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Entertainment often comes full circle. In The Boys, Homelander is an obvious parody of Superman, which is why there has been so much discussion about who would win in a fight. Who is stronger, the Man of Steel or the superhero with no morals to hold him back? Well, The Boys Season 5 doesn’t try to answer that question -- and fans might have already seen a comic book attempt to do so earlier this year - but it does offer an unexpected appearance by Superman in Episode 4.

We’re serious. It might just help if you close your eyes when he talks. You'll recognize his voice before you recognize him.

Obviously, we’re going to be discussing some spoilers for The Boys Season 5, so turn away now if that isn’t what you’re after.

In Episode 4 of The Boys Season 5, we have a scene where Annie, aka Starlight, goes to visit her estranged father. In an earlier season, we found out that Annie’s father left because he regretted allowing his daughter to be given Compound V and get superpowers. Here, they are reunited and, though it is certainly rocky at points, it ends with Starlight’s father giving her exactly the pep talk she needs at the moment she needs it.

What does this have to do with Superman? Well, Annie’s father is played by Superman. No, not Henry Cavill or David Corenswet or even Brandon Routh. No, he’s played by Tim Daly, who voiced Superman in Superman: The Animated Series as well as multiple animated films over the years. While Daly has had a very successful career as an actor, going all the way back to Wings in 1990, Superman remains one of his most iconic roles.

Was Tim Daly cast as Starlight’s father as an intentional nod to his time as Superman? Maybe, but it is also likely that he was just the right person for the role who happened to have played Superman in one of his most successful television series. Either way, it is a fun little easter egg for fans to spot... especially given the role Superman played in the origins of The Boys, way back when.

The Boys continues weekly on Prime Video.

They are brash, unforgiving, and a little rough around the edges... and they're the good guys! The heroes of Prime Video's The Boys, led by Karl Urban's Butcher, go up against the 'superheroes' that is the Seven, led by Anthony Starr's Homelander, leader of the Seven. With that show's five seasons plus spinoffs such as Gen V, Diabolical, and reportedly more, there's a lot to the Boys Franchise, and we're here to help... with: 

• How to watch The Boys in order
• Watch the full, official Boys panel from New York Comic Con 2021
• The secret origin of The Boys as a DC Comics superteam to beat the Justice League
• What to watch after The Boys
• Watch The Boys Season 5 panel from ECCC 2026