Summary
Truth and Justice, and the American Way. That was Superman’s motto. While he has fought for “truth and justice” since his origin in the 1930s, the famous tagline originated in theAdventures of Supermantelevision series in the 1950s. The United States was beginning to enter the Cold War, and McCarthyism was beginning to take hold. In 2021, however, the motto was changed to Truth, Justice, and a Better Tomorrow. While the change was noted to reflect the storylines that were being told in DC, it’s not hard to see that this core change reflects the times as well. Superman isn’t just fighting for America, but for a better world. It’s a more inclusive statement that retains Superman’s spirit and the legacy of his character. It’s also a choice that Homelander, the parody of Superman fromThe Boys, would never agree to.
Since Homelander is inspired by Superman, it’s impossible not to compare them. One fun thought experiment is which one wouldwin in a fight. Another is considering what separates the two of them. They have the same abilities, the same level of fame and adoration, and are both American symbols. (In Superman’s case, he’s been so linked to the United States that the premise ofSuperman: Red Sonis a fascinating takeon if The Last Son of Krypton landed in the Soviet Union instead of America.) So what exactly is it about their characters that shaped Superman into a true heroic superhero and Homelander into an absolute monster?
Superman may have been born Kal-El on Krypton, but once he landed on Earth, he was raised as Clark Kent in Smallville, Kansas. His adoptive parents, Jonathan and Marth Kent, are farmers, who instill him with good moral values. Whileunderstandably surprised by his powers, they are supportive of him using them to help others.
Homelander, on the other hand, wasn’t so lucky. In Season 3, Episode 2 “Only Man In the Sky,” Homelander mentions how he doesn’t have a birthday. What is publicly known as his “birthday” was picked by a marketing team. He comments that he was “poured from a test tube” and spent his child in a lab, essentially being tortured into becoming the world’s greatest superhero. InThe Boys Presents: Diabolicalepisode “One Plus One Equals Two” it’s revealed thatHomelander regularly experiences PTSD and flashbacks of this abuse, causing him to act out.
The closest thing he had to a mother figure, Madelyn Stillwell, also exerted perverse control over him. As for an adoptive father, scientist Jonah Vogelbaum tried to instill something good in Homelander. However, by leading theCompound V-related experimentsthat caused Homelander abuse, he could never fill a loving parental role. Homelander might have Superman’s powers, but he lacked the nurturing upbringing that allowed Clark to develop his signature moral compass.
Clark’s Job Isn’t Being a Superhero
Along with having a loving family and a relatively normal childhood, Clark Kent is also part of the workforce. An important part of his character is that he’s a reporter forThe Daily Planet. As part of his mild-mannered persona, he doesn’t have the same gravitas as Superman, and explains that his appearance at crime scenes is for assignments. This job also helps Clark meet important people in his life, such as photojournalist Jimmy Olsen andaward-winning journalist and love interest Lois Lane. Being a reporter is not only a great cover for Superman’s identity, it also shows that Clark is well-rounded. While being a superhero and a journalist both revolve around crime, his job gives him a different perspective.
Homelander, on the other hand, is purely a Vought creation and doesn’t have a life outside his job as their number one supe. In fact, Homelander is so divorced from having any kind of identity other than his mantle that he expresses discomfort at being called John, either by Vogelbaum or by Queen Maeve, his ex-girlfriend. Granted, he does star in movies, but that’s just part of being part of Vought. Homelander was born to be their product and has struggled to find his identity, leading him to lash out.
There’s a long-standing interest inevil depictions of Superman.There’s Omni-Man inInvincible, a Damien-like young Clark inBrightburn, and the extremist version of Superman inInjustice.Of all these versions, Homelander fromThe Boysmight be the best. He’s an examination of what makes Superman great. Superman isn’t just beloved because of his powers, it’s because he’s a small-town guy from Kansas. He tries his best to do the right thing; he gets flustered around a girl he likes. Superman is fantastic, not because he has “godlike” powers, but because of what he chooses to do with them.
There have been a lot of examination of evil versions of Superman over the years to try and dissect this, but to get to the true joy of his character, it would actually be more refreshing to go backClark’s original characterizationas a hero with a heart of gold. After all, Clark isn’t just fighting for the American Way anymore, but a Better Tomorrow.
