A New Type of Hero? The Massive Rise of Antiheroes | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

A New Type of Hero? The Massive Rise of Antiheroes

Villains Gone Good

66
A New Type of Hero? The Massive Rise of Antiheroes
Wallpaper Abyss

There is a saying about stories: “Everybody loves a good villain.” It certainly makes sense, especially since a hero needs a good foil for which to balance the film and explore their morals, values, and choices. I would, however, like to amend that old adage to: “Everybody loves a good (usual) villain with a relatable, soft spot.” I know it does not sound as catchy, nor as straightforward, but it is a view that stories – movies, films, books, video games, etc. – have explored quite frequently as of late.

Especially in comics, but certainly not limited to them, superheroes and supervillains have occasionally been recast in various different archetypes. Generic good guys and bad guys seem to be a thing of the past, deemed too cartoonish and stereotypical. Tragic villains are certainly not a new concept, nor are villains who have a last-minute change of hearts, but turning them into antihero protagonists is something different entirely.

One of the biggest examples of this occurrence is the case of Shadow the Hedgehog. Made by the antagonist Dr. Eggman as a clone of Sonic the Hedgehog, the titular protagonist of the series, Shadow the Hedgehog debuted as an opponent of Sonic and a villain in some of the early video games. However, due to his massive popularity among fans, Shadow turned from enemy into rival, usual ally, and almost always a protagonist of some degree. Eventually, Shadow even got his own game, Shadow the Hedgehog, which played off of his changing role, allowing Shadow to either be the hero or the villain depending on his (the player’s) actions throughout the campaign. Nowadays, Shadow is among some of the most popular and well-known video game characters ever.


The character of Magneto, of Marvel Comics, has received this treatment a bit as of late as well. Despite previously acting as a frequent antagonist to the X-Men, he currently has his own comic series of which he is the protagonist. Moreover, in the movie X2: X-Men United, he aids the major protagonists for much of the story, only to turn on them once the major antagonist had been vanquished. Lately, under Michael Fassbender’s tenure in the role, movies have made efforts to explain how he became the “villain” that he is and why he behaves the way he does. He often blurs the line between antagonist and antihero, while Ian McKellen’s portrayal of the older version of Magneto in Days of Future Past makes him a wholesale protagonist.


With the arrival of Suicide Squad(SPOILERS AHEAD), audiences of the movie are forced to cheer for the usual villains, who by manner of Amanda Waller’s leverage become the protagonists of the film. This then is perhaps in accordance with the movie’s slogan: “Worst. Heroes. Ever.” With the case of the movie, director David Ayer had to find a way to turn the villains into antiheroes. To help with this, he made the main supervillain an apocalypse-hungry, merciless, greedy, and purely evil witch, Enchantress. Almost all of the boxes in the “villain checklist” are marked off with this one.

To further help garner sympathy for the Suicide Squad, Ayer played off a version of the comics in which the members were constantly under threat of death due to an explosive placed inside of them that could be triggered at any time Waller wanted. Rather than humans, the members are treated as assets only to be eliminated if necessary. Furthermore, this iteration of the Suicide Squad incorporated an actual superheroine, Katana, and a special forces operative, Rick Flag, to help further bolster the protagonist nature of the team.

However, it is Ayer’s depiction of Deadshot, as played by Will Smith, that really sells the team as antiheroes. The key to this outlook is Deadshot’s relationship to his daughter, his one redeeming element. In the movie, it is revealed that it is through his daughter that Deadshot gets captured by Batman. Later on, after Waller watches Deadshot’s testing of his abilities, his primary concern as dictated through his “price” deals primarily with helping out his daughter. At the end of the film, his primary concern is being able to see his daughter again.

Perhaps the best evidence of this character change is Flag’s changing view of Deadshot. At first, he considers Deadshot to be a psychopath, a “serial killer who takes paychecks,” and one that will run from battle at the very first shot. But when the first signs of conflict come, it is Deadshot who nearly singlehandedly fends off the enemy attack. And by the end of the film, Flag seems to have grown to even respect him, allowing Deadshot to visit his daughter, under his watchful eye of course. And when security comes bursting in to put him in handcuffs after his time was up, it is Flag who holds them back to allow Deadshot the time to say goodbye to his daughter.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe also, in part, took on this narrative with the movie Ant-Man. The main character of the movie, Scott Lang, played by Paul Rudd, is an ex-burglar turned superhero that saves the world from a greedy, sort-of arms manufacturer who intends to market the Ant-Man technology to the highest bidder. The local law enforcement treats Lang as the criminal that his record shows him to be; however, they rely heavily on humor and light-heartedness, which is why I prefer what Suicide Squad has done. The latter is much grittier, darker, and more realistic.

Nevertheless, it is likely that superhero Hollywood will continue producing heroes with tad askew moral compasses, due to the commercial success of movies such as Suicide Squad, Ant-Man, and Deadpool. Moreover, it is likely that the antihero will continue to play a role in all media genres, providing depth to both familiar and unfamiliar narratives. Whether it is their unpredictability, their dark side, their often “badass” abilities, or their serious nature, antiheroes and unusual or accidental protagonists are likely here to stay. You can also probably expect another popular villain to turn babyface at some point in the near future.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
an image of taylor swift standing center stage surrounded by her backup dancers in elegant peacock esque outfits with a backdrop of clouds and a box rising above the stage the image captures the vibrant aesthetics and energy of her performance during the lover era of her eras tour
StableDiffusion

A three-and-a-half-hour runtime. Nine Eras. Eleven outfit changes. Three surprise songs. Zero breaks. One unforgettable evening. In the past century, no other performer has put on an electric performance quite like Taylor Swift, surpassing her fans ‘wildest dreams’. It is the reason supporters keep coming back to her shows each year. Days later, I’m still in awe of the spectacle ‘Miss Americana’ puts on every few days in a new city. And, like one of Taylor’s exes, has me smiling as I reminisce about the memories of the night we spent together.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

These powerful lyrics remind us how much good is inside each of us and that sometimes we are too blinded by our imperfections to see the other side of the coin, to see all of that good.

75613
Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

The song was sent to me late in the middle of the night. I was still awake enough to plug in my headphones and listen to it immediately. I always did this when my best friend sent me songs, never wasting a moment. She had sent a message with this one too, telling me it reminded her so much of both of us and what we have each been through in the past couple of months.

Keep Reading...Show less
Zodiac wheel with signs and symbols surrounding a central sun against a starry sky.

What's your sign? It's one of the first questions some of us are asked when approached by someone in a bar, at a party or even when having lunch with some of our friends. Astrology, for centuries, has been one of the largest phenomenons out there. There's a reason why many magazines and newspapers have a horoscope page, and there's also a reason why almost every bookstore or library has a section dedicated completely to astrology. Many of us could just be curious about why some of us act differently than others and whom we will get along with best, and others may just want to see if their sign does, in fact, match their personality.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

20 Song Lyrics To Put A Spring Into Your Instagram Captions

"On an island in the sun, We'll be playing and having fun"

6463
Person in front of neon musical instruments; glowing red and white lights.
Photo by Spencer Imbrock on Unsplash

Whenever I post a picture to Instagram, it takes me so long to come up with a caption. I want to be funny, clever, cute and direct all at the same time. It can be frustrating! So I just look for some online. I really like to find a song lyric that goes with my picture, I just feel like it gives the picture a certain vibe.

Here's a list of song lyrics that can go with any picture you want to post!

Keep Reading...Show less
Chalk drawing of scales weighing "good" and "bad" on a blackboard.
WP content

Being a good person does not depend on your religion or status in life, your race or skin color, political views or culture. It depends on how good you treat others.

We are all born to do something great. Whether that be to grow up and become a doctor and save the lives of thousands of people, run a marathon, win the Noble Peace Prize, or be the greatest mother or father for your own future children one day. Regardless, we are all born with a purpose. But in between birth and death lies a path that life paves for us; a path that we must fill with something that gives our lives meaning.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments