Friday Night Lights

I recently started watching NBC's 2006-2011 series, Friday Night Lights. I remember seeing the original film in theaters and, apart from my appreciation of Billy Bob Thornton's depiction of Coach Gary Gaines, didn't think it was much to write home about. However, when I was shopping around for a new TV show to watch in my off-time, Netflix recommended that I give Peter Berg's series a second look. 

I'll admit that initially I had very little interest. I come from Texas, and actually went to college about ten minutes away from the filming location, so watching a TV series about small town Texas seemed a little redundant. But Netflix has rarely lead me astray, so I thought I'd give it a shot. Boy ever am I glad I did. 

The series is, to put it lightly, complex. It deals with a multitude of series issues, everything from socioeconomic disparity to rape, abortion to domestic abuse -- and it does so with a poise I hadn't really expected of a mainstream television show. With the controversy surrounding Ferguson making media headlines the last few months, the light this show cast on racial tension within the United States seems more salient than ever. 

And as for the cast, I don't think I've ever been more impressed with such an ensemble before. I fell in love with just about every character, though I have a special place in my heart for the tragically stoic Tim Riggins, played to perfection by Taylor Kitsch. The characters feel real, much more than the stereotype I'd come to expect from sports dramas.

It's a show that goes beyond mere entertainment. It has something to say. And with every frivolous sitcom, hyper-dramatic "reality" show, and vacant drama about teen vampires or lawyers skirting the justice system, my appreciation for a series that talks about real-world issues grows. If you haven't seen Friday Night Lights before, I'd recommend giving it a look.

Life Off the Page

The other day my friend and I were talking about a favorite TV show of ours (as it is neither science fiction nor action oriented, I'm keeping the shows identity under wraps to protect my street cred). Having concluded it's finale several years ago, I wondered aloud where the characters were now. You know, what they were doing. How their lives turned out post credits. 

My friend looked at me with a strange expression on her face. "They're fictional," she said to me. "They don't have lives post credit." And I guess to her they don't. Characters live and die on the screen, and when the picture fades and the words The End are read, they cease to exist. 

But for me it's something else entirely. Characters are real. They exist in a reality different from my own. They age, they change. The hero lives out his time on earth after the villain is slain and the victory celebrated, perhaps a little nostalgic for his battle days. The new bride and groom, having made it through all the rom-com hurdles leading up to their wedding, settle down, buy a house in the suburbs, raise a couple of kids and put away money for their eventual retirement. 

They live. They live off the page and screen. And I wonder about them and their lives in the same way I wonder about that girl I was friends with in high school but lost touch with somewhere along the way. And I hope they're happy, wherever they are. 

Anyone else feel the same way about their favorite characters? Ever wonder how many kids Belle and Beast had? If Luke Skywalker holidays with Leia and Han when they're not rebuilding the Republic? 

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!

__________________________________________________________________________________

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.

Can You Guess My Character's Age?

Brenda Drake Writes is hosting the Can We Guess Your Character's Age Blogfest! I'm supposed to post the first 250 words of my manuscript and here, and everyone can guess how old he is in order to find out whether his voice matches his age. See more details about the contest here.

Meet Jack Cooper, from my newly untitled (I'm working on coming up with a brand, spanking new title) manuscript . . .

It wasn’t every day that Jack Cooper got the tar beat out of him, or even most days. But it happened often enough that his mother merely sighed when he walked in with a bloody nose and holes in his semi-new jeans. Jack shot her one sullen look as he dropped his book bag onto the kitchen table and grabbed a pack of frozen peas from the freezer. She put down the fluffy, white miniature poodle she held and fussed over her son.

“What happened pumpkin?” Lissy Cooper asked, pushing the peas aside to better inspect his nose.

He pulled his chin out of her hand and placed the cold bag back on his aching face. “I tripped and accidentally ran into Ricky Navardo’s fist.”

She puckered her lipstick pink lips in concern. “Oh, baby. Do I need to speak with Principal White again?”

“No mom, I’d rather you not tattle on me,” he snapped.

“Okay okay,” she held up her hands in acquiescence. “But someone needs to do something about that nasty Navardo boy. He’s picked on you for nearly two years now.”

Jack rolled his eyes. “Something tells me discussing it with the principal won’t help.” He headed for the back stairs leading up to his room.

“Where you goin’ hon?”

“To throw myself out a window,” he muttered.

“Well, if you want something to eat later just come down and I’ll make it for you,” she called to his disappearing back.

Not bothering to answer, Jack shut his door and dropped onto the bed. His mother had a point; Ricky Navardo was a menace.

Thanks for reading! Let me know what you think Jack's age is (or any other comments you may have)!

Road Trip Wednesday - Secondary Characters

Road Trip Wednesday is a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway's contributors post a weekly writing or reading-related question that begs to be answered. In the comments, you can hop from destination to destination and get everybody's unique take on the topic.

We'd love for you to participate! Just answer the prompt on your own blog and leave a link -- or, if you prefer, you can include your answer in the comments.

This Week's Topic: What supporting character in a YA book would you most like to see star in their own novel?

When I first read this topic, I thought a lot about the prompt, wondering what my answer would be. And then I thought through all the YA novels and series I love reading – Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, Peter and the Starcatchers . . . the list goes on and on. And while, yes, there are many characters I’d love to hear more from (Team Neville all the way!), I quickly realized my answer involved someone a little different. Maybe it’s because I have witches on the brain (check out my previous post for the Monsterology Blogfest), or maybe its because my own novel is all about Supervillains, but the characters I’d most like to see star in their own series are –

The Wicked Witches 

I really enjoy stories written from the villain’s perspective – like Megamind, Despicable Me and Wicked. It’s really interesting to get the story from their point of view. I’d love to hear more from Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty, and the Evil Queen from Snow White. They might be evil, but they sure are interesting . . . perhaps more interesting than the one dimensional princesses that headline the tales. Or what about the witch from Hansel and Gretel. I mean, she built this amazing house out of candy and gingerbread and these bratty little kids keep trying to eat it. I’m sure that’s no picnic.

So if I were going to read a story with a side character as the lead, I’d love to hear more from the Wicked Witches.

* Just to be clear, this does NOT mean I am dropping my guard when it comes to witches. I maintain my vigilance and fear of said characters, interesting or not.

Road Trip Wednesday

Road Trip Wednesday is a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway's contributors post a weekly writing or reading-related question that begs to be answered. In the comments, you can hop from destination to destination and get everybody's unique take on the topic.

We'd love for you to participate! Just answer the prompt on your own blog and leave a link -- or, if you prefer, you can include your answer in the comments.

This Week's Topic: What themes, settings, motifs, scenes, or other elements do you find recurring in your work?

So, here goes. . .

When I take a critical look back at things I've written over the years, beginning with those first crayon "books" in elementary school to my current works in progress, I find that I often chose to write about characters that consider themselves rebels or loners (I'm sure psychologists would have a field day with THAT one). But I LOVE a good misfit. In fact, the manuscript I'm currently slaving away to get publish-ready is all about three high school outcasts working together to become the newest members of Team Evil Overlord (aka. superheroes in villain clothing). And they might just be the best three characters I ever wrote.

I also really like teamwork to accomplish a group objective. Like completing a heist or taking down the school bully. I enjoy sticking the three kids most likely to get picked last in gym class and forcing them to rally together to save the day. My story is about using the special talents we bring to the table, the ones that get us labeled "nerd" or "geek", to make a group of individuals stronger, smarter and more unified. As Jack - my main character - states, "The rebel, the brainiac, and the loner. . . we make quite a team."

But at the end of the day, I usually write about misfits finding their 'place'. They work together, they become heroes, but ultimately, they find a home together. And THAT is what I love to write about.

The Nature of Superheroes

A new recruit to comic book geekdom, I recently spent some time familiarizing myself with the genre. I figured heroes were just people running around in costumes, beating up on bad guys. Turns out, there's a lot more to it. While I could probably write an entire thesis on the subject (possibly throwing in some more pretentious literary theory and critical analysis), the most important thing to understand is this:

There are three kinds of superheroes – those who are born, those who are made, and those who become. For those that haven't spent time researching the topic, here’s the breakdown...

1.  Born Superheroes:

The first type of superhero involves those born with special abilities. They often come from other places, sympathizing with humanity despite their differences, and selflessly use their powers to protect the human race. The most common, and perhaps most celebrated example is Superman. Born Kal-El from planet Krypton, his abilities include super-strength and speed, flight and invulnerability. Like many heroes from this category, “Superman” is his true persona, human alias Clark Kent his disguise. Wonder Woman, the Amazonian princess, Thor, member of the Asgard race, and all the X-Men mutants also belong to this category.

Though I don’t discount their good deeds, I typically enjoy reading about this type of hero least. Some call Superman the best of his kind, but I find a hero defeated by one whiff of green kryptonite slightly overrated.

Exception: The X-Men are perhaps my favorite comic book series, and not included in my disinclination for “born” superheroes. Though gifted with powers upon birth, they share more in common with “made” superheroes. Born on earth, rather than aliens from a foreign land, they’re more human than others in this category, suffering in a society that detests their differences. 

2.  Made Superheroes:

The second category depicts regular human beings who become superheroes after their DNA is altered in some way. Peter Parker for example, bitten by a radioactive spider and given his “spidy” sense. Or Bruce Banner, hit with a high dose of gamma radiation and transformed into The Hulk. Even the Fantastic Four team, altered by cosmic rays. These characters deal with a whole host of problems as they grapple with the aftereffect of their transformation, from the loss of their old lives to their new roles as superheroes. Though often resentful of their obligation to protect humanity, they nevertheless follow the sage wisdom of Peter’s Uncle Ben (“With great power, comes great responsibility”) and continue defending mankind.

As previously mentioned, I much prefer “made” superheroes to “born”. Having my own fears of radiation and cosmic rays (they say the ozone layer’s disintegrating right? It could happen), I find their struggle more interesting and easier to identify with. Like going through puberty, radioactive mutation is never easy.

3. Becoming a Superhero:

The third and final category covers humans with no powers or magic abilities, but become superheroes by turning their own strengths into superpowers. The two most recognizable are Iron Man and Batman – Batman uses his financial situation and desire for justice/vengeance to drive him to heroism, while Iron Man utilizes his incredible cunning.

Personally I find this the most interesting type of superhero. First, because they must overcome their human weakness in order to rise as superheroes. And second because if I were to become a superhero, this is how I’d accomplish it. Step 1 – get rich. Step 2 – use my superbrain to invent a special suit that allows me to fly. Step 3 – find a few bad guys and kick butt.