In the comics, Starlight tells Hughie that when she was born, she unintentionally blinded her parents, leaving them unable to care for her. So she was given to foster parents to raise. At the encouragement of Vought, Starlight's foster parents made her enter competitions as a child so that they could profit from her superpowers.
To prepare for his portrayal of A-Train, Jessie T. Usher discussed the character extensively with showrunner Eric Kripke in the months leading up to production. Jessie wanted to add a depth and richness to A-Train's character by capturing the insecurity of an elite athlete desperate to maintain his position at the top.
Like Greg Mallory in the comics, Grace Mallory also lost her grandchildren, who were brutally burned to death by Lamplighter.
Secretary of Defense Robert A. Singer, played by the inimitable Jim Beaver, is Showrunner Eric Kripke's nod to both "Supernatural" Executive Producer Robert Singer and the character Jim played on that show, also named Bobby Singer.
In the comics, James Stillwell manages Homelander by acting as a stern authority figure backed by the money and power of Vought. In the TV adaptation, Madelyn Stillwell has developed her own way of dealing with Homelander - one that's far more oedipal.