Butcher's laser eyes are a different color from Homelander and Ryan's because Butcher's yellow lasers might actually be stronger than the red lasers, if going by the color of the lasers having the same meaning as real-world lasers. Even if Butcher's yellow laser eyes aren't stronger than Homelander's red lasers, his own version of Homelander's most feared power promises a major showdown between the two as The Boys season 3 continues. If Butcher's lasers hurt Homelander, the unstable co-captain of The Seven will be in for a nasty surprise.
There are a few reasons why Billy Butcher's lasers are yellow compared to Homelander's red. The yellow laser eyes are a first for both Butcher and the show, but there have been plenty of moments where Homelander has used his red laser vision. If The Boys has red laser eyes, they may be the weakest on the spectrum. Butcher takes a dose of the V24, despite his own values and hatred for Supes, and easily cuts former Payback member Gunpowder in two, but his laser eyes are yellow, not red. While Gunpowder wasn't the strongest member of Soldier Boy's Payback team, Butcher's beatdown of Soldier Boy's sidekick revealed many differences from the more prominent red lasers. The conflict between Butcher and Homelander in The Boys season 3 looks to gain even more steam with Butcher's new abilities. Butcher's powers in The Boys season 3 hurt him, even in his powered-up state, a distinct side effect or testament to their power that isn't seen with Homelander or Ryan. The gunpowder was not burned by Butcher's laser eyes and the aftermath was a lot bloodier because of the yellow laser eyes.
The theory that Butcher's yellow laser eyes might be more powerful is supported by the color of his eyes. It's possible that Butcher's body wasn't conditioned for the sudden influx of power as the bodies of natural-born supes are. The question is what powers the rest of The Boys might have.
The Boys has revealed different colored laser eyes before. The power of the laser increases from orange to yellow, green, and then blue, when red is lowest in energy. It's possible that the concentration of V 24 is more potent than that of Compound V and the powers are more intense. The laser baby in season 1 had blue laser eyes and should be grown up like Teddy Stillwell. It has a surprising effect when Queen Maeve gives Butcher three doses of V 24, a version of Compound V that only lasts 24 hours.
Homelander's red lasers have been shown to cut through airplanes and regular people with ease and can only be withstood by Supes like Stormfront who are pretty durable. Stormfront was badly burned when Ryan lasered her at the end of the second season. Homelander casually lasered Stormfront's chest, but Butcher's lasers cut through Gunpowder's head. Ryan is able to cut Stormfront down because he gets his laser eyes from his father.
Prime Video has new episodes of The Boys every Friday. There are things to know about The Boys season 3.