The grand end of The Boys comic book series indicates that only one hero is stronger than Homelander: his (even more evil) clone, Black Noir. Black Noir, designed to be an improved version of Homelander, demonstrates his prowess in the confrontation between these two crazy powerhouses.

One of the true identities of Black Noir, a member of the premier superhero team The Seven who remained unknown for the most of the series. Initially portrayed as a pastiche of Batman (as each member of The Seven is a parody of a hero from DC Comics’ Justice League), Black Noir is actually a pivotal character who plays an important role in the story. That role: Kill Homelander.

As a perfect copy of Homelander, but with an even more deranged personality, Noir secretly committed and documented a series of heinous acts to make his twin believe he was actually responsible for them. This led Homelander to madness, until he finally snapped, 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁ed the President of the United States, and attempted a ‘Supes’ takeover of the country.

Black Noir Lured Homelander Into A Final Fight To The Death

The Boys #65, by Garth Ennis, Russ Braun, John McCrea, Keith Burns, and Tony Aviña

After the government takeover is committed, Billy Butcher enters the White House to have his final showdown with Homelander. However, Black Noir shows up to drop the series’ true bombshell. He reveals that he looks exactly like Homelander, and he did all the terrible things his twin has been accused of, including murdering Billy’s wife, Becky.

Understandably, Homelander is furious and attacks, which is what Noir always wanted, as he was created by Vought with one purpose only: to 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁 Homelander if he ever went rogue. Despite the two being identical, the fight goes in favor of Black Noir. Even after losing an arm in Homelander’s initial attack, Noir is able to overpower him and emerge victorious, even if he ends up so terribly wounded that Butcher can finally take him out.

Black Noir vs Homelander Made The Winner Clear

This Fight Proves Black Noir Always Had The Power To Kill Homelander

The reason why Black Noir wins the fight is actually revealed earlier in the issue, when Mother’s Milk explains Noir’s genesis. After Vought created Homelander, by inserting Compound V into the DNA of an embryo, they later went back to that same DNA and manipulated it more, creating a better, stronger version of Homelander, on account of the fact that Black Noir’s only purpose was to 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁 his ‘brother’.

Of course, this is also what ultimately led to the downfall of Vought’s superhuman division. Black Noir’s mental state kept deteriorating as he was unable to fulfill his life’s purpose because Homelander was behaving himself, and thus he orchestrated his twin’s descent into madness and downfall.

The Boys TV show has changed the Black Noir character completely, so the big Homelander twist won’t happen in the TV show. In the comics, however, Homelander is supposed to be the strongest ‘Supe’ in the world, and this statement holds true until it’s revealed that the actual strongest ‘hero’ in The Boys is Black Noir, Homelander’s improved clone.

As An Improved Homelander, Black Noir is The Strongest Supe in The Boys

Black Noir Was Designed To Kill Homelander, So He Had To Be

 

Black Noir’s full powers are never seen, but considering he’s a clone of Homelander, it’s likely he possess all the samer abilities, if not more. Mother’s Milk even points out how strange it is that Black Noir was able to survive falling out of a plane, despite him supposedly not having the ability to fly. It’s unlikely that Vought would make a contingency against Homelander who couldn’t handle all of the Supes’ powers (if Homelander simply flew into the air, Black Noir would be powerless to reach him).

While the actual combat between Homelander and Black Noir is not seen in full, the opening blow is, as Black Noir cleanly punches out Homelander’s entire lower jaw with a single hit. While Homelander responds by using his heat vision to blast off Black Noir’s own arm, Black Noir appears unconcerned. That is the hardest damage Homelander has taken in either the program or the comic, proving Black Noir’s durability is significantly greater. Not only did he survive a confrontation with Homelander, but he also withstood a whole military attack with ammunition developed just to 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁 Superman.

This demonstrates that Black Noir is not only significantly stronger than Homelander, but it is not even close.