Antihero

Can I say enough about how much I love that character? No, I cannot.

Here's a very strange one for you, but one that has always haunted me. Joseph from Saul Bellow's book "The Dangling Man". It's a completely different sort of perspective on an antihero.

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Homer Simpson is an anti-hero, but only in the "flawed everyman" sense.

Marv in Sin City.



P2

You beat me to it.

Little known factoid: When Mary Shelley began writing the novel, it was called the "year without a summer" after the Indonesian volcano Mt. Tamburo erupted. It was the largest eruption in recorded history, dumping 50 cu.km. of magma into the air and lowering the world's temperatures by an estimated average of 3 degrees C. Ms. Shelley obviously used the increased indoor time for good purpose

Oh, and I second Marv from Sin City. Great character.

Arguably, Frank Castle, AKA The Punisher, would count as an antihero, in the sense of righting wrongs but in a way a more traditional hero would consider to be "dirty".

(He's probably my favorite comic book protagonist in general. No super powers, just skill based on hard work with an all-too-mortal body.)

Kane (see the Kane books by Karl Edward Wagner)

Kane is one of the first humans to walk the earth, and after murdering his own brother, was cursed by a mad god to live and wander the earth until he dies by violence. Bored, jaded, and self-absorbed, he stalks an ancient version of the world, playing at empire building and political intrigue, going on foolhardy adventures, and generally being an incredibly knowledgable, powerful and dangerous person.

He doesn't set out, usually, to do evil, but is a strong believer in the ends justifying the means. He tangles with those more wicked than himself usually, and while not always the victor in the larger sense, he seldom leaves enemies alive behind him.

Elric (see the Elric of Melnibone books by Michael Moorcock)

Elric, the last true ruler of an ancient and jaded race, develops a concience of sorts. That, and his finding the sword Stormbringer, signals the final age of the old world, and the rapid approach of the age of men.

His adventures are many, and most have a definite morality to them. He seldoms wishes to do ill deeds or hurt others, but he leaves a long line of death and destruction behind him, including that of his friends and lovers. He is a sad and tragic figure indeed.

Marv (see Sin City graphic novels and movie, created by Frank Miller)

"This is blood for blood and by the gallon. These are the old days, the bad days, the all-or-nothing days. They're back! There's no choice left. And I'm ready for war."

"I don't know why you died, Goldie. I don't know why and I don't know how. I never even met you before tonight. But you were a friend and more when I needed one. And when I find out who did it, it won't be quick and quiet like it was with you. It'll be loud and nasty - my kind of kill. And when his eyes go dead, the hell I send him to will seem like heaven after what I've done to him. I love you, Goldie."

Marv is, as described in the movie, a gladiator/warrior born in the wrong age. His quest to avenge the death of a beautiful hooker is the definition of anti-heroics. He makes them pay...


Magneto (See X-Men comic books and movies)

Magento is a comic book character with some very real depth. As a child he was rounded up and put into a concentration camp by the Nazis, and he turned out to be an incredibly powerful mutant. He thinks he is absolutely right in his convictions and the war he wages on non-mutant humanity, and in the comics, he is proven right more than once. He is another believer in the ends justify the means.

Detective Vic Mackey from The Shield.

Michael Chiklis has done such a wonderful job portraying the extremely-flawed character. Who knew The Commish would go so far?

Tommy Gavin (Denis Leary) on Rescue Me is a decent mild anti-hero as well.

Jack Bauer.



Nah, the picture prolly wasn't necessary... I just like having an excuse to look at him ^_^