Antiheroes in Graphic Novels by Chasity MorenoDecember 14, 2015

 

Next year two films will be hitting the big screen with leads that do not fit the typical superhero mold. Deadpool, from Marvel comics, will be featuring the lone character as the star and Suicide Squad features a rogues gallery of villains and vigilantes from the DC Comics world. These well-known comic book characters are usually referred to as antiheroes, people who often work outside of the law and depending on the situation may be friend or foe to someone in distress.

So what is an antihero? The term has been used for hundreds of years in literature and can be dated as far back as the 1700s. The term refers to a character in a story or movie that lack the characteristics of a conventional hero such as morality, selflessness, courage and generosity.  Many times when they do good it's for personal gain, and they often have no problem going outside the law as a means to an end. Characters such as this appear often in comic book stories where the world is not always black and white when it comes to making ethical decisions. 

  

Anticipation is high for the upcoming Deadpool film. The character is very quirky and anyone who has ever read his comics knows just how much. So who is this masked man? He is a mentally unstable and disfigured mercenary known for his humor and superhuman ability of accelerated healing (he can literally regrow severed limbs and vital organs). He pays the price for his special ability because it is what makes him unstable and therefore not always on the right side of the law. His nickname is the "Merc with a Mouth" because he is talkative and has a tendency to "break the fourth wall" meaning writers have him talk directly to the readers. So what makes him an antihero? While he is known for being a mercenary he also has a strong moral code so at times this conflicts with his less than honorable activities. He also seems to genuinely care about other people and despite his less than savory origins has managed to be considered one of the good guys (most of the time).
 

The Suicide Squad (formerly known as Task Force X) is comprised of villains and vigilantes forced to do the bidding of Amanda Waller. Waller is the head of a government organization called A.R.G.U.S who is willing to do whatever it takes to save humanity. Most of the missions involve questionable actions so the Suicide Squad was created from some of the most notorious prisoners at Belle Reve. Belle Reve is a federal penitentiary and sanitarium in the DC comic universe that houses meta humans and other super villains but also serves as the headquarters for Suicide Squad operations. If those who are recruited don't  do what they're told, they will be killed via devices implanted in their necks but if they comply, time will be taken off of their prison sentence. Needless to say with limited options most go along for the ride which leads many of these former villains to become antiheroes.

So you learned what the Suicide Squad is, but who are its members? They have changed over the years but the current rotating members are: Harley Quinn, King Shark, Deadshot, Captain Boomerang, El Diablo, Deathstroke, Reverse-Flash, Black Manta, Enchantress, Slipknot, Katana, Rick Flag and Killer Croc to name a few. If you want to know more about any of the members just click on their name.

These  are only a few of the antiheroes in the comic book world. Below you will find a list of other well known characters  with this persona.

Catwoman 

Catwoman is known as one of Batman's many nemeses. While she is a burglar and a thief, her heart is often in the right place when it comes to helping people. Like many comic book characters she has seen many changes over the years. Her backstory is usually one with an unhappy home life where she ends up having to fend for herself (hence her skills at thievery).  She has alternated between villain and hero, falling somewhere in between. Her current incarnation is good, for now.

John Constantine

John Constantine has the job from hell, literally. His character is an occult detective and professional sorcerer from England. His antisocial behavior, brutal attitude, penchant for foul language, and chain smoking make him a titular antihero figure.  He is also willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done which sometimes means putting others in danger. Despite his behavior Constantine does care about people, and is constantly putting himself in the crosshairs of the battle between Heaven and Hell for humanity's collective souls.

Judge Dredd

Joseph Dredd is an American law enforcement officer (although a British creation), or street judge as they are called, in a dystopian future. He exists in a world where crime runs rampant so officers have been given clearance to invoke the law as they see fit. They are allowed to convict, sentence and execute on sight.  While his duty holds priority over everything his devotion is not blind. There were times when the character resigned from the force based on his principles but he inevitably returned. On several occasions he has saved his city where he works and even saved the world during World War 4, but Dredd is the personification of The Law and as such cannot be bought or reasoned with. If he feels he is in the right he will enact justice.

The Incredible Hulk

The Incredible Hulk is one of Marvel's most popular characters. He is also known as Bruce Banner, a scientist who was caught in a gamma bomb explosion. His alter ego is hard for him to control and comes out when he gets angry. The angrier Hulk gets the stronger he becomes. Banner is not always able to control himself when he becomes Hulk and many times in the comics they are written as completely separate beings despite inhabiting the same body. It is this split personality and issue with anger (which sometimes makes him unable to be reasoned with) that make Hulk an atypical hero.

Venom

Venom is a symbiote, a sentient alien life form that must bond to a host in order to live. After bonding the alien bestows his powers and abilities on the host. When it attaches itself to a human, it calls itself Venom. The character has been housed in a few bodies but his most well known is that of Eddie Brock. Brock was a journalist who accused the wrong man of being a serial killer and Spiderman found the real one. Disgraced, Brock comes into contact with the symbiote Spiderman rejected (once he realized what it was capable of) and bonds with it becoming Venom. Although usually at odds with Spiderman, Brock's Venom does attempt to do right by saving people he believes to be innocent.

Black Widow

 

Natasha Romanova, codename Black Widow, is a former Russian spy. As an extremely well trained assassin Romanova was often pitted against some very well known heroes including Iron Man and the Avengers. At some point she develops a relationship with Hawkeye, another dubious hero. When she realizes she has been brainwashed, she fights against it and joins the ranks of the Avengers. Before defecting, Black Widow goes through many twists and turns, both working for and against the good guys. Eventually she chooses the side of good and even at one point works solo as a vigilante. Working outside of the prescribed justice system, even if it is for good, and her past as a Russian spy all add to Romanova's place in comic history as an anithero.

Punisher

The Punisher is a no holds barred antihero who will do literally anything, including assault, kidnapping ,extortion and of course murder to name a few, in his war on crime. Motivated by the murder of his wife and kids during a mob related shoot out, Castle goes on a rampage against the mafia and other criminal organizations in New York. Even after he murders those that took away his family Castle continues his fight against organized crime. Despite the violence he employs, Castle only uses it against those he knows are involved in criminal activity.

Wolverine

Some might not consider Wolverine an antihero  because he works with the X-Men, a group of mutants that  are inherently  good and yearn for acceptance by humans. But while he does help others, it is his surly attitude and use of deadly force when necessary that make him less mainstream than other members of the group. Wolverine was born with superhuman senses and the ability to heal from most wounds. As a young man, he was kidnapped by a secret organization and had an unbreakable skeleton and claws placed inside his body. Treated as less than human he still harbors anger over what was done to him and while it took years for him to learn how to control himself, (with the help of Professor Xavier, the leader of the X-Men) he still loses himself at times.

Think there are  characters missing from this list? Comment below with your suggestions of even more comic antiheroes.

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Comments

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Great Post

Submitted by Billy Gschlecht on December 17, 2015 - 3:12pm

Nice!! An excellent and well researched post. Oh, and Judge Dredd is awesome.

Thanks William!! Glad you

Submitted by Chasity Moreno on February 2, 2016 - 11:40am

Thanks William!! Glad you enjoyed it.