James is probably physically stronger than homelander since he has to carry those massive balls

James was so chill in this and had no fear showing but knew how to push Homelander’s buttons, in the end it at least saved his life.

“Why do you antagonize him like that? You know he can kill you, right?” “At this point it’s a game. If he gives in, I win, and he knows that.”

here, we see homelander for who he really is: just an overgrown child blessed with too much power, getting the parental lecture he's always deserved

He makes a very fair point: Homelander is as unexceptional as they come if you look past his powers, which is actually pretty easy to do in a world like this one.

You know whats funny, i legitimately get where James is coming from. All of that power, and he really does absolutely nothing incredible with it. When you think about it that way I would kind of be annoyed as well. I mean, the dude brags that no one can stop him, but literally everyone knows that. He emphasizes this point to Stillwell as if Stillwell does not know his. Stillwell knows, and him being unimpressed with Homelander constantly rubbing that in his face kinda seems reasonable from a logic standpoint.

And just like that, he robbed Homelander of some sweet vengeance. Making damn sure he knew killing him would not get the reaction he wanted, and he did not have to try so hard either.

Homelander: "I don't have anything to prove, you hear me?! I'm going to kill you here and now!" James: "God, how did you manage to make the idea of me dying boring?"

I like to think that james would be actually impressed with superman, seeing a man born with power living true to his ideals of justice despite the fact that he can live like homelander any day of the week isn't something any human would do, most of us wouldn't reach HL levels but we would probably give in from time to time

James choose the battlefield of wills, and he won out in the end.

Using reverse psychology to stay alive in front of Homelander, this dude is smarter than people think

I’ll admit I have my gripes with the comic, but this part always enthralled me. Stillwell’s a heartless SOB but the manner in which he sounds so disappointed in homelander, it’s almost like he actually wanted to believe in the PR nonsense vought had created. Or for the monster they’d created to defy them if it meant something substantial came out of it. Not that he feels guilty or anything, But almost annoyed things went his way for as long as they did? I wonder how he would’ve reacted to seeing actual superman do his thing. Also, I figure for the show, if lalo show’s up Edgar will be crapping bricks. ,

Catwoman: "What's Homelander's problem?" Batman: "Fanatic narcissism, egocentrism and megalomania, crossed with severe obsessive compulsion." Catwoman: "Thanks." Batman: "Don't mention it."

Homelander: "I will kill you in a fraction of an second" James: *Reverse psychology* Homelander: "Alrighty, have a nice day"

The best part is that, with his super hearing, Homelander probably heard that last burn, even as he was flying away. Also, thank you James, for putting into words exactly how I feel about Homelander. And also, come on Homelander, you could have just left through the window you had *already* broken. Really does only know how to be petty.

It kinda blows my mind that I can actually see where James is coming from here. All that power, all that ability...and Homelander has done nothing with it other than basically Peacock for attention. What makes it worse is that he actually COULD be the hero he pretends to be. And that doesn't mean be a goody two shoes who doesn't like to fuck women and get drunk, he could have just been average nice guy who might help people out every once in a while. Imagine for a second if Homelander just stopped...walked away...and decided that he didn't want to do what he does anymore. The dude can fly at mach speeds. What if he just decided to just fuck off and travel on his own, pick up some mundane hobby and met some chick in a bar or something? Because I think that's really what he wants deep down past all the narcissism. To just wash his hands of all of it and actually have something for himself. Because right now, beyond the fame and the powers, who does he actually have that gives a single shit about him? No one. And he knows that. Throw in a childhood where he was nothing but a lab rat and never allowed to actually grow up, add a dash of godlike power with no responsibility and is it any wonder the dudes psycho.

A depressed office worker. The only thing that could beat Homelander.

This isn't standing up to Homelander, this is looking down upon him. This is seeing him for the insignificant man that he is and forcing him to confront it. This is witnessing a Superman knockoff looking in the mirror and seeing just how unoriginal he truly is. This is a man who sees the storm that stands in front of him and know that no matter what happens next, he has already won the fight... without even lifting a single finger.

“Try to do it quietly. I’m having the worst headache of my life.” Pretty much a 90% description of my mood.

The scariest part about James for me isn't his lack of fear of Homelander, it's the fact that he knows that the supers working for Vault Tech aren't really heros. I didn't read all of the comics, but I assume James knew that Homelander was unstable when they first met but simply choose to use him as an asset even though Homelander could end up killing a lot of people. There are cold hearted businessmen that are psychopaths, then there's James.

I love that a dude was able to break a demigod with “ok and?” And “lol k”

Homelander didn't kill Stillwell because he needs someone to be afraid of him before he ends them. Taking Stillwell's life in that moment would have felt completely empty and Homelander knew it. he had a psychological need to get either the man's fear, respect, or acknowledgment of his "superiority". but Stillwell had neither the ability nor the desire to give him any of those three things.

Fun fact: While homelander flew off at mach speeds, he for sure heard James final words "if there was anything worth seeing" because hes capable of super hearing, even whispering from a room away he can hear lol Edit: Love that people wanna keep mentioning the semantics of a comic book lol

Homelander: “I’M NOT GOING TO STAND FOR THIS!” James: “There’s a chair right there”

I sincerely hope this scene gets recreated to some degree in the show between Stan and Homelander. I saw something akin to it in the most recent episode but man I want to see something more like this.

It's a good thing Homelander's almost invulnerable, otherwise he'd never recover from those 4rth degree burns he'd be left with.

It's amazing how Homelander never quite understood that James is a complete sociopath -- in psychological warfare he will *always* win.

I love the fact that he even had the balls to say that last smug line knowing full well Homelander could still hear him.

“You are simply bad product”

Gotta love that the one person that's more of a villain than Homelander is the very man responsible for his creation. He is the living embodiment of a heartless corporate CEO. And that is both real and scary considering the things he's responsible for. And for what? Nothing but public image and a buck mostly. That's it. Such atrocities for such simplicity I truly think is what true evil looks like.

Vought spent decades trying to control the US Government to get super humans into the military and when they finally achieved their goal, Homelander completely ruined what took decades to do which is why James Stillwell was suicidal and fearless because he was completely dead inside.

I love this scene a crazy psychopathic blood thirsty godlike being vs an ordinary business man with no super powers except being an apathetic indifferent monster not intimated in the slightest.

James literally only saw homelander as a product rather than an actual threat hence the calm demeanor

James has that one iconic bored villain kind of characteristics. He doesn't even care anymore.

He wasn't lying, Homelander can hear his heartbeat and knows that he really didn't care whether he died or not.

Homelander: *goes full villian mode* James: I expected this, and yet I'm still disappointed

This is probably my favourite moment in the Boys comics, because it's the one time where Homelander simply cannot do anything to win. It's so incredible to him that all he can do is leave and keep doing the same things he was doing before. But even there he loses the battle, because James simply couldn't care less. It's basically a spoiled child throwing a tantrum vs an emotionless mastermind that is bored out of his mind with the child's antics.

If Stillwell saw Superman do his shirt thing, you know he would monetize the crud out of that. "...Good product."

It’s as if Homelander thought Stillwell never saw him covered in blood and gore. And honestly if that doesn’t faze him in the slightest, NOTHING will

Homelander is the most weakest Superman clone but he’s so cold

Imagine if Stillwell actually jumped and Homelander flew down to save him just out of spite.

Thats fucking hilarious "oh,fuck he's monolouging..please God,kill me."

My guy is disappointed and high the same time 1:00

Homelander for me is a power fantasy idol we may imagine ourselves to be in our dreams often. We sometimes dream about to be being the whealtiest or strongest person alive on the planet. However, even with all that power, unfortunately you know you are limited by your environtment. I mean when I was a kid I dreamt about being a demigod like being and helping people, killing dicdators, terrorists, punishing criminals, throw away my goddamn neighbor's house out of state but when you grow up you realise that, even if I had that all these powers whats about me never changes and these are myself and the people I live among. So I can say Homelander is just the kid inside us. He never grow up. He never go out from his safe space. He believed in his dreams so much and forgot the reality he is in and in the end, when it got break by the reality itself he couldn't accept it then killed himself with his very own ego. This how I see the black noir btw. Homelander's unnecessary big ego. That's it. So my advise to all young fellas who is reading this. Please keep dreaming but never forget the life itself. Draw the border between them.

I find it ironic and hilarious that James is really just disappointed that Homelander is just using his powers in a pretty basic manner like “at least make this interesting” but no he’s just pissed that work has become more complicated and upset that it’s not even entertaining and at this point he’s so bored it’s making him depressed lol

Sometimes Words are better than a Sword.

In tv show of the boys Madeline Stillwell is a complete opposite of comic stillwell instead he's very similar to stan edgar

1:43 The greatest panel in comic history

Then later on in the Dear Becky comics, Stillwell isn’t so much mentally well after the Boys comic ended.

In a way, James Stillwell reminds me of Saitama when he found the krab monster. You usually run from threats, it's the natural thing to do, you know, to have this "fight-or-flight" response against something that can actually kill you with ease, but I imagine that living in a world as unfair as the one they're living, where all sorts of maniacs and mental people get power from an unnatural source to create chaos and suffering in a direct way, you would eventually get bored of even the idea of dying, because you know deep down that even if you face it with a smile or a sad face, you will die anyway, and it won't matter whatsoever. The only difference between Saitama and James is that James has yet to see that experience that will trigger to push himself for something greater than his own life, even if it doesn't matter, even if it seems impossible to defeat Homelander, the fact of working towards a goal for what he believes is correct, makes it worth to keep living, that's exactly the point of living, and if James had it, he would easily be the main character of the show.

There might be an alternate homelander where he's a force of good

My favorite moment is when James is just to bored and tired of Homelander’s threats that he is just Just kill me now. It’s great because that tells you this isn’t the first time they had this. Stillwell heard this bs before From Homelander and he knows Homelander doesn’t have the balls to do it. He is fed up of how well…pathetic he is. Man is a god, and doesn’t do anything except fuel his own ego. Stillwell is honestly the best written character in the comic

this section highlights what makes superman so great. by looking at homelander it looks like the author is making fun of superman but its totally nothing like that. he isnt using homelander to make fun of superman but highlighting what makes him special. Clark could have been easily someone like homelander and yet he never did . its not the super that makes Clark who he is but the man. its an interesting way of showing why superman is great.

I love homelanders smile 0:40

In the end, Homelander is just like any other bully. Not actually above anyone, he just needs you to believe he is. He won't kill you if you're not afraid of him, because he needs to wait until you actually give a shit. He can't take it otherwise.

Amazing job on this. This was a very interesting scene to show. Alot more going on in it then meets the eye.

Homelander: I'm going to kill you James: aight kill me Homelander: well now I don't want to

I always hoped that him saying "THIS pointless species" would lead to him actually being a body snatcher of some kind.

Honestly when you know you have no chance against someone like homelander no point in begging or anything he had the right approach

James is the most baddass charecter in the boys for that alone I really hope it gets shown in the series and that it's accurate because James was spitting BARS there

He had literally nothing to lose and he is more psychotic than homelander will ever be…

The thing that Homelander can’t power through or overcome no matter how strong he is, is his own ego. And what he will always cave into is those refusing to stroke it

Glad you're posting The Boys comics again, I really enjoyed it

And to think that Homelander's biggest weakness is literally mental because he is very unstable and anything can make him go crazy or irritate him or scare him.

I cannot wait to see Giancarlo Esposito act this out. Probably gonna be him and Antony’s best scene

1:47 that camera zoom got me im dying of laughter 💀

Honestly this is just something I cite any time I'm in a debate with somebody that says 'evil superman is way more interesting' Super powerful characters aren't interesting because of their power, they're interesting because of what they do with their power. How who they are defines that power. Any wild animal can be the bad guy, any pathetic waste of flesh can pick up the knife and do something truly evil without a soul that could stop them. What makes a being truly interesting is that restraint. That will to do the right thing whatever the cost. Honestly it's why I love superman and why Homelander's archetype of character always just falls flat for me

Even the brightest flame of rage is a mere spark to the voidly chasm of this man's apathy

To me Homelander always felt like a tragic story. He was basically made in a tube, raised for the specific purpose of becoming an icon to sell the image of heroism. And he constantly acts out like a child that is seeking love and attention which is pretty sad and if you're stillwell quite embarrassing over all but more importantly, disappointing.

I like the show version more. The "bad product" line just hits so hard.

Bro could solo Dc with those balls

James really said: :/

Nice going James. Very few can say they stand up to HL and live.

Just imagine when Batman is facing Superman.

This man would solo the “After Earth” universe 😂😂😂

Stan Edgar pictures James Stillwell so perfectly, and much of the credits go to Giancarlo Esposito for making it such a good character in the show

I would've imagined if The Joker ever met Homelander.

Ben Shapiro vs Homelander

Homelander: *Having a mental breakdown* James: 🗿

He really did the comical exit of breaking another hole on the way out.

bro is colder than ice brrrr

i really hope homelander will get tjis treatment with giancarlo esposito like that one scene in season 2

I pray to god we get this adapted into the show

This guy is right up there with Cecil

Homelander has severe daddy issues lmao

Homelander just wants to prove Stan wrong. He wants to show that he truly is a great hero that everyone will love. Stan just stood his ground and pretty much says. I don't think so. That must kill homelander in the inside so bad.

good music choice! James and homelander’s relationship always reminded me of L and Light’s for some reason.

When homelander pointed at him and you zoomed in on his face I LOL'd

Homelander in the show is an actual terrifying villain.

Homelander vs DISAPPOINTED TRADITIONAL ASIAN PARENT

This was the best moment in the comics, I hope they adapt this with Toni Starr and Giancarlo Esposito in the final season.

0:16 bro got that Minecraft thighs

My man is so chill lol

This is one of the many reasons why I think the comic is vastly superior to the show; moments like these were chilling, and the dialog in the comics was stellar. Ennis is an amazing writer and this was yet another amazing work of his

All I need is Homelander’s real name and I know his face and I just write it down in my notebook.

I can imagine Giancarlo Esposito delivering these lines. He basically gave a similar verbal beatdown after Neumann's press conference in season 3.

Too bad we didn't get this Stillwell In the show.

I would love it if Edgar turns out to be an alien who came to earth to take it for himself used supers to weaken the human race and at the end he takes over the earth in a very shady and underhanded way that no one in the super the boys realize he is the leader of the earth

Maybe James was secretly the strongest supe, even stronger than Black Noir, and because of that, he was never afraid of Homelander 😏

That one about lowest speck of species thing, that ones kinda crazy to think about. With that much power he should be out forming a nation, colonising the world, becoming a god in name and not just power