Do we like them?

Do we like Homelander?

A character from The Boys (2019–present)

Our score: 1 out of 10. No. He's a smiling, adored hero on the outside and a dangerous, needy narcissist underneath. We wouldn't back him, and we wouldn't stand near him.

Homelander is the star of The Boys, a satire in which superheroes are celebrities run like a brand by the Vought corporation. He leads The Seven, the top hero team, and he looks like the perfect American hero: strong, flying, firing lasers from his eyes, and always smiling for the cameras.

Behind the image he is insecure, hungry for love and approval, and prone to rage. Showrunner Eric Kripke has described the character as an American hero whose mask is cracking to reveal the sociopathy underneath. Early on, he lets people suffer when helping them wouldn't make him look good.

We score him 1 out of 10. He's compelling and sometimes pitiable, because the show hints at a lonely, damaged upbringing. But he never turns that into real care for anyone else, and the more power and attention he gets, the more dangerous he becomes. Fans love watching him, but you wouldn't want to back him.