Homelander

Biodata

Background and History

Homelander grew up in a Vought laboratory, where researchers raised him and made him train his powers. He later became the company’s most celebrated hero and leader of The Seven. Dr. Baum, one of the researchers involved in his upbringing, calls him his greatest failure; Homelander remains resentful of him 23 27 63.

His first meeting with Ryan turns into a fight that damages Seven Tower and continues across multiple cities. Neither can decisively defeat the other, and Homelander ends the battle after recognizing how closely Ryan resembles his younger self. Once Madelyn tells him Ryan is his son, he pursues a relationship with Ryan and hopes to spend time with him and Becca as a family 25 26 27 32.

Homelander later agrees to obtain Compound V for Ryan. When Ryan intervenes to stop him from destroying a passenger plane on Vought’s orders, the drug temporarily makes Ryan strong enough to defeat him. Homelander responds with pride rather than revenge and asks Ryan to take his place as the country’s protector 47 49 50.

Threats such as General Zod and Doomsday expose the limits of Homelander’s strength. After Ryan disappears during a fight with Doomsday, Homelander begins destroying buildings in New York; Ryan’s return calms him. Although the rampage damages the city, no one is reported hurt 77 123 127 134.

Appearance

Homelander is blond and wears a distinctive suit with a Stars-and-Stripes cape. Ryan’s face increasingly resembles his 26 28 48 153.

• Cape — patterned after the national flag; missiles burn it away during his fight with Ryan 26.
• Public image — his recognizable costume and appearance draw admiration from passersby and crowds 15 28 48.

Personality

Homelander craves admiration and closely guards his heroic image, even while enjoying the fear and destruction caused by his fight with Ryan. He believes he can blame Ryan for the damage and preserve his reputation. His volatility makes teammates wary of provoking him 25 26.

He also wants personal affection. He resents Madelyn’s attention to the baby in her care, while his efforts to bond with Ryan range from buying him ice cream and a model train to seeking a family visit with Becca. When he believes Ryan may be dead, he recognizes his love for his son as his one genuine connection 28 32 47 63 123.

Abilities and Skills

Laser Eyes

Homelander fires destructive red beams from his eyes 3 15.

• Melts a gun during a televised rescue and cuts through the Seven’s conference table 15 25.
• Destroys a fighter jet; intense anger makes his beams thicker and brighter when he attacks Doomsday 26 123.
• His beams are overpowered by Ryan after Ryan takes Compound V, and by Zod’s eye beams 50 77.

Flight and Enhanced Vision

• Flies at high speed, including during battles spanning multiple cities 26 33.
• Uses X-ray and long-distance vision to search for Translucent 28.

Strength and Durability

• Trades blows with Ryan through a prolonged fight and survives missiles with little apparent injury 25 26.
• Heals from severe burns to his eyes after Ryan defeats him 50.
• Can be incapacitated by stronger opponents: Zod knocks him unconscious with one punch, and Doomsday overwhelms his attack 77 123.

Relationships

• Ryan — his son and initially his rival. Homelander grows protective of him, supplies him with Compound V, and is proud when Ryan surpasses him 25 32 47 50 123.
• Becca — Ryan’s mother. Homelander wants the three of them to be a family, but Becca openly dislikes him and refuses to share a room with him 32 33 34.
• Madelyn — Vought executive whose attention and comfort he seeks; she also assigns him lethal work for the company 47.
• Dr. Baum — former Vought researcher involved in raising him. Their meeting is marked by resentment and Baum’s guilt over his childhood 63.
• Maeve — fellow member of The Seven who fears his cruelty and unpredictable temper 23 25.
• Billy — enemy who wants to expose him and later seeks information about Becca 15 135.

Notable Quotes

“Once I beat you, I’ll tell everyone you were a monster of a supervillain, and I was the hero who defeated you and saved the world.” 26

“Ryan, I’m proud of you. You’ve surpassed me.” 50