director (Adam Bourke) ignores his suggestions to make his line sound more ambiguous and Ashley threatens him with an ultimatum: Say his line and leave The Seven with his dignity and paycheck intact, or he can be fired and have Vought expose his Compound V abuse and overdose to the public. A reluctant A-Train ultimately decides to say his scripted line in the movie that he is leaving The Seven finally to "stop running" (possibly indirectly stating he's retiring).

Once all is said and done, the Deep arrives at the movie set in The Bloody Doors Off, while there he attempts to recruit A-Train as a member of The Church of the Collective. A-Train denies the offer, stating his life is going good without it, however he becomes interested when The Deep tricks him by stating "I guess you don't need his help then". A confused A-Train asks whose help, The Deep turns around offering him a Fresca. A-Train then has lunch with The Deep and Alastair Adana at the renewal center. Alastair asks them both about their thoughts, Deep reveals he thought A-Train was jealous of him, so the former wanted to drown the latter for the longest time but Deep also admits doesn't want to feel that way anymore. Freaked out, A-Train attempts to leave but stops walking once Alastair reveals that he knows the truth about A-Train being kicked out of The Seven, A-train's heart condition and A-Train's Compound V abuse. Confused, A-Train asks Alastair how he knows about all that information, but Alastair only says "The Church knows all kinds of things." Alastair then states Vought will turn Shockwave into the next A-Train, give him his uniform, give him the name "A-Train". A-train denies that, but Alastair counters with "Why Not? 'A-Train' is a trademark. You are just another nobody form the South Side of Chicago." Alastair then offers to help A-Train get back into The Seven, but first he must let Deep tell his truths. A-Train sits back down at the table to the excitement of Deep and Adana.

A-Train appears in Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Maker, now seemingly a full member of The Church of the Collective. He attends Alistair's birthday party, where gives Deep a pet fish as an apology attempt. Deep accepts the gift. Alistair arrives and tells them that he "overheard" that because of Starlight's betrayal Vought was looking for "assets they can trust", meaning that they'll want to rehire A-Train and Deep. Alistair then asks them about what they think if Eagle the Archer. Deep explains that he was like a friend to him, but Alistair interrupts him by stating Eagle is a traitor. Suspicious, A-Train asks about why he is a traitor. Alistair explains it's because he refused to comply with the program. Leaving A-Train even more suspicious about The Church and Deep's change in responses. A-Train and The Deep meet up later at a bar where they watch a NNC news intervene, with Eagle stating the Church kicked him out because he refused to cut all ties with his mother. He then claims the Church leaked private information in an attempt to make him look bad. Carol also appears in another interview stating Eagle had talked bad and spread rumors about the church in an attempt to "stay relevant." Deep then bad mouths Eagle again, still confused, A-Train questions Deep about why he so quickly turned on his friend. Deep avoids the question and asks the bartender to change the channel to the Congress hearings. The two sit and watch the hearings begin, but immediately when they start, people at the courtroom have their heads explode. Deep and A-Train can only watch in shock as one by one the court room is massacred.

In What I Know, A-Train secretly overhears the meeting between Alastair Adana and Stan Edgar. Alastair explains that Deep had could help Vought, however Edgar is reluctant given Deep's checkered past. Alastair assures him that Deep raised his publicity and could be good for Vought by serving as a redemption story. Edgar reconsiders. Alastair then asks about A-Train. Edgar explains that he can't allow A-Train back given the publicly of allowing two former members back in ("One has-been-back is a redemption, two is weakness."). Further hinting that Stormfront is racist against A-Train and Edgar must indulge her for the time being. Alastair agrees and makes a deal to let Deep back into the Seven. After the two leave the room, A-Train comes out of a closest and enraged over their conversation.

We're even Now

Fuck that Nazi bitch!
―A-Train[src]

Enraged about hearing from Adana and Edgar agreeing to not let A-Train back into The Seven, A-Train breaks into the Archives and steals the Private Data Reserve for Stormfront. He then tracks down Hughie and Annie and spooks them, causing them to panic stop their car. They all get out of the car and ask A-Train questions. After Annie asks about A-Train's heart condition, he threatens Annie, prompting Hughie to remind A-Train they saved his life. A-Train pulls out a folder with information on Stormfront, explaining that they're even now. A-Train then tells them not to tell anyone he gave them the information and to say they got it on their own. Hughie, still confused, questions A-Train why he'd help them. A-Train explains that he wants back into The Seven and Stormfront is really the one in his way. So he's counting on them to get rid of her, allowing A-Train to come back into The Seven uncontested.

Taking initiative

Alastair meets with A-Train and The Deep to explain about the break into the Archives room, saying someone stole information on Stormfront. Alastair then says he knows it was A-Train, to which Deep scolds A-Train and says he would never go behind Alastair's back. Alastair assures them both that he is not mad, rather it was "taking initiative". Alastair confirms that following Stormfront's "Removal", Edgar and him spoke again and agreed to let A-Train back into The Seven. Overjoyed, A-Train promptly leaves the church as soon as he can.

In the comics

In the comic series, A-Train is a speedster and a bitch to Homelander; he was recruited by The Seven after leaving Teenage Kix, as a replacement for Marathon, the group's original speedster who was killed on 9/11 when The Seven botched a plane rescue. He first appears after accidentally killing Hughie Campbell's girlfriend while chasing a criminal. As a member of the Seven, he is kept in check by Homelander after harassing Starlight. Despite having superhuman speed, he has little control over his abilities. Due to being a newer member and because of his immaturity, A-Train is not respected by the rest of The Seven, with his only real friend being Jack from Jupiter, whom A-Train later sides against when Jack is blackmailed. He is killed by Hughie for Robin's death and after it revealed he and the Seven only hired Starlight to sexually assault her. His appearance somewhat differs from his TV version as, aside from being of Caucasian ethnicity and brown-haired in the comic.

Powers and Abilities

Maybe I can't turn invisible, but I am the world's fastest man. Like, I can outrun anybody or anything.
―A-Train to Colby[src]
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A-Train after running through Robin

  • Superhuman Speed: As the self-proclaimed "world's fastest man" and described as "a fierce competitor" by Shockwave, A-Train is able to move at inhuman speeds, appearing as a distorted blur of motion to onlookers. He first discovered his power when he was three years old, where he outran a bullet fired at him. This allows him to run across entire city blocks in mere seconds. On Compound V, his speed is further enhanced, which allowed him to defeat Shockwave in a race for the title of "the fastest man alive," simultaneously setting a new record for himself. However, he had trouble controlling himself as he accidentally killed Robin Ward, Hughie's girlfriend by running into her, which reduced her to a shower of blood and made him accidentally swallow one of her molars. Before his race with Shockwave, he shot up Compound V in a blur. He additionally could use this speed as a weapon, such as when he repeatedly smashed the Female's head against a wall. According to the announcer, A-Train reaches speeds in excess of 1,000 mph (1,609.34 kph/Mach 1.3), which is faster than the speed of sound. The results of his race with Shockwave stated that he ran 371 meters per second (829.9 mph/1,335.6 kph/Mach 1.08), while Shockwave only ran 342 meters per second, where 343 meters per second is the speed of sound (765.03 mph/1,231.2 kph). Billy Butcher has estimated that A-Train can cover all of Manhattan in 30 minutes, and A-Train himself stated he could cover all of New York City in three hours.
    • Accelerated Perception: While traveling at high speeds, A-Train is able to perceive the world around him as though it is standing still. While in a fight with Starlight, he was able to see her energy blasts and dodge them before they had a chance to hit him.
    • Superhuman Metabolism: A-Train possesses a highly efficient and incredibly quick metabolism. While working out, he had to consume 3,000 calories per hour to maintain his energy without passing out.
    • Regenerative Healing Factor: A-Train can rapidly heal from his injuries. He was estimated to recover from a fractured femur in six weeks, but his bones fused back together in a matter of days. Note: Strongly implied that this was only because of Compound V usage.
  • Superhuman Strength: A-Train possesses superhuman strength, which he used to slam the Female through a wall in the train tunnels. His strength also allowed him to slowly pull a several-carriage train, and trade blows with as well as knock around Starlight several feet through the air, another individual who also possesses enhanced strength. As he started his race with Shockwave, he broke the stone wall he placed his foot against, and later knocked The Female through an underground wall.
  • Superhuman Durability: A-Train was able to withstand the superhuman strength of another super, Starlight, without issue.

Weaknesses

  • Heart Condition: As a result of using Compund V to enhance his abilities, A-Train eventually suffered a heart attack. The resulting heart condition prevented him from exerting himself as much as he used to. At the end of Season 2, A-Train claims to no longer have the condition, although it's unclear if he is being truthful.
  • Brute Force: While his strength and durability are still greater than a humans they are on the lower end of the Supe spectrum. His body is vulnerable to attack, Kimiko was able to break his leg fairly easily.

Personality

Like most "heroes" A-Train is self-centered and mostly interested in fame, fortune and publicity rather than helping others.

He has been shown to be extremely careless as he kills Robin Ward, by running through her albeit accidentally, however there are hints throughout the series that A-Train has caused this kind of incident before become desensitized to it. He later even joked about this incident to a fellow "hero" laughing at Robin's death showing him to be a very callous individual. Although he personally apologizes to Hughie for killing Robin, he is unable to recognize Hughie, even after being shown a photo of him, indicating that he did not truly care.

The only person A-Train truly cares about is his girlfriend, Popclaw. However, their relationship is a very strained one with A-Train focusing more on his career as a member of the Seven and maintaining his title as the World's fastest man. Things take a turn for the worst when she is blackmailed into revealing information on Compound V and A-Train is "forced" to kill her in order to ensure the security of his position on the Seven. While A-train does feel some form of remorse about her death, he ultimately blames Hughie for "forcing" him into that position.

A-Train is determined to maintain his status as the fastest man alive. As a result, he uses the drug Compound V to further amp up his powers. This leads to his downfall as he later suffers from a heart attack, ultimatley being the reason for him getting kicked out of The Seven.

Relationships

Trivia

  • He is a parody of speedster superheroes. He appears to be mostly modeled on two DC character version's of The Flash. Taking nod's from both the Barry Allen and Wally West version, with elements such as his position in The Seven (Justice League), Former role in the Teenage Kix (Teen Titans) and the revelation that A-Train will be continued as a mantle held by another hero. Some elements of his costume, including the blue color and eye goggles, resemble Marvel Comics' Quicksilver.
  • His name stems from the A Eighth Avenue Express of the New York City Subway, commonly referred to as "the A train".
  • He has his own brand of beer called Speeding Bullet Ale and his own cereal called Frosted A-Trains.[4]
  • He is 32 and weighs 185 pounds, as revealed in "Get Some." His personal best is listed as "1.34" and his season best "1.57," however both the unit of time and distance are unknown.

Gallery

Promotional

Screencaps

Videos

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Prime Video - The Boys: Season 2
  2. Season 1 Episode 3 Get Some
  3. Season 1 Episode 3 Get Some
  4. This was stated in the X-Ray for the episode, "The Name of the Game".

Site Navigation

TV series The Seven members
Current
HomelanderA-TrainThe DeepBlack Noir IISister SageFirecracker
Former
Mister MarathonTranslucent † • Lamplighter † • Stormfront † • Supersonic † • StarlightBlack Noir † • Queen Maeve
Associates
Madelyn Stillwell † • Ashley Barrett