Cipher’s Powers on Gen V Explained: The Meat Puppet Supe
cipher’s powers on gen v
In Gen V, the spinoff series of The Boys, fans are introduced to a range of new supes with strange and terrifying abilities. One of the most fascinating is Cipher, whose powers raise plenty of questions after his shocking display in the Godolkin University arena.
His abilities are both creepy and dangerous, earning him the nickname of a “meat puppet master.” But what exactly can Cipher do, and how do his powers connect to other blood-based supes in the universe?
What Cipher’s Powers Look Like
During a tense fight sequence, Cipher takes control of Jordan, one of the show’s most versatile supes. While Cate watches and Marie attempts to intervene, Cipher effortlessly manipulates Jordan’s body, waving at the Dean’s box and even speaking through them. Jordan becomes a literal puppet, their own will overridden while Cipher pulls the strings.
This disturbing ability shows us that Cipher’s core power is the capacity to hijack another person’s body and actions.
It isn’t simple telepathy or mind control—it’s physical puppeteering. Victims don’t just think what he wants; they move how he wants, as though trapped inside their own bodies.
Weaknesses in Cipher’s Control
Cipher’s puppeteering isn’t without its limits. When Marie uses her blood powers to push back, she not only suspends Jordan in the air but also manages to force Cipher’s control out of Jordan’s body entirely.
Cipher’s surprise at being disrupted suggests that his hold is strong but not unbreakable, especially against another supe with blood-manipulation powers.
This moment hints at potential vulnerabilities in Cipher’s abilities—perhaps his control depends on concentration, proximity, or some hidden biological link.
Are Cipher’s Powers Blood-Based?
While the show doesn’t confirm the source of Cipher’s abilities, there are compelling clues that his puppeteering may be tied to blood, much like Marie Moreau’s power.
In *The Boys*, Victoria Neuman was first believed to be a simple “head popper,” but it was later revealed her abilities were rooted in blood manipulation.
If Cipher’s abilities also rely on blood, this would give him a thematic connection to both Neuman and Marie, deepening *Gen V*’s exploration of supes whose gifts extend beyond brute force.
The Bigger Picture
Cipher’s “meat puppet” powers open up new possibilities for how supes in *The Boys* universe function. His control ability raises questions about how far he can go:
- Can he manipulate multiple people at once?
- Could he control animals, or even dead bodies?
- Does he need blood contact, or can he work from a distance? None of these answers are clear yet, but his introduction makes him one of the most unsettling new characters on Gen V.
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Cipher isn’t just another flashy supe; he’s a living reminder that in the world of The Boys, power often means violating free will in horrifying ways.
Whether or not his abilities are confirmed to be blood-based, Cipher’s role in the story makes him a dangerous wildcard in a universe already filled with unpredictable supes.
Prime Video’s Gen V
