Anti-Heroes: Why We Love Them & Keys Ways to Give Them Depth
By testing usual ideas of what’s right, they open the door to stories that have more layers and include more people. Comic books have given us anti-heroes like Deadpool, a wise-cracking mercenary with a twisted moral code, and Catwoman, a thief with a heart of gold (sometimes). Forty-five years later, the creators of comics, movies, TV shows, and games are still seeking the next Wolverine. Fans love his look — like a combination of Sting and Columbo — and they dig his seen-it-all attitude.
What challenges arise from glorifying antiheroes?
In Assassin’s Creed, players step into the shoes of an ordinary 21st century guy as he vicariously experiences the life of Altaïr Ibn-La’Ahad, a 12th century secret agent challenging those who seek to control humanity. Mad Men is celebrated for its nuanced character development and its exploration of the human condition, and the characters’ choices often challenge conventional morality, blurring the lines between right and wrong. With its realistic portrayals of violence, betrayal, and power struggles, the show doesn’t shy away from the darker aspects of its characters’ lives. It challenges viewers to confront their own complicity in sympathizing with characters who engage in morally reprehensible activities.
It’s hard to define the essence of Prototype protagonist Alex Mercer, given that he’s an amnesiac — and a shape-shifter to boot. But anyone on the receiving end of this mysterious video game character’s spiky body-blades probably doesn’t have time to dwell on whether he’s a hero or a villain. Writer James Robinson’s 1990s version of the Golden Age superhero Starman was a Gen-X hipster, nostalgic for the characters and adventures of his father’s generation. Ultimately, whether a character is considered an anti-villain or anti-hero, largely depends on the time period, the culture, and the individual viewer. How we categorize those amorphous characters says way more about us than the author ever intended.
Writer/artist Howard Chaykin created the freewheeling science-fiction series American Flagg! During the ‘80s indie comics boom, imagining a future where the Cold War had been won by mega-corporations. A rakish former TV star named Reuben Flagg, who pines for the old days and defies his overlords to inform the public about how society has been corrupted. It is unsettling to acknowledge one’s “darker” inclinations, but I feel we are deluding ourselves if we think we are devoid of any.
As a writing prompt, consider what moral code your anti-hero could follow. This code doesn’t have to align with conventional societal norms, but it should provide your character with a personal framework of right and wrong. In the TV series Dexter, the main character – a forensics specialist by day and a serial killer by night – hunts down murderers who have slipped through the cracks of the justice system. The show aired for almost a decade garnering millions of fans who were fascinated by dark comedy plots, the carnage and ambiguous morals. What about a meth dealer like Walter White from Breaking Bad or Tony Soprano, the gangster from HBO’s The Sopranos? According to research made by Mina Tsay-Vogel and colleagues at Boston University’s College of Communication (COM) what makes us like these anti-heroes is directly related to how we feel about ourselves.
But as they grow up, the siblings drift apart, only to reunite years later when their father’s death brings them back home. Explore how you can use your mission to set the right culture for your business. Get a comprehensive understanding of the gut microbiome, the many species, and the vital roles they play. If you would like to comment on this story or anything else you have seen on BBC Culture, head over to our Facebook page or message us on Twitter.
Writer Bill Mantlo and artist Keith Giffen’s creation has a mean streak, but he’s also fiercely loyal, and an inspiration to anyone who’s tiny but powerful. Over the course of his many comics, TV, and video game appearances, Deathlok is generally a tragic figure — and a fascinating one. He’s willing to jeopardize his freedom to a) make sure Clarice is okay and to b) exact punishment on a terrible human being who’s been victimizing/terrorizing/exploiting the most vulnerable in society. As audiences grow increasingly sophisticated, the old tropes of noble good and pure evil are largely unworkable outside of genres like, say high-fantasy or speculative fiction. In speculative fiction, our protagonist might encounter a being from another dimension that is pure evil and okay. My dear friend and talented thriller author Allison Brennan and I have had a long-standing debate.
She has a great love for television and firmly believes that entertainment is a world of wondrous adventures that deserves to be shared and explored – she invites you to join her. Please feel free to contact Tiffany at or follow her at on Twitter (@TVWatchtower). It helps us recognize how our collective anxieties and moral dilemmas are reflected in the stories we tell. By portraying these types of villains, creators are tapping into current societal concerns and fears, prompting viewers to think critically about the world around them.
The Prevalence Of The Anti-Hero Archetype In Modern Society
Her business exposes her to the criminal underworld and endangers her family. Yet, with her fierce determination (and cougar status), she finds customers, creates her own weed, and maintains her family’s livelihood. However, when her husband dies and her family is at risk of losing their lifestyle, she starts selling marijuana and turns a hefty profit.
Best TV Anti-Heroes Of All Time, Ranked
Unlike the traditional heroes which we used to see to be bound by some ethics, codes and positivity, the villains nowadays capture the audience’s attention by showing both the dark and positive sides of human nature. The world of screenwriting can often seem a daunting endeavor, filled with innumerable rules, structures, and principles. Yet, as the ‘Dexter’ series exemplifies, the essence of exceptional screenwriting often lies in breaking these rules and treading into unchartered narrative territories. Dexter’s story challenges the conventions of traditional screenplay structure and offers invaluable insights into writing compelling anti-hero characters. An anti-hero isn’t inherently good or bad, they possess attributes of both and can make questionable choices, but when they are a lead on a TV series, there is almost always something to connect with in their character. Life is more complicated than simple black and white, and watching an antagonistic protagonist go through their journey can feel authentic and deliver emotionally engaging stories.
Ultimately, White’s complexity as an antihero lies in his ability to draw the audience into his world of moral ambiguity, flaws, and inner turmoil. The emergence and ascent of antiheroes in the realm of television have left a mark on the medium, reshaping the way stories are told and characters are portrayed. Oh, antiheroes, with their tangled messes and moral quandaries, give us stories that resonate. They make us question things, they hold a mirror up to our flaws, and they entertain wildly with their chaotic human circus. Stories are more challenging, more engaging these days and antiheroes, with their spitfire complexity, are thriving because they dig into the real, messy aspects of life that we’re drawn to.
Shows like “Breaking Bad” and “Mad Men” have complex characters that make us feel for them. Over 60% of viewers like characters with flaws like pride and self-doubt28. This shows how natura quiz stories are changing, moving from simple good vs. evil to more complex tales29.