Homelander Wouldn’t Exist Without Two Very Minor The Boys Characters

by

As a critic, I’ve been thinking about Homelander, and it’s clear his creation wasn’t the work of one person. It started with Frederick Vought and his Compound V, but Soldier Boy’s DNA was unknowingly part of the mix. Then, you had the scientists Thomas Godolkin and Jonah Vogelbaum really building him through Project Odessa. Finally, Madelyn Stillwell and Stan Edgar stepped in, molding him into the ‘superhero’—or rather, the monster—we see on The Boys. It truly took a whole team to make Homelander who he is.

One of the most fascinating things about The Boys is that it never definitively tells us if Homelander was born evil, or made that way. We get glimpses of him doing terrible things even as a kid, but the show also doesn’t shy away from showing us just how awful his upbringing was. Honestly, it’s not shocking he turned out so twisted. But I think there’s a really important piece of his descent into villainy that a lot of viewers are missing.

The Chemical Liberation Front Helped Turn Homelander Into A Villain

Even though Homelander had a difficult childhood as a test subject for Vought, he initially wanted to be a true hero. In The Boys Presents: Diabolical‘s episode “One Plus One Equals Two,” we see his first mission: rescuing hostages at a chemical plant where a group called the Chemical Liberation Front is holding workers captive.

Homelander arrives at the scene wanting to resolve the situation peacefully, hoping to convince the attackers to release the hostages without anyone getting hurt. He immediately assures them, “I’m not here to hurt anyone,” and attempts to connect with the CLF members. However, he’s met with a hostile outburst and a hail of gunfire. Despite this, Homelander remains calm and manages to disarm his attackers without using force.

Despite everything, they continued their threats, even pointing a damaged gun at the hostage’s face. This forced Homelander to make a mistake – he tried using his heat vision on the gun, but it still exploded. From that moment on, things quickly spiraled out of control, triggering one of Homelander’s infamous, violent outbursts.

Homelander’s violent outburst clearly showed he was already mentally unstable during this part of The Boys story. It’s interesting to think about what could have happened if the CLF had heeded his initial warning, or given up after he took their weapons instead of continuing to threaten people. If they had, Homelander would have completed his first mission flawlessly, without any casualties.

This would have helped him handle similar situations with more composure in the future, preventing him from becoming someone who acts violently and only seeks answers afterward, and lessening his impulsive behavior.

Ebaster Report

Dive into the world of movies and TV shows with Ebaster, your source for news, reviews, and exclusive content.

Ebaster Report

Dive into the world of movies and TV shows with Ebaster, your source for news, reviews, and exclusive content.

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Homelander discovers he can eliminate anyone who opposes him, hide the evidence, and face no consequences. Black Noir reinforces this by showing him that violence and corruption are simply part of being a superhero, solidifying Homelander’s ruthless perspective.

In retrospect, this mission marked a crucial turning point for Homelander. While he craved validation and initially aimed to be a celebrated hero – especially with the CLF’s tendency to yield – facing opponents who wouldn’t give in exposed his weaknesses. This ultimately pushed him towards embracing his darker, more sadistic impulses, setting the stage for the character we see at the start of The Boys.

Read More

2025-12-20 22:58