Summary
- The Boys fans strongly disagree that Homelander is an anti-hero and argue that he is a terrifying villain with no redemptive qualities.
- Despite some divided opinions in-universe, the Twitter outcry makes it clear that audiences see Homelander as a villain due to his cruel and twisted nature.
- Many s point out that being a protagonist does not automatically make Homelander an anti-hero, emphasizing his evil actions and lack of redeeming qualities.
The Boys' Homelander being described as an "anti-hero" in a viral Twitter post has led to a fan outcry, as s argue why he is a terrifying villain instead. Anthony Starr portrays the egotistical and maniacal Supe in Prime Video's adaptation of Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson's comic series. The leader of the Vought International-sponsored superhero team, The Seven, Homelander is initially seen as an ideal vision of what a heroic Supe should be but secretly hides a narcissistic, self-centered, and cruel side that slowly rises to the surface throughout each season.
Though audiences have been keeping up with The Boys franchise through the spin-off Gen V, a recent viral post by @vinhlegacy naming several prominent anti-heroes has led to fans debating what Homelander is.
The listed the images of Homelander from The Boys, Miguel O'Hara from Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Deadpool, and Chris McLean from the Total Drama series. Following this post, many The Boys fans reacted to the tweet with disapproval.
@superboysbestie argued that Homelander is a villain in all three seasons of the show, saying "a villain with no redemptive qualities."
@JorbyPLs agrees, claiming "There is literally nothing that makes Homelander an anti-hero."
@AlishaGrauso iterates that just because Homelander is a protagonist doesn't automatically mean he is an anti-hero.
@NicholasPas5 firmly stated that Homelander is purely a villain.
Meanwhile, @blackncomictwit is appalled by this classification, explaining how Homelander is a "racist," "fascist," and sexual ab.
Outside of The Boys villain, @DynamoSuperX claims that only Deadpool was a true anti-hero among the four listed candidates. They then called Chris a "deranged psychopath" and Homelander a "superman version of the antichrist."
The Boys Has Shown That Homelander Is A Villain From The Show's Beginning
While The Boys has explored Homelander's personal struggles and traumatic origins, initial desire to be loved by the public, and very few true emotional connections, the show constantly reminds audiences of how truly diabolical he can be. While many of his earlier villainous acts can be attributed to him serving Vought (such as the assassination of the Mayor of Baltimore to keep Compound V a secret), it is quickly established how he views the non-powered humans as lesser and expendable. Homelander leaving the engers of Flight 37 to die also solidified how he views his heroic duties. He can never see regular humans as equals and will let them suffer gruesome fates if they serve no personal or professional benefit to him.
As The Boys progresses, Homelander falls further, the mask of his heroic public persona slips, and his true self bubbles to the surface. The public has gradually become divided on the Supes' place in the world, between those who wholeheartedly Homelander's fiendish true persona and those believing Starlight's (Erin Moriarty) truth about Vought. As such, not only is Homelander a threat, but as of season 3's ending, he has a legion of followers who'll him no matter how evil he is.
The Boys Season 4's Homelander Story Sets Up An Even More Disturbing Villain
The Boys has plenty of lethal supes but, despite Homelander and Soldier Boy's best efforts, The Boys season 4's worst villain might be a mere human.
The Boys has never hesitated in showing Homelander's cruelty, with each season marketing how much of a twisted take on the Superman archetype he is. While the Supe's true side may have won over a loyal following in-universe, the latest Twitter outcry has made it clear audiences have no issue seeing him as a villain. With Homelander facing a trial, it is likely the Supes' worst moments are yet to come.
Read More Of The Boys Reactions To Homelander's "Anti-Hero" Post
@Riley_Senpai posted an image of Homelander blowing up a plane with his laser eyes, saying, "This was the first episode."
@Lunwi88 responded to this tweet, questioning the 's "media literacy."
Commentator @Jtaylor0_3 also states that Homelander is not ant-hero, even criticizing that this is a "dumb statement."
@Mustakro also listed the reasons he has no heroic qualities, such as being a "racist" and "bully."
@alex_MOInternet stated that Vought Enterprises would be "tripping if they try to rebrand Homelander as an antihero." They also questioned Chris' status as an anti-hero.
Source: Various (See Tweets above)