Billy Butcher gets his powers from Compound V —a Vought-created serum that temporarily gives humans superhuman abilities. In the TV series, he first uses the 24-hour version known as V24 , which is why his powers appear suddenly and don’t last permanently.

What happens

  • He injects the serum and gains super strength, durability, and heat vision.
  • The powers are unstable, and he suffers side effects after they wear off.
  • In the comics, the idea is similar: Butcher uses Compound V, though the details differ from the show.

Simple version

He wasn’t born with powers—he took them through a Vought-made drug.

Quick note

If you’re asking about the TV version specifically, that’s the answer most people mean today.