Homelander vs Superman

Homelander-vs-Superman

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re pitting the ruthless Homelander against the mighty Superman. We’ll measure everything from their brains to the brawn in this matchup. Beware of spoilers for “The Boys” seasons 1-3 ahead. Now, let the battle begin.

Round 1: Public Relations

Within Homelander’s reality, he’s the most well known hero on Earth. He stars in movies, appears on television constantly, and leads the world’s most famous superhero team. The biggest threat to his popularity is actually…himself. Homelander has more than a few skeletons in his closet. And at certain times of the series, members of the public have turned against him. Although Homelander’s popularity waxes and wanes, he always seems to be able to maintain a large and loyal fanbase. It also helps that he has the formidable Vought International company behind him that can greatly influence the news and his public perception. And even if Homelander didn’t have a PR team, he’s incredibly talented at spinning the narrative in his favor.

On the surface, it doesn’t seem like Superman should have any trouble with his public image. He spends a majority of his time saving people without asking for anything in return. Additionally, Superman’s ally/love interest Lois Lane usually writes positive articles about the man of steel. But the Krptonian’s reputation is never exactly bulletproof. On several occasions, Superman’s enemies and destructors have publicly questioned his motives and ultimate goals. If the man of steel ever botches a save or big fight, he doesn’t have a PR team ready to protect him. The only way to maintain public trust is to keep working to earn it every day. In the court of public opinion, Superman’s reputation is often only as good as his last save.

While plenty of people idolize Superman, he doesn’t have the ironclad control of his image that Homelander has. The Vought backed hero can literally get away with murder with just a few PR people and a quick smile.

WINNER: Homelander 1, Superman 0

Round 2: Sharpest Mind

If Homelander isn’t using his brain to get out of tricky situations, he’s probably crafting yet another devious scheme. When he wanted to get more involved in military affairs, he created superpowered enemies that justified the need for his talents. Homelander also has a talent for analyzing everyone around him to discover their weaknesses and insecurities. However, that last ability goes both ways. Homelander’s desire to be loved has been exploited by enemies who know exactly where to push. And rivals like Stan Edgar and Butcher have matched the supe in battles of wits. But even though Homelander has been fooled before, it would be a mistake to underestimate his intellect.

The man of steel has a rather infamous reputation for being outsmarted by the crooked genius Lex Luthor. However, the fact that he’s lost to one of the smartest people alive on several occasions doesn’t take away from his own achievements. Superman’s reporting job has made him familiar with everything from scientific achievements to world politics. He also has access to otherworldly knowledge at his fortress of solitude that the rest of the Earth isn’t even aware of. And whenever Superman is backed into a corner, he’s known for improvising airtight solutions to impossible problems. While some people have taken advantage of his innate kindness, his capacity for empathy has also ended conflicts. The Kryptonian hero has definitely proved he’s not all brawn.

In a battle of wits, Superman’s logical and emotional intelligence are likely to overwhelm the cunning Homelander. The kryptonian’s mind is incredibly formidable, flexible, and as sharp as steel.

WINNER: Homelander 1/Superman 1

Round 3: Best At Being Bad

It would probably take us a few days to list every crime Homelander is guilty of. On any given day, we can expect that he’ll physically or emotionally harm an enemy with a smile on his face. Homelander simply has no problem murdering people or crossing moral boundaries if it benefits him. His selfish attitude and devil may care attitude has admittedly been a double edged sword for him in the past. Since Homelander is always out for number one, he’s tormented or completely turned on his crooked allies. His ruthless actions have caused him to make enemies with both villains and heroes. But no matter how many threats pop up, Homelander is always willing to eliminate them.

Even the blue boy scout has gotten his hands dirty before. He broke Zod’s neck with a single move in one world. In another, the hero pretended to be a villain to scare a team of super powered individuals straight. But the most notable instance of a crooked man of steel can be found in the “Injustice” universe. In that world, Superman killed the Joker for going too far. After the brutal death, the man of steel convinced other superpowered people to bring order to the world through whatever means necessary. That version of Superman admittedly still had a scrap of conscience left. But the fact that he was able to essentially take over the world is still a terrifying fact.

Fortunately, a dark Superman is both dangerous and relatively rare. On the other hand, we expect Homelander to be a diabolical and morally bankrupt threat in every reality.

WINNER: Homelander 2/ Superman 1

Round 4: How They Comment On America

Since Homelander wears a big American flag inspired cape 90 percent of the time, it’s pretty obvious he’s meant to say something about the country. And after getting to know him, it’s a pretty grim message. Homelander seems to represent every negative stereotype and harsh criticism of the USA. He’s power hungry, puts his country first, and thinks himself superior to everyone. As he flies around the world doing whatever he wants, whenever he wants, the audience is asked to question whether he’s an exaggeration or an exact mirror to current affairs. The harsh message challenges viewers to evaluate how America is seen every time Homelander walks in.

On the surface, Superman is meant to be a more positive portrayal of the U.S.A’s best ideals. He’s a very powerful being who uses his powers to help everyone while stomping out oppressive enemies. We also spend a fair amount of time seeing him grow up in a small American town. But the seemingly straightforward portrait is more nuanced. Since he’s an alien immigrant, certain people treat him differently when they learn that fact. And over the years, Superman has become self-aware enough to comment on systematic issues in the country. There are admittedly instances where his messages can get heavy-handed. But to Superman’s credit, he’s always willing to grow and learn to try to provide fresh and relevant commentary on his adopted nation.

While Homelander’s sharp critique of the USA is well-constructed, Superman’s representation of the nation is arguably more complex. His constantly evolving viewpoint of America’s flaws and successes makes his commentary feel more realistic and relevant.

WINNER: Homelander 2/ Superman 2

Round 5: Who Would Win In a Fight?

For years, Homelander was untouchable in his universe. Modern weapons didn’t phase him. Outside of his invulnerability to most arms, he has a suite of powers that include heightened senses, super strength, flight, and laser eyes. Homelander didn’t have much trouble winning fights until stronger and smarter foes began showing up. Since he’s not used to being challenged, he doesn’t have a ton of experience fighting people on his level. The tv adaptation also made Homlander susceptible to a radiation blast. Additionally, his heightened senses can be used against him. Fortunately for Homelander, he’s found a way around his weaknesses in the past. He definitely can’t be counted out early in a fight.

Despite being one of the world’s most powerful beings, Superman has a few exploitable weaknesses. He doesn’t do well with magical abilities or red sun radiation. And most infamously, Superman can be weakened or outright killed by exposure to Kryptonite. On the bright side, the man of steel has pushed past those flaws before. It helps that he can recharge his body with a bit of sunlight. And since Superman consistently faces formidable enemies, he’s constantly developing new abilities to counter his foes. His laser eyes and ice breath are just a couple of his most useful tricks. The man of steel’s grab bag of powers and ability to recover quickly make him a tough enemy to beat.

This could be a fair fight if Homelander had some Kryptonite or magic up his sleeve. However, the simple fact is Superman has years of harsh battle experience that his opponent is lacking. The man of steel’s ability to recover also far surpasses Homelanders’ regenerative abilities. In a straight on fight with no extra weapons or weaknesses, Superman will come out ahead.


WINNER: Homelander 2/ Superman 3


Superman narrowly soars past Homelander with a 3-2 victory.


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