What exactly is an 'anti-hero'?

Question

And are they more popular than standard 'heroes'?

Answer 1

An anti hero seems to be a flawed hero for flawed people. I have seen many people object to powerful characters like Superman on the basis that he is too powerful (forgetting that there are many other characters similarly powerful, like the Silver Surfer.)

What he is not, is conflicted. Long ago, Marvel introduced Spider Man and Fantastic Four. One was about a kid who had all the fears and hangups of normal kids, but super powers on top if it. The other was about a hero team who didn’t behave like a hero team but more like a family of alcoholics.

Marvel set the stage for an entire generation of kids to emulate their heroes in the only way that was realistically possible for them— being neurotic and dysfunctional. It is in the nature of kids to be imitative, and to copy those they admire. But Marvel did not leave them open an avenue to imitate their heroes. Not having been born on Krypton or having the self-discipline to spend our billions on martial arts training and Bat-equipment, most of us are still waiting for the third option. We wish and hope that someday we will be hit by cosmic rays, or bit by a radioactive spider, or that a dying alien will give us a power ring.

The comics publishers are in the business to make money. As much as possible. So they make “heroes” whose function is to APPROVE of the kid with anger management issues, who would like to become another Hulk or Wolverine, or a kid with substance abuse issues, who would like to become another Cloak or Dagger, etc, etc.

True heroism (and you might want to check out my Best Answer on that topic) is a moral issue: doing your best, striving with all your courage even when it seems all you will do is give the next hero the chance to succeed, and you will be blamed for what went wrong.

As you can see, I’m not very fond of anti heroes. I like them, I just have to realize that they are not the best role models. But the publishers are not in business to miss out on opportunities to separate kids from their money.

15 JAN 07, 1737 hrs, GMT.

Answer 2

The standard idea of a hero is that they are pure, and stand up for trutch and justice etc. An anti-hero is someone who doesn't fit this mould, but still acts in an heroic way, often even if they don't want to. Think of Spawn, or Wolverine. They achieve the same results as the normal 'hero', but do it in a way that is unconventional. In this sense, anti-heroes are popular because they are more realistic, more rounded characters that people can relate to better.

Answer 3

do not confuse anti-hero with villian. The anti-hero is a hero yet isn't interior the classic words. We oftentimes see heroes as reliable adult men with wonderful powers that exceed all others. The anti-hero is greater of a real guy or woman and greater believeable character. he or she may be not as reliable or powerful yet look plenty greater genuine than Superman flying throughout the time of ny city. indexed under are some examples. a prevalent hero is what we would think of as superheroes including Spiderman and the form. The anti-hero could be human beings like Pip from great expectancies or Smith from 1984. the main mandatory element is to not CONFUSE THE ANTI-HERO WITH THE VILLAIN. they are 2 SEPERATE human beings. even in the event that they often would OVERLAP. i'm hoping this helps. sturdy success!

Answer 4

It's something between the hero and the villain. Anti-heroes make heroes more heroic. They compete with the hero but not in the same way that a hero competes with a villain. To illustrate, in the Star Wars trilogy, Hans Solo is the anti-hero, Luke Skywalker is the hero, and Darth Vader is the villain. Hans Solo and Luke are oftentimes seen arguing with one another, oftentimes highlighting the heroic traits of Luke.

Answer 5

Anti-hero is a character that uses any means to resolve a situation. And has no moral boundaries, so killing for this type of character is a definite. The Punisher, is a perfect example of an Anti-Hero. He will kill anyone he believes has negative intentions, but will do anything to protect the innocent.

Answer 6

An 'Anti-hero' is a hero who does good, but has the real potential to do bad / mischievous things along the way.

As for their popularity compared to standard heroes, difficult to say. Probably about the same, they are more realistic as as they are fallible.

Answer 7

An anti hero is someone who an audience takes too, but has qualities that would normally make him hated. The most famous anti hero is Robert Di Nero's character in Taxi Driver. He was a twisted, racist psychopath, but many people liked him in the movie and were even rooting for him to succeed his 'mission'.

Answer 8

I think the idea of an anti hero is someone who breaks the normal stereotypes of a hero. Hero = big, strong, male, white, young etc an anti hero might be = female, old pensioner, smoker but still saves the world!! Sometimes an anti hero is used to classify someone who is really a 'baddie' but you can't help but like!

Answer 9

When the universe was created there was matter and its opposite anti matter when these touch, there is a huge explosion called mutual annihilation. This is the same for an anti hero, if he touches the hero he counters the BOOM!!!! lol no more hero.

Lol joke!!

Answer 10

An anti-hero is a character that isn't altogether the most reliable or nicest person, yet still holds an endearing quality.
Randall McMurphy in Cuckoo's Nest springs to mind.