While Antony Starr became an overnight sensation on The Boys, few people understand he played an equally captivating character in a very different role.

The Boys is a confusing pop-culture phenomenon. The series mocks society’s fascination with superheroes by brutally deconstructing the concept. Heroic figures from comic book legend are transformed into dangerous fascists, deviants aided by unbridled capitalism. Despite the fact that The Boys takes aim at the current zeitgeist, audiences have flock to it. Antony Starr’s portrayal of Homelander is one of the primary reasons viewers are drawn to such a contentious property. He plays the role with terrible wrath and sad vulnerability, transforming a Superman stereotype into one of television’s best villains. Few people remember that Starr had previously given an equally stunning performance as a very different character in Banshee.

Much like The Boys, Banshee wanted to push the envelope as far as humanly possible. The fight scenes were brutal and bone-crushing, soaked in viscera worthy of Mortal Kombat. A show this unabashedly pulpy needed a leading man who was both fearless and furious. Antony Starr proved to be a perfect fit. A former convict masquerading as a small-town sheriff, Lucas Hood is an unpredictable anti-hero who plays by his own rules. It’s the kind of role Starr was born to play. Unlike Homelander, Hood was a troubled but heroic figure, showcasing the actor’s talents in a new light. In many ways, Homelander is Lucas Hood’s polar opposite, but the two roles still have a lot in common, which makes playing both a challenge.

What Are the Differences Between Homelander and Lucas Hood?

• While Homelander may be the main antagonist in The Boys, Lucas Hood is Banshee’s lead protagonist.
• Homelander attempts to preserve The Boys’ status quo, while Lucas Hood challenges the established order.
• Starr plays Hood with confidence, but in The Boys, he plays the role of Homelander with deep-seated insecurity.

One of the pleasures of watching both The Boys and Banshee is seeing Antony Starr play two radically different characters. Homelander is a monster of a man, someone who derives joy from tormenting the weak. Insecure and highly unstable, Homelander is a ticking time bomb desperate to assert himself. On the other hand, Lucas Hood is a righteous action hero straight out of a dime novel. While he’s undeniably flawed, Hood is a self-assured individualist who abides strictly by his sense of right and wrong. He’s loyal to a fault, risking his life for others repeatedly throughout Banshee‘s run. One could argue that Homelander is essentially Hood’s antithesis, as they serve their stories in contradictory ways.

Superheroes are designed to preserve the status quo, and The Boys exposes the underlying fascism behind these figures through Homelander. As the leader of The Seven, Starr’s character is symbolic of Americana at its worst. The personification of alt-right nationalism, his political capital is directly tied to the consumerist nature of capitalism. Society’s fervent worship of caped heroes has made Homelander a powerful figure, resulting in quite the god complex. Starr’s performance highlights how the character takes malicious glee in abusing others, illustrating how he defines his strength. That is why he refuses to allow the world to change around him. In Banshee Antony Starr serves a different purpose entirely, playing Lucas Hood as an agent of change.

Banshee is all about living for the thrill of the moment, and Lucas Hood exemplifies that philosophy perfectly. Antony Starr plays the part as a force of nature, fully embracing his character’s unpredictability. Erratic and enigmatic, Hood is less a lawman than a vigilante with a badge. When he first arrives in town, Starr’s character quickly realizes that it’s governed by ruthless crime bosses. Many live in fear of these vicious gangsters, but Hood makes it clear he won’t play by their rules. However, his decision to challenge dangerous personalities like Kai Proctor and Chayton Littleston has bloody consequences. While Homelander maintains a dystopian state of affairs, Hood actively defies those in power, even if it creates painful disarray.

Do Lucas Hood and Homelander Have Anything in Common?

• Antony Starr plays both Lucas Hood and Homelander with a boiling sense of rage.
• While he’s a much more noble character, Hood still has Homelander’s capacity for violence.
• Both Homelander and Lucas Hood conduct themselves as if they answer to no one.

While Homelander and Lucas Hood serve antithetical narrative functions, the two share some surprising similarities. Antony Starr plays both roles with a similar demeanor, which is fascinating when comparing these performances. Utilizing his gift for chaotic rage, Starr puts his terrifying fury to good use in both Banshee and The Boys. Years of conditioning have made Homelander a feral animal, volcanic anger bubbling beneath his spandex. He’s a powder keg about to explode, his characterization marked by facial twitches and poorly maintained composure. Lucas Hood may be a much more noble individual, but he still showcases that latent instability.

Banshee‘s greatest source of conflict stems from Lucas Hood’s attempt to channel his inner demons into something productive. Hood is a classic anti-hero, barreling through unspeakable violence with fiery passion. Motivated by righteous fury, Starr understands that this character has a dark side. Supporting players like Brock and Emmett frequently don’t know what to make of Hood, frightened by his capacity for cruelty. The man is a barbaric fighter, as demonstrated by Banshee‘s ferocious action sequences. Lucas Hood doesn’t knock criminals down; he breaks their fingers with a euphoric lack of mercy. Part of him likes beating the pulp out of admittedly awful people. Much like Homelander, Hood believes that being in a position of power puts him above the law.

Both The Boys and Banshee give Antony Starr the chance to declare that his characters can do whatever they want. Lucas Hood does so while roughing up a Neo-Nazi during an investigation, boasting that his actions don’t require justification. Homelander makes the same declaration during The Boys‘s second season finale, albeit midway through a vulgar display atop the Chrysler Building. These scenes are imperative to understanding the core similarities between the two characters. At their core, Hood and Homelander are motivated by impulse. Both pretend to be civil servants because they enjoy abusing the power that comes with their occupation. Antony Starr understands that both men believe they answer to no one, making him a perfect fit for these disparate roles.