Anti-heros: Are they all dicks?

[biGBum333]

Is it just me or are most anti-heros dicks?

The majority of them I come across (not just in video games but other mediums too) seem like conceited wankers, ie alex mercer from prototype and alex delarge from clockwork orange. I know those aren't the best examples but they were the first ones that came to mind lol. Are there any anti-heros out there that are likable or that one can still relate with? What's your opinion?

Discuss away...

 

[BonsaiK]

Anti-heroes who aren't complete wankers are just called "heroes".

 

[Daniel Ferguson]

Arthur Dent.

 

[Axeli]

I recall that the definition for the term is that they are heroes with notable unheroic qualities. So yeah, it doesn't necessarily mean a hero who is an asshole.

And I think you are talking about villain protagonists, not anti-heroes. Big difference.

 

[hooksashands]

Surprised no one has mentioned Rorschach.

 

[Grouchy Imp_v1legacy]

Well, yeah. Otherwise they'd be heroes.

 

[biGBum333]

Anti-heroes who aren't complete wankers are just called "heroes".

i guess thats mostly true, but i dont see why they ALL need to be made out as such douchebags. we're all human after all. i just think there should be more anti-heros out there with a little bit more empathy or character to them.

 

[biGBum333]

I recall that the definition for the term is that they are heroes with notable unheroic qualities. So yeah, it doesn't necessarily mean a hero who is an asshole.

And I think you are talking about villain protagonists, not anti-heroes. Big difference.

im pretty sure Anthony Burgess classified alex delarge as an antihero. but i guess that opinion would vary...

 

[TheDoctor455]

Er... no...
Another form of "anti-hero" is someone who has been doing a lot of heroic things (preferably for a living) for several years or decades, and wants to stop.

In literature, the first anti-heroes were simply ordinary people... the exact opposite of what heroes up to that point had been.

 

[BonsaiK]

Anti-heroes who aren't complete wankers are just called "heroes".

i guess thats mostly true, but i dont see why they ALL need to be made out as such douchebags. we're all human after all. i just think there should be more anti-heros out there with a little bit more empathy or character to them.

The entire concept of the anti-hero is something that is neccessarily drawn with bold brush strokes. The anti-hero has to be someone who, even if they saved the world, and then rescued your kittens from a tree in that world, you'd stop short of assigning them actual "hero" status on the basis of their personality traits alone, and for that, the character really does need to be one hell of a fuckstain. However as an anti-hero you can be a fuckstain with empathy and character, of a fuckstain without one, it probably depends on how good your scriptwriter is, because even the worst villian in real life has their softer side (which is why cartoon and comic bad guys are always so fucking boring).

 

[Srdjan]

I can relate to anti-heroes, if somebody did that kind of stuff to me only forgiveness he would get would be bazooka rocket with forgiveness written on it.

It's perfectly normal to rather go and kill everybody who kill your family or something, if you are capable of doing it, then sit home and cry.

 

[Scout Tactical]

Anti-heroes who aren't complete wankers are just called "heroes".

i guess thats mostly true, but i dont see why they ALL need to be made out as such douchebags. we're all human after all. i just think there should be more anti-heros out there with a little bit more empathy or character to them.

I don't think you have the proper understanding of an antihero. There are plenty of antiheroes who have undesirable qualities other than being douchebags. For instance:
Cowardice. Example: Arthur Dent.
Avarice. Example: Jay Gatsby.

Here's a list of antiheroes to broaden your horizons. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fictional_antiheroes

 

[GuerrillaClock]

I dare you to call Stone Cold Steve Austin a dick.

 

[ssgt splatter]

Well.. That would kind of defeat the point of an 'anti-hero'.

What he said. I think the point of being an anti-hero is to be a bit of a jerk.

 

[biGBum333]

Anti-heroes who aren't complete wankers are just called "heroes".

i guess thats mostly true, but i dont see why they ALL need to be made out as such douchebags. we're all human after all. i just think there should be more anti-heros out there with a little bit more empathy or character to them.

I don't think you have the proper understanding of an antihero. There are plenty of antiheroes who have undesirable qualities other than being douchebags. For instance:
Cowardice. Example: Arthur Dent.
Avarice. Example: Jay Gatsby.

Here's a list of antiheroes to broaden your horizons. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fictional_antiheroes

cheers. i think its just i havent come across enough of them.

 

[BonsaiK]

Anti-heroes who aren't complete wankers are just called "heroes".

i guess thats mostly true, but i dont see why they ALL need to be made out as such douchebags. we're all human after all. i just think there should be more anti-heros out there with a little bit more empathy or character to them.

I don't think you have the proper understanding of an antihero. There are plenty of antiheroes who have undesirable qualities other than being douchebags. For instance:
Cowardice. Example: Arthur Dent.
Avarice. Example: Jay Gatsby.

Here's a list of antiheroes to broaden your horizons. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fictional_antiheroes

Dent and Gatsby were both douchebags of the highest order, I thought.

 

[biGBum333]

I dare you to call Stone Cold Steve Austin a dick.

i love that guy

 

[Saltyk]

Captain Jack Sparrow.
Lelouch from Code Geass.
Altair from Assassin's Creed.

Those spring to mind as anti-heroes.