When Mortal Kombat 1 announced the content of the first DLC pack, comic book fans were stoked to see DC's Peacemaker involved. In addition, Invincible's Omni-Man was added to the fray, giving the reboot an even bigger comic book flair.

Last but not least, the DLC pack had The Boys' Homelander, which really felt like the game was making a statement on anti-heroes and drawing inspiration from iconic comics to do so. And make no mistake, this Homelander cuts loose in a big way. In the process, MK1's Homelander ending actually turns him into a more fearsome monster than the TV show.

The following contains spoilers for The Boys TV show.

Mortal Kombat 1's Homelander Ending, Explained

Once gamers beat the individual mode with the MK1 Homelander, the scenes show him saving the Earth from the monsters that came through a portal. Fans would recall these portals allowed incursions to occur into the new world the Fire God Liu Kang built. Homelander isn't fazed, though. He jokes about how the population ridiculed him. Some deemed him an oppressive tyrant. Now, they called on him to help them.

It plays up the concept of an evil Superman. Homelander is seen hovering around Vought Tower as America burns. He admits that he doesn't slay the enemy because it's the right thing to do. He does so because he needs a home. He's still selfish in his endeavors, as he detests the citizens for their disrespect. However, once he gets the job done, he sees the rift is still open.

Homelander flies through, which confirms how he ends up in the game in the first place. He's seen attacking Liu Kang's heroes. He maims some of them, including Liu Kang and Kung Lao. Homelander admits this is a lot more fun. He enjoys a tournament where gods and monsters fight to the death, and he compares it to Vought's take on Disneyland, Voughtland, but for him. Homelander wishes he had known about this realm sooner.

He's having the time of his life as he proceeds to wage war on the alliance. This takes him off the leash in a massive way. In the show, he has to restrain himself. As much as Antony Starr's Homelander kills, there are rules. He's playing politics as he knows there are other nations and supes who could come after him. The numbers would be strenuous for him. As a result, he plays the PR angle, maintains his image, and uses Vought to control the masses via media, entertainment, beauty products, and such.

It's a slow burn towards being a god. But in the MK1 finale, he gets to speed this up. All he has to do is kill and conquer. Not even the comics allowed him such free rein. This open ending has fans curious to know how his quest evolves and if more will be explained in future DLC packs. Homelander's crusade is going to be bloodier than ever, which fits the savage nature of this game and what he is caging inside.

Mortal Kombat 1's Homelander Gets to Officially Lose His Humanity

Now, a big part of what has been holding Homelander back is his human persona, John. The Boys Season 4 confirms he was implanted in a woman Vought paid. But when she was giving birth, he killed her with his laser eyes. He didn't have a father, as he was created using Soldier Boy's DNA. He was nothing more than intellectual property and a super-soldier. In time, the Vought lab experimented on him, tortured and abused him to see how strong he was. Since then, Homelander has struggled with his genetics and the incessant need to get rid of that identity.

He was controlled by Vought but broke out of being their pawn. Homelander has taken over the company, but he's still bogged down by his humanity. It led to him hallucinating his ultimate evil side, seeing it in the mirror like Gollum from The Lord of the Rings, or Norman Osborn with Green Goblin. It keeps warning him to burn his human side out and that need for approval. It results in him killing the lab workers in Season 4, so he could put the past to bed. Still, there are lingering effects that traumatize him.

Homelander still hurting from never knowing his parents. And the fact that he now has to be a father to Ryan. No matter what, he has compassion and empathy in him, even if it means he'll be less intimidating. Conversely, the game doesn't weigh him down with these "weaknesses." Homelander is free and unfettered to become the monster he was meant to be. He has fully embraced his dark side due to the invasion. He gets to show his world he is their lord. Plus, his ego motivates him to flex that power in another reality.

The fact he meets aliens and other beings in this dimension is nothing more than another challenge. They are targets he has to slay in order to be enthroned. And he doesn't have to hold back in doing so. He didn't want to break Earth, so he was careful. Here, he doesn't have to be careful in Liu Kang's world. Even if he destroys it, causing collateral damage and mass casualties, he can go home and rule. This dimension is nothing more than a toy, and he is a kid having a blast in the new crimson sandbox.

Can Mortal Kombat 1's Homelander Play Nicely With Other Villains?

This game is all about coalitions. Shang Tsung formed his one with the likes of Quan Chi in a new spin on Deadly Alliance. The unofficial Cleric of Chaos, Havik, then scoured the Multiverse for variants of MK fighters for his own invasion. One has to wonder if this Homelander on the loose would fit in with any of these sinister groups. Some may have warriors more powerful than him.

Admittedly, they could manipulate and use him as a weapon. He's simple-minded and needs guidance. Turning him into a hound of war would be an interesting direction as MK1 continues its story in future DLC packs. Havik is looking to burn this world down and bring about his own brand of Order. He could promise Homelander his own regions to rule or even dupe him into being a loyalist who'll get to murder once people rebel.

Homelander isn't one to play well with others, though. Or take orders. It's why he turned against Madelyn (his handler at Vought) and killed her. And why he had Stan Edgar sent to jail. He hates chains. But in a world where Shao Kahn exists and other tyrants like Shinnok and Kotal Kahn may be due soon, Homelander would struggle to survive by himself. He'd be drowned by the sheer volume of enemies around him seeking the same throne he craves.

That does leave room for him to evolve. He's usually the hunter, not the hunted. But with the script flipped, MK1 can have him unlock new abilities and become an even stronger Superman — freeze breath is one example. Upgrading these added-on characters and their narratives with each DLC pack would make them more valuable and feel like a cohesive, flowing story is being told that keeps canon and established continuity intact. This way, there would be fewer complaints about NetherRealm Studios' monetization in what gamers have deemed gratuitous cash grabs.

Ultimately, this syncs the game up with the potential the comics never explored, and with what the TV show is mapping out. The Boys Season 5 is angling to have this unhinged Homelander trying to run or destroy America to close the series out. If MK1 times its roll-outs, it could show this Homelander in a foreign world with bigger threats than capes, supes, viruses, or nuclear weapons. That would be a sight to behold and truly make his current MK1 ending not a finale, but the start of a terrifying new chapter for the real Homelander.