It’s no secret that the world of The Boys borrows heavily from the world of DC. The series' main superhero team, The Seven, is basically a direct equivalent of the Justice League and is led by Homelander, The Boys' version of Superman. But, what would happen if Homelander had to face off with the Man of Steel himself?
Homelander is hardly the first character to take after Superman. Before he was acquired by DC, Shazam was created by Fawcett Comics to be their own version of the Man of Steel, and even Marvel has a Superman-esque hero called The Sentry. However, Homelander is an even more direct copy of Superman in that they have essentially the same powers, including flight, super strength, heat vision, super speed, invulnerability, and more. What sets Homelander apart from Superman and his other copycats are his morals - or, rather, the lack thereof.
Homelander’s public image in The Boys is very similar to that of Superman or Captain America. People see him as a patriotic, benevolent hero fighting for truth, justice, and the American way. His backstory is even the exact same as Superman’s - he came from outer space as a baby and was raised by a kind midwestern family…or so people are told. In reality, Homelander was created in a lab and essentially brainwashed into having conservative American ideals, and although the intention was to make him a hero, his cold, unloving upbringing made him more of a villain. Sure, Homelander and the rest of The Seven stop their fair share of crimes to maintain good PR, but they all have dirty secrets, and none more so than Homelander. He has raped, assaulted, killed, and even committed acts of terrorism.
Homelander’s more violent nature may actually give him an edge in a fight against Superman, who generally holds back and avoids killing his enemies. Homelander would have no qualms about using lethal force, even if it wasn’t necessary. The Man of Steel also has some easily exploitable vulnerabilities, like magic and kryptonite, and his bones can be broken by a strong enough opponent. It’s likely that Homelander could do some real damage to Superman seeing as he’s by far the most powerful being in The Boys - but that may also be his undoing. Because he’s so much stronger than everyone else, Homelander sees himself (and is seen by others) as an unbeatable god, and within the world of The Boys, he kind of is. Not even the other members of The Seven can hold a candle to him, but that means he’d be in for a rude awakening in a fight against Superman.
Over the years, Superman has fought countless enemies that are just as strong as he is - Zod, Doomsday, Darkseid, and more. He has much more experience fighting other superpowered beings than Homelander, who has never faced a real challenge. Moreover, none of Homelander’s feats suggest that he is as strong or fast as Superman. Take the famous plane incident from The Boys #21, which was also adapted in the show’s first season. Homelander is incapable of lifting a plane while flying, which is no problem for Superman. In fact, some speculate that Superman's strength is essentially limitless, and his speed rivals that of The Flash.
Overall, Homelander isn't quite on Superman's level, so without access to magic or kryptonite, it's unlikely he could take the Man of Steel in a straight fight. You just can't beat the original. Although, he might earn a victory by playing dirty and Superman holding back.
Season 2 of The Boys drops September 4 on Amazon.