Florida governor and presidential candidate Ron DeSantis draws comparisons to The Boys‘ antagonist, Homelander, while answering questions about the upcoming GOP primary debate. Prime Video’s satirical superhero series has skewered the current state of American politics and pop culture since it premiered in 2019, and many of its strongest jabs have come through the character of Homelander. Possessing the powers of Superman but none of his goodness, Homelander’s brutal personality has drawn numerous comparisons to controversial real life figures.
Users on social media were quick to compare the 2024 hopeful’s facial tics during a recent line of questioning about the upcoming GOP debate to that of Homelander from The Boys. In a now-viral tweet, journalist Matt Binder posted a side-by-side comparison of DeSantis and the fictional villain portrayed by Antony Starr.
The video in Binder’s tweet zeroes in on a specific moment where DeSantis looks uncannily like Homelander. By zooming in on both faces, the video highlights those minute facial expressions that recall The Boys‘ antagonist.
Why Homelander Is Often Compared To Right-Wing Leaders
Multiple Homelander scenes from The Boys have become popular memes on social media, in large part due to Starr’s expressive face and overall chilling performance. However, the linking of DeSantis to Homelander runs deeper than just having similar facial expressions. The comparison contains an underlying commentary about DeSantis’ right-wing ideology. The Boys showrunner Eric Kripke has stated in the past that he’s always thought of Homelander as an analogue for former U.S. President Donald Trump, so the character has long represented the country’s current conservative party.
DeSantis has recently been the subject of numerous controversies, including his campaign sharing a video attacking LGBTQ+ rights and one of his now-fired staffers sharing another pro-DeSantis video that included neo-Nazi imagery. Under his leadership, the state of Florida also recently approved the use of videos by an unaccredited group in public schools that downplay the horrors of slavery throughout American history. The governor’s American exceptionalism ideology and ties to the far-right are eerily reminiscent of Homelander.
In a famous scene from The Boys season 3, Homelander murders a protestor and, to his surprise, is cheered on by his supporters. This scene was praised for its commentary on the rising anti-protest sentiment displayed by many right-wing leaders. DeSantis was among leaders who signed anti-protest legislation into law, granting civil immunity to those who drive their cars into crowds of protestors. The Boys has received much acclaim for bringing sharp and relevant political satire to the superhero genre, and this DeSantis and Homelander comparison is another example of why.
Sources: Matt Binder/Twitter
