The Boys (2019) and the Vought (Homelander) Conspiracy of the Power Elite

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The images I have selected are both from promotional material for The Boys season five, the final season of this show distributed by Prime Video. The first photo is a promotional poster posted by The Boys’ Twitter/X account on July 18, 2024. The next image is taken from the final season trailer posted by Prime Video on Youtube, posted on March 5, 2026.


The first image depicts the character Homelander, portrayed by actor Antony Starr, walking to the White House across the South Lawn. The backdrop is dark, but there is a light shining on Homelander, who sports an American flag as his cape. The next image shows Homelander sitting behind the Resolute Desk, his feet propped on the surface. He’s staring at the ceiling of the almost barren room. The only light in the room being filtered through the sheer curtains behind him. But, the presidential seal is prominently displayed on the carpet in the foreground of the shot.


As a result of careful planning by Homelander during the previous season, season five of The Boys takes place in a dystopian version of America where the fictional company of Vought, under the control of Homelander, has a monopoly over multiple sectors of the American economy. This power has now reached the government, where Vought has government contracts, and heroes, employed by Vought, are controlling the military. Even the former CEO of Vought, Ashley Barrett, portrayed by Colby Minifie, acts as America’s Vice President. At the core however, one man, Homelander, is controlling the government. Because of his actions however, he has allowed Vought to take over the power elite of America.


As C. Wright Mills puts it in The Power Elite, “The power elite is composed of men whose positions enable them to transcend the ordinary environments of ordinary men and women; they are in positions to make decisions having major consequences. Whether they do or do not make decisions is less important than the fact that they do occupy such pivotal positions… (pgs 3-4).” Homelander represents this in a quite literal way: He is a superhero whose power is, as he says in the same trailer as the second image, “is absolute.” Because of Homelander’s current position within American society, he is able to make decisions that have major implications for everyone. Within this season he is essentially a totalitarian ruler. At his whim, he is able to call for groups of people to be arrested, and even make posting certain media illegal. 


The only reason that Homelander is in control of the power elite is because of the position that he was born into. Homelander is essentially a product of Vought, he was a lab experiment made by them, and raised by scientists within the corporation. Vought is dependent on Homelander for their influence on the American public, just as Homelander is dependent on Vought to be able to bring him his position of prestige. Mills points this out by saying, “But the elite are not simply those who have the most, for they could not ‘have the most’ were it not for their positions in the great institutions. For such institutions are the necessary bases of power, of wealth, and of prestige, and at the same time, the chief means of exercising power, of acquiring and retaining wealth, and of cashing in the higher claims of power (pg. 9).”


Homelander’s takeover doesn’t exactly fit into Mills’ own understanding of the power elite. Mills wants to separate the understanding of the power elite from conspiratorial means. However, Homelander’s takeover doesn’t fit into these standards, he uses his position, and his powers to take over the spheres in America. The “omnipotent elite (Mills, 2002, 16),” referenced is a better understanding of what Homelander is. What also makes Homelander unique to a Millsian understanding of the power elite is that he also doesn’t deny his power. If anything, he revels in it. As aforementioned, Homelander calls his power “absolute.” But this contradicts Mills' understanding of the elite. Mills says, “No American runs for office in order to rule or even govern, but only to serve; he does not become a bureaucrat or even an official, but a public servant (pg. 17).” Homelander wants power for the sake of power, or as he wants, Caesar.


In an odd way, Homelander represents the power elite. He, through Vought, has a monopoly over the American economy, which then leads to contracts with the military, which allows him to also take control of the American government. Homelander was born into his position, which leads to a dependent relationship between Vought and him: Homelander needs Vought to promote him, while Vought needs him as their best-selling product. Homelander’s status, given to him by Vought, allowed him to enter circles any normal person would not be able to enter, which gave him the opportunity to take over the power elite. Although it isn’t the type of take-over Mills was expecting, it’s the one that happened. 


References:

The Boys [@TheBoysTV]. (2024, July 18). Rainbows and butterflies ahead. #TheBoysFinale [Image attached] [Post]. X/Twitter. https://x.com/TheBoysTV/status/1813921665673232464 

Mills, C. W. (2002). The Power Elite. Oxford University Press, USA.

Prime Video. (2026, March 5). The Boys – Final Season Trailer | Prime Video. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNQbH1SDPRk





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