The Boys is perhaps one of the very few titles in the superhero genre that is so wacky that you can’t wrap your head around everything that happens in the show. There’s blood, gore, dark humor, superheroes who are, in fact, supervillains, and so much more.
Speaking of superheroes, or as the boys call them ‘supes,’ we know who our favorite one is – Homelander. He is a narcissistic superhuman who’s so self-absorbed and egoistic that he believes he is a god. It’s not a figure of speech. He really does, which makes him such a good antagonist.
After season 1, we had thought that we’d seen enough dark shades of the all-American superhero that would make the country great again. But, boy! We were wrong.
Season 2 reveals Homelander’s origins, where he came from, and how he got his superpowers. If you’re wondering as well, don’t worry. I’ve got all the answers.
In the TV series, Homelander is not an alien. He gained all his powers from Compound V when he was just a child. In the comics, he was a Vought experiment even before being born, and his source of powers was Compound V.
Amazon’s rendition of the vicious supe is not very different from the source material. There are only two prominent differences.
In the comics, Homelander is born out of an experiment with Compound V, from which he gained all his powers. However, to the outer world, he is portrayed as an alien who landed on Planet Earth when he was just a baby, similar to Superman.
On the other hand, in the TV series, he is taken in by Vought when he was just a child. So, he was born naturally but became one of the biggest test subjects of Vought, who used Compound V on him and gave him his powers.
Another difference is that he is not portrayed as an alien to the real world here. Instead, the marketing team gives him a very humanized story relatable to Americans. Homelander is one of the greatest superheroes in the series and also one of the most extensive experiments of Vought.
Right from when he was a child, he was conditioned to have the personality of a ‘true American.’ He was shown pictures of baseball, the American flag, Jesus Christ, and so on. However, he was pretty dangerous.
Since he was separated from his parents after birth, he always had unresolved issues regarding his mom. Homelander always looked for a mother-like figure in his partners, which was a clear sign of the Oedipus Complex.
Besides this, he had killed many tutors and teachers as a kid due to the depression caused by isolation. He doesn’t possess any human-like traits. There’s no empathy for life and living beings in general, which is why he’s grown to be one of the most dangerous supes of all time.
When it comes to his powers, Homelander possesses superhuman strength, speed, hearing, invulnerability to any attack, unlimited stamina, flight, heat vision, X-Ray vision, and a whole lot more.
Does Homelander have a weakness? What’s his Kryptonite?
The Boys Season 3 teases a weapon that is Homelander’s weakness and could kill him for good. People’s praise and the need for a good reputation is his Kryptonite. If he doesn’t feel liked and loved by the masses, he exhibits psychotic behavior
With so many powers, Homelander seems almost indestructible. But, as it turns out, he might not be. The Boys comics are known for the satire and the digs it takes at the superhero genre. Well, Homelander’s death can be considered one such epic dig.
In the comics, Homelander is killed by Black Noir, the silent member of The Seven. However, before engaging in a fight with him, Black Noir unmasks himself, and we see that he’s a clone of Homelander.
Black Noir wins in the brutal battle that ensues, and Homelander is killed. So, in a way, the only thing or person that could kill Homelander is Homelander himself. This is a superhero genre cliche that’s exaggerated to such an extent that it’s satirical and poetic at the same time. You could also say that Homelander is his own Kryptonite.
In the TV series, Homelander can’t be beaten… yet! Season 3 teased a weapon that supposedly killed the strongest supe of a time before. He was called Soldier Boy. Billy Butcher and the gang are hunting this weapon, hoping that it will kill Homelander.
The character has no physical weaknesses but has numerous emotional ones. His ego and narcissistic nature are vulnerable to the silliest comments a random stranger might pass.
What truly affects him more is nobody liking and praising him. Praises and a good public reputation are a literal turn-on for the man, and if you flip the scenario, the sick supe will go on a rampage.
The Boys Season 3 dives deeper into this psyche and leaves us astonished at how much more evil and twisted the supe could get. The first three episodes are airing on Amazon Prime Video. Don’t miss them.
About The Boys
The Boys is an American satirical superhero streaming television series developed by Eric Kripke for Prime Video. Based on the comic book of the same name by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, which was originally published by DC Comics under their Wildstorm imprint before moving to Dynamite Entertainment, it follows the eponymous team of vigilantes as they combat superpowered individuals who abuse their abilities.
The show is a satirical take on the superhero genre and showcases a world where superheroes are corporatized and controlled by companies. What happens when these superheroes step out of line and rub some boys the wrong way, is the story.
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