The Ultimate Supes Showdown: Vought's Newest Addition Sets the Stage for Homelander's Grand Exit

Summary

Vought's new supe, Golden Boy, may become the perfect replacement for Homelander due to his growing popularity and Vought's enthusiasm to promote him.

Golden Boy possesses a combination of thermonuclear power and undeniable charisma, qualities that Vought could strategically harness to not only win people over but also to significantly expand his dedicated fanbase. Although Golden Boy may not currently possess the same level of physical strength or overall influence as Homelander, his untapped potential suggests that he could ultimately surpass him and potentially assume the leadership position at Vought in the future.

Vought's newest superhuman in The Boys and Gen V universe holds the potential to surpass Homelander as the ultimate successor. The Boys' universe encompasses an abundance of extraordinarily powerful supes, ranging from swift speedsters like A-Train, Mister Marathon, and Shockwave to skilled combat experts like Kimiko and Black Noir. What sets these superhumans apart from the typical superheroes found in comic books is their moral ambiguity, exploitative relationship with media, corporate control, and satirical realism, all of which contribute to the captivating nature of The Boys as a television series.

Out of all the overpowering supes in The Boys, Homelander reigns supreme as the perfect contradiction to the ideals of a traditional superhero. His divine superpowers and absence of morality create a chilling depiction of the consequences that arise from unbridled power and authority. Additionally, in the aftermath of the events in The Boys season 3, Homelander also emerges as the dominant force governing Vought International, the sinister conglomerate that deceives unsuspecting civilians with a false perception of supes to generate financial gains. However, this status quo is on the verge of being disrupted, as Vought's newfound superhuman possesses the potential to challenge Homelander's supremacy.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

Patrick Schwarzenegger's Golden Boy Is The Perfect Homelander Replacement

Patrick Schwarzenegger's Luke Riordan is being hailed as Vought's Golden Boy, indicating that the corrupt superhero conglomerate has set its sights on him to join their esteemed lineup of supes. During an episode of Vought New Network's Seven on 7 with Cameron Coleman, the renowned reporter declared that Luke Riordan, the standout hero from Godolkin University, is the hottest topic in town and the prime candidate for Vought's prestigious hero draft. The escalating popularity of the Golden Boy within The Boys universe, coupled with Vought's unwavering enthusiasm to position him as the next exceptional supe, further reinforces the notion that he could potentially fill the void left by Homelander in the future.

With Homelander's increasing unpredictability in each season, it would be logical for Vought to shift their attention towards another formidable supe such as Golden Boy and regard him as a contingency plan. In the scenario where Homelander eventually loses favor, Golden Boy can seamlessly take his place as the iconic representative of Vought International and the esteemed leader of the Seven. As per Golden Boy's official character description (via Illuminerdi), he possesses "thermonuclear power and pure charisma." Exploiting his charismatic nature could be an additional asset for him and Vought to captivate supporters and broaden his fanbase, effectively positioning him as the rightful successor to Homelander.

How Golden Boy's Superpowers Compare To Homelander's

Based on Golden Boy's promotional images and character descriptions, he appears to be a parody of Marvel's Human Torch, setting him apart from Homelander. However, Gen V's trailer hints at the fact that he also possesses the ability to shoot heatwaves from his eyes, which is Homelander's distinctive move. While we are unsure if Golden Boy is as physically strong as Homelander, it is reasonable to assume that he possesses super strength, considering that every other superhuman in The Boys surpasses the strength of an average human. In terms of abilities, Homelander's ability to fly appears to give him an advantage since no other superhuman in The Boys' universe has demonstrated the same ability (yet).

Even considering the overall power levels, Homelander likely surpasses Luke Riordan, played by Patrick Schwarzenegger. However, as the young supe matures, he has the potential to become stronger and eventually match Homelander in power. Within The Boys' universe, the influence over the masses plays a crucial role in determining power dynamics among supes. While Homelander's upcoming trial in The Boys season 4 and his immoral actions may tarnish his public image, Golden Boy has the opportunity to gradually increase his strength and eventually steal the spotlight from Vought's leader.

Gen V's Beheaded Homelander Statue Teases Golden Boy Replacing Vought's Leader

A promotional image released by Gen V (via Twitter) showcases the primary supes of the show sitting beneath a decapitated statue of Homelander. The statue's neck emits a vibrant red glow of intense heat, leaving behind a thick trail of smoke. It strongly suggests that Golden Boy used his powerful heat wave to blast the statue. This clever hint implies that the young supe already holds a grudge against Homelander and is poised to take his place as the leader of Vought. Whether Golden Boy will display the same morally questionable tendencies as Homelander remains to be seen. However, he already appears to be on the right trajectory to become Vought's backup star in The Boys and the future storylines of Gen V.

Sources: Illuminerdi, Twitter