Homelander

John, better known as The Homelander, is an artificially created supervillain known for his appearances in the Dynamite Entertainment comic book series The Boys and its television series adaptation. A parody of famous superhero and political figures, Homelander is a narcissistic, psychotic megalomaniac with a God complex that cares little for the people and ideologies he has sworn to uphold and protect.

Homelander made debut as a playable guest character in Mortal Kombat 1 as the fifth character available through DLC as part of the Kombat Pack.

About Homelander

Homelander is the main antagonist of The Boys television series adaptation and the secondary antagonist of the original comic book series. A parody of many famous superheroes and political figures, Homelander is described as the living embodiment of how the world views the United States of America.

Homelander's depiction between the comics and television adaptation is very different between the two pieces of media. Born John Gillman, he serves as the secondary antagonist of the comic book series opposite of Black Noir, a clone of Homelander whose mission is to kill the Supe in the event he turns evil. With no true purpose, Black Noir commits atrocities and frames Homelander, driving him insane before finally revealing his true identity and killing Homelander. Learning Black Noir was responsible for the rape and murder of his wife, Billy Butcher, Homelander and Noir's archenemy eventually kills Noir and avenges her.

In the television adaptation, Homelander, only named as John, takes on many of the traits of Black Noir in the comics. Homelander is still the archnemesis of Billy Butcher, this time due to the rape and disappearance of his wife Becca. Despite being the leader of the heroic superhero team The Seven, Homelander is a psychopathic, racist, megalomaniac that uses his star-power to get the public on his side, which helps hide his homicidal and inhuman tendencies. He is regarded as one of the most powerful characters in the series, with only a Compound V enhanced Butcher, Soldier Boy, Homelander's biological father and America's first successfully created superhero, and Queen Maeve able to stand a chance against him in a fight.

Homelander is the father of Ryan Butcher, the son of Butcher's wife, whom Homelander raped. To hide this from the public, Becca and Ryan were held in an isolated facility by Vought International, deceiving both Homelander and Butcher that Becca had died while hiding the revelation of Ryan's birth. After discovering that she was indeed alive and that he fathered Ryan, he begins to raise him alongside a terrified Becca after discovering Ryan inherited Homelander's powers due to the Compound V in his genes. Despite genuine love for his son, he proves inefficient at being a father, shoving Ryan off a house to teach him to fly and even manipulating his relationship with Becca by revealing the real world to him. After Ryan accidently kills Becca, Homelander gets closer to Ryan through malicious actions which causes Ryan to develop a closer bond to his father, even going so far as to smirking when Homelander brutally murders a civilian that struck Ryan with an object at a rally, showing him possibly developing his father's callous and inhuman characteristics.

Underneath his ideologies of an American patriot hides the callous, homicidal and God complex within his psyche. As one of the most powerful Supes ever created, he finds not only regular humans inferior, but other Supes. His nigh-invulnerability makes him superior to other Supes, constituting to his megalomania of doing whatever he wants because he can, including rape and mass murder as well as corporate and political sabotage. He is also very racist towards many foreigners and foreign countries due to him also being an extreme jingoist, saying "I'm not having a fucking Muslim in The Seven", and even referring to this Supe in question as "Captain Al-Qaeda". Despite this, he is against the ideologies of that of Stormfront, a Supe that later joins The Seven that is later revealed to be a former Nazi, as well as the first Supe ever created.

Appearance

Homelander's appearance is taken directly from his appearance in The Boys television series, with actor Antony Starr providing the facial reference for the character. However, similar to the The Terminator's appearance in Mortal Kombat 11, only Starr's likeness is used, with Jake Green voicing the character.

Biography

• Mortal Kombat 1: Homelander is the most powerful being on the planet and the leader of The Seven, the elite superhero team owned and managed by Vought International. In a world where "Supes" are made, he's the strongest of them all. He can fly, has super strength, and can laser enemies with his eyes. Homelander presents himself as the ultimate patriot and protector, but don't let his movie star good looks or high approval rating fool you. He is a murderous, narcissistic sociopath with an insatiable need for validation, love and power. Homelander's destruction of enemies and lust for power does not end with his world. Challengers from other realms will face his wrath.

Combat Characteristics

Powers and Abilities

As an artificially created Supe with the properties of Compound V, Homelander is one of the most powerful characters in his origin franchise. Equipped with superhuman strength, speed, and senses, he is a terrifying and powerful kombatant, with only a few Supes and humans enhanced with a temporary variant of Compound V standing toe-to-toe with the world's most powerful "superhero".

With a supreme level of superhuman strength, Homelander can kill humans with little to no effort, even crushing a man's head into a wall while he was having sex with Stormfront. Even against other Supes, Homelander's strength is hardly ever matched, with him being able to harm other Supes with impressive levels of durability such as Black Noir. His durability is unmatched by any other Supe, with Madelyn Stillwell stating there isn't a weapon on Earth that could harm Homelander, though this is believed to be contradicted by Homelander when describing what military forces he would destroy first if he wanted to wipe out the United States. Additionally, strong enough Supes or individuals using the temporary variant of Compound V have been shown to harm Homelander, such as Queen Maeve, Soldier Boy and Butcher standing a chance and harming him.

Homelander's ability to fly makes him a powerful Supe on its own. His flight makes him extremely dangerous, both on the ground and in the air, capable of easily breaking the sound barrier and moving 23 times the speed of sound if needed, as well as keeping up with a plane while it's in mid-flight. With his, Homelander is able to defy gravity and propel himself at speeds faster than an F-16.

His senses are enhanced tremendously. Homelander's vision enhanced with X-Ray capabilities, which he uses to spy on people. His hearing is otherworldly, able to hear things miles away as well has hear an individual's heart beat, allowing him to detect nervousness and deception based on their heart rate. His sense of smell is so protenant that he can smell an increase levels of adrenaline in people, as well as the scent of others on another person, such as detecting that Queen Maeve had recently interacted with Butcher.

One of Homelander's signature abilities is his heat vision, identical to Superman, in which he concentrates a high level of heat and energy from his eyes that can vaporize, destroy and melt humans and other objects as well as significantly damage other Supes. When concentrating his heat vision, he can even make people explode into nothing but gore.

Signature Moves

• Laser Eyes: Homelander shoots a concentrated stream of heat and energy from his eyes, burning the opponent and causing them to stumble backwards. This attack can miss ducking opponents. (MK1)
  • Enhancing the attack has Homelander keep the beam on the opponent for a little longer, dealing increased damage and knocking the opponent away.
• Flight: Homelander begins to hover in the air, similar to Ermac's Spectral Variation from Mortal Kombat X, granting attacks and abilities while floating around. Homelander can exit Flight after performing various attacks or whenever he chooses, called (Cancel) Flight, respectively. (MK1)
  • (Flight) Laser Eyes: Homelander performs Laser Eyes while in Flight.
  • (Flight) Laser Eyes: Homelander performs Laser Eyes in a diagonal fashion at the opponent.
• Dirty Trick: Homelander puts his hand up. If the opponent attacks Homelander with a basic punch attack, he parries them where he catches their hand, then kicks them in the chest, knocking them away. (MK1)
  • Enhancing the attack has Homelander uppercut the opponent into the air, also putting him in Flight. Enhancing the attack deals less damage at the expense of granting Homelander the ability to juggle the opponent and activate Flight.
• Diabolical Dash: Homelander dashes at the opponent, covering a lot of distance. Homelander is able to dash full-screen distance. Homelander is able to perform follow-up attacks, where he can travel less distance or travel the entirety to strike the opponent; (MK1)
  • Soaring Strike: Homelander uppercuts the opponent into the air, activating Flight and allowing for follow-up airborne attacks or Flight attacks.
  • The Seven Slam: Homelander grabs the opponent by the collar and slams them into the ground in the opposite directions. This attack is a High Throw and is unblockable, but can miss ducking opponents.
  • Krippling Knee: Homelander delivers a powerful knee strike, knocking the opponent away.
  • Korporate Kick: Homelander kicks the opponent in the chest, knocking the opponent down. Homelander is very safe if this attack is blocked by the opponent, however if the attack is Flawless Blocked, Homelander is completely vulnerable. Additionally, this attack can miss ducking opponents, leaving Homelander vulnerable.
• (Air) Diabolical Dash: Homelander can perform Diabolical Dash while in the air, however the follow-up attacks are much different with differing effects; (MK1)
  • Grounding Fist: Homelander punches the opponent over the head as he flies at the opponent. Homelander can continue combos if this attack is successful.
  • Vought Drop: Homelander flies at the opponent, grabs them by the throat and snaps their neck before dropping them to the ground. Homelander remains in Flight after successfully performing this attack or missing this attack. If this attack misses, Homelander can choose to return to the ground, ending Flight.
  • Gliding Knee: Homelander performs a knee strike while airborne. Homelander can exit Flight after performing this attack.
  • Hovering Impact: Homelander kicks the opponent, while airborne knocking them away. Homelander can exit Flight after performing this attack.
• Blast Off: Homelander flies straight into the air. If the opponent is close to Homelander, they take damage and are knocked away. (MK1)
  • Enhancing the attack deals increased damage, grants armor and knocks the opponent away full-screen distance.
• Low Laser Eyes: Homelander crouches and fires his heat vision at the opponent's midsection, causing them to stumble backwards. Homelander is able to dodge incoming High attacks when timed correctly. (MK1)
  • Enhancing the attack has Homelander keep the beam on the opponent for a little longer, dealing increased damage and knocking the opponent away.
• Sky Laser Eyes: Homelander fires his heat vision into the air at airborne opponents. This attack can only strike airborne opponents. (MK1)
  • Enhancing the attack has Homelander keep the beam on the opponent for a little longer, dealing increased damage and knocking the opponent away. Homelander can continue combos in some instances.
• Sweeping Laser Eyes: Homelander concentrates his heat vision then shoots them in a continuous beam. If it successfully connects, Homelander blasts the opponent into the air and knocks them away. Homelander can continue combos in some instances. Homelander is safe when this attack is blocked by the opponent. (MK1)
• (Air) God Complex: Homelander hovers in the air with his arms outstretched, then lands on the ground, causing a small shockwave that knocks the opponent off their feet. Homelander can delay the attack before landing and cancel the attack, called (Air) Delay God Complex and (Air) God Complex Cancel, respectively. Homelander can also cancel the attack into Flight as well as move while performing the attack.
  • Enhancing the attack launches the opponent into the air for a juggle. The enhanced version deals no additional damage at the expense of the juggle effect.

Fatal Blow

• I Can Do Whatever I Want: Homelander flies towards the opponent, uppercutting them into the air before grabbing them by the leg and slamming them head first into the ground where only their upper body sticks out. He then concentrates his heat vision into their abdomen, causing their intestines to explode. (MK1)

Other Moves

• Up Up And... (Backward Throw): Homelander grabs the opponent, effortlessly tosses the opponent into the air offscreen while quipping at the camera before they land on the ground in the opposite direction. (MK1)
• See No Evil: Homelander slaps them backhands the opponent before grabbing them by the face and gouging one of their eyes out with his thumb. This final grab acts as a High Throw and is unblockable, however it can miss ducking opponents. This final grab deals increased damage if the opponent is Up Blocking. (MK1)
• Hear No Evil: Homelander performs a bell clap to the opponent's head, leaving them momentarily dazed. If it successfully connects, it will leave the opponent stunned for a brief moment for a free hit. When used as a Kounter or Punish, the stun duration is significantly increased. Using this attack on an airborne opponent does not grant this stun effect. (MK1)
• If Looks Could Kill: While airborne, Homelander performs either a downward or a straight punch, follows up with a eye beam and grabs the opponent by the shoulders, blasting them in the face with the beams before dropping them down. (MK1)

Fatalities

• Winging It: Homelander launches the opponent high into the air with a powerful uppercut where they are struck by an oncoming passenger airline. While stuck to the nose of the plane, Homelander grabs the opponent then releases them into one of the engine turbines, shredding them to pieces as the engine explodes. Passengers inside begin panicking as Homelander salutes and watches on as the plane plummets to its demise. (MK1)
• This Is Your Fault: Homelander uses his heat vision to sever the opponent's legs at the knees. While upright, he concentrates his heat vision directly into their face, melting it before causing their head to explode, where he then bisects them in half from the neck down. Homelander then snarls, posing in victory as he laughs at the opponent. (MK1)

Brutalities

• The Klassic: Homelander performs his uppercut, decapitating the opponent with a rising uppercut. (MK1)
• What Happens If?: Homelander performs his Hear No Evil basic attack, with the bell clap destroying the opponent's eardrums and causing them to bleed profusely before bleeding to death at Homelander's feet. (MK1)
• Shhh...: Homelander performs an enhanced Dirty Trick, only this time, he approaches the opponent and drives his fist straight through their chest into their heart. He whispers to the dying opponent as he whips their blood off his glove. (MK1)
• Squeeze The Truth: Homelander performs his See No Evil combo, gouging both the opponent's eyes out, causing them to bleed profusely to death.
• I'll Laser Everyone!: Homelander performs his Heroic De-Escalation combo, where after he pushes the opponent back, he uses his heat vision to cut the top of the opponent's head off before cutting their torso off from the shoulder to the hips. (MK1)
• Eye Exam: Homelander performs an (Air) Diabolical Dash then performs a Vought Drop, only this time, he lowers the opponent to the ground and fries their face with his heat vision, leaving nothing but a charred skull. (MK1)

Quotes

Mortal Kombat 1 Gameplay

• "No one can stop me."
• "I'm the top of the food chain!"
• "I am done apologizing."
• "I don't make mistakes."
• "I am the Homelander."
• "I am the master race."
• "Need a break?"
• "What's the point?!" (after performing a Backwards Throw)
• "That'll get ratings." (after performing a Backwards Throw)
• "Deadshit." (after connecting Dirty Trick)
• "Loser." (after connecting Dirty Trick)
• "Oh no, are you okay?" (Brutality quote)
• "Not sorry." (Brutality quote)
• "You picked a stupid way to die." (Brutality quote)
• "God bless America!" (Brutality quote)
• "No sweat." (Brutality quote)
• "Look at yourself. You're disgusting." (after performing a Brutality on Baraka)
• "Another useless fucking blind guy." (when performing his What Happens If? Brutality on Kenshi)
• "Sh.. It'll be okay." (when performing his Shhh... Brutality)
• "Whoops..." (During his Winging It Fatality)

Ending

• Mortal Kombat 1: "How many times have I saved them? I give and give and give. But nooo, I laser a few measly innocent bystanders, and suddenly they're all "what have you done for me lately?" I guess they forgot there's only one true justice in this world. Me. But of course, that was before things got... weird. Gotta admit, a portal from another dimension opening up and demons pouring out wasn't how I thought Tuesday was gonna go. But then again, that multiverse crap is all the rage lately, so who knows? And the same ungrateful cry babies who whined about me lasering a few dozen nobodies - now they begged me to save them. So I saved the world. Again. I mean, it's my world. I can't let a bunch of demons disrespect me. After I finished them off, their portal or whatever was still open. Which could only mean one thing - sequel. (uncomfortable chuckle) I went in the damn glowy hole. And what did I discover? (laughing) Another realm, with a tournament where gods and monsters fight to the death. It was like VoughtLand, but just for me. Honestly, I (stammers) only wish I'd known about this place sooner 'cause I've had the time of my life."

Trivia

General

• Despite using Antony Starr's likeness for the character, Homelander's appearance in the game will be the first official media appearance in which Starr does not voice the character. Instead, Homelander is voiced by Jake Green.^[1]
  • While initially no reason was given by Starr, a response on Instagram by the actor confirmed he was open to reprising his role,^[2][3] but an unspecified circumstance caused him to not voice the character.
• Homelander is the third guest character in the series to be used as promotional material for the release of media he is related to, this being the premiere of the 4th season of The Boys television series. Other guests used were The Terminator and Omni-Man.
• Homelander is the overall fifth comic book guest character featured in the series.
• Homelander is the third comic book character featured to be of an Evil alignment, after The Joker and Omni-Man.
• Homelander is the first comic book guest character that originated from Dynamite Comics.
  • As such he is the first comic book guest character to not originate from DC Comics (albeit the first six issues of The Boys came out in the DC imprint Wildstorm) or Image Comics.
• Antony Starr affectionately refers to Homelander as "Homie".

Mortal Kombat 1

• In his reveal trailer, Homelander was the first DLC character thus far to showcase both his Fatalities, although in limited capacity.
  • This was much different than all other DLC characters who would display one Fatality in its entirety.
• Like many guest characters beforehand, Homelander contains many references to The Boys.
  • Homelander's Winging It fatality is a reference to both the comics and TV series' botched plane rescues, specifically the the Transoceanic Flight 37 disaster.
  • Homelander's See No Evil move and his What Happens If? brutality references the episode "The Big Ride" where he destroys the supe Blindspot's eardrums, like he does in the brutality itself.
    • Additionally, Homelander has an intro and a special brutality dialogue for Kenshi where he calls him "Another useless fucking blind guy", which is the exact same saying he says to Blindspot.
  • Intro dialogues of a Homelander mirror match references a scene where the character talks to himself in the mirror.

References

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