A is for Antihero

April has finally arrived, and with it the Blogging from A to Z Challenge! Thanks again to all those amazing bloggers hosting this event, and in particular, everyone from Alex's Ninja Minions Team. Go writing ninjas!

As I mentioned in my last post, my theme for this year's challenge is character types and tropes. For each letter I'll discuss a different character stereotype, archetype or trope, and my Top Five favorite examples of each. I've got tons of terrific characters coming up, so stay tuned this April for some alphabetic awesomeness. Starting with . . .

A is for Antihero

An antihero is a protagonist that lacks in valorous characteristics and often acts as a representation of certain human flaws. They're basically heroes that aren't all that heroic. I've often found that these "antiheroes" are much more complex and interesting than their valiant counterparts. Here are a few of my favorite Antiheroes . . .

Scarlett O’Hara (Gone with the Wind) – She’s a strong, tough female in a society that raises women to be helpless and feminine, thus proving herself a true hero. But she’s also self-centered and selfish, out for her own aims no matter the cost. She’s far from the shining virtuous men and women we usually think of as the ideal protagonist.

Han Solo (Star Wars, episode IV-VI) – He's sarcastic, he's a materialist, and let's face it, he shot first. Well, at least in the original, pre-lunatic Lucas version. Han's got a roguish charm that's hard to resist, but he's definitely no chivalrousness knight in shining armor. And yet, beneath his mercenary attitude, he ultimately proves himself by risking his own life to save Luke and aid the rebel forces. He represents the emotional journey and redemption of the antihero. 

The Punisher (Marvel Comics) – Like many “superheroes”, The Punisher wages war on crime; however, he has no qualms with killing or torturing anyone who gets in his way, marking a clear departure from squeaky-clean superheroes like Captain America. Like Wolverine - another comic book antihero - the Punisher is aggressive and rough around the edges. He's part of a wave in the comic book industry (aka. The Bronze Age of Comic Books) where the heroes became much darker.

Dexter Morgan (Dexter) – Dexter Morgan is anything but your typical hero. He's a serial killer, taught to adhere to a strict moral code (the so-called "Code of Harry”), which allows him to unleash his sociopathic instinct on other murderers. Thus he protects the innocent from harm - be it from dangerous criminals or at the hand of his own demons. He kills crime – literally.

Leon (The Professional) – The last on my list and perhaps the least well known, Leon was a hitman for hire, ready to sell his talents to the highest bidder. And yet he's wonderfully humanized, caring for his potted plant with loving attention and grudgingly saving the life of young Mathilda, his twelve-year-old neighbor. He becomes her protector and mentor, eventually sacrificing his life to save her and proving that some killers really can redeem themselves. 

And there you have it, my Top 5 favorite Antiheroes. What are some of your favorites? 

P.S. A special shout-out goes to Arlee Bird over at Tossing It Out for starting the Blogging A Through Z Challenge. Thanks for making April so special!

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This post is part of the Blogging A through Z Challenge 2013. My theme (in case you didn't already guess) is character types and tropes. Stay tuned for the rest of the alphabet, and if you’d like to check in on the other participants, simply click here.