In the universe of The Boys, A-Train is definitively faster than Homelander.
While Homelander possesses a vast array of superhuman abilities that make him one of the most powerful beings on Earth, his raw speed does not surpass that of A-Train. A-Train is consistently portrayed as "the fastest man in the world" within the series, with his speed being his defining and most formidable power.
Understanding Their Abilities
To fully grasp the distinction, it's essential to look at the primary powers of both characters:
- A-Train: His core ability is superhuman speed, allowing him to run at incredible velocities, far beyond the speed of sound. This speed is often depicted as his sole focus, sometimes leading to devastating consequences.
- Homelander: He possesses a wider range of powers, including flight, super strength, invulnerability, heat vision, and super hearing. While he can fly at impressive speeds and move quickly in combat, his movement speed is not shown to be on par with A-Train's dedicated super-speed.
The Speed Comparison
The narrative consistently showcases A-Train's speed as unparalleled. Even though Homelander is incredibly powerful and ruthless enough to cause severe problems for A-Train in a direct confrontation due to his other abilities, his inherent speed is not superior. We have not witnessed Homelander moving faster than A-Train, reinforcing the idea that A-Train holds the advantage in pure velocity.
Here's a quick comparison:
| Character | Primary Speed Trait | Other Key Powers | Notes on Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| A-Train | Supersonic running speed, often depicted as the fastest man alive. | Enhanced agility, accelerated healing (minor). | His entire identity and public persona revolve around being the fastest. He dedicates himself to maintaining and improving this speed. |
| Homelander | Superhuman flight and ground movement, but not his primary speed attribute. | Flight, Super Strength, Invulnerability, Heat Vision, Super Hearing, Super Breath. | While incredibly fast compared to regular humans, his speed is secondary to his other offensive and defensive powers. He is never shown to outpace A-Train. |
In essence, A-Train specializes in speed, making him the supreme speedster of The Boys, while Homelander is a generalist with immense power across multiple categories, but not the fastest.
