G is for Ghosts

They're the left over imprints of a human soul. Sometimes lost, sometimes sad, sometimes frightening. They're the often painful reminders that what's no longer alive is not necessarily gone from our lives. Specter. Apparition. Shade. Wraiths. Ghosts . . . 

Warning: This post may contain spoilers. And woefully pathetic writing as it was completed at midnight following a weekend out of town. 

G is for Ghosts 

Fat Friar, Grey Lady, Bloody Baron and Nearly Headless Nick (Harry Potter series) – I always loved the idea of a ghost for each of the four Hogwarts houses. And what's more, I love that Rowling invents a rich back-story for each, going so far as to reveal the Grey Lady as the daughter of Hogwarts founder, Rowena Ravenclaw, and the former lover of The Bloody Baron, who killed her in a fit of rage and then committed suicide in grief over her loss. 

Jacob Marley (A Christmas Carol) – It's Jacob Marley's visit that initially catapults Ebeneezer Scrooge into his emotional journey, which of course includes three other memorable ghosts - those of the past, present and future. Following his death, Marley is condemned to walk the earth, heavily shackled in chains as penance for his mistreatment of the poor and wretched during his lifetime and proving that we take with us the sins of our past. 

Banquo (MacBeth) – William Shakespeare's famous apparition, Banquo's ghostly presence at the banquet feast shows the cracks in MacBeth's psyche and indicates the torment of his conscience. The question of whether the ghost actually appeared or if it was a figment of MacBeth's imagination is a theme debated to this day. 

Delbert Grady (The Shining) – The former caretaker of the Overlook Hotel, Delbert Grady famously murdered his wife and children and committed suicide in the 1940's. He now haunts the hotel, his whispers urging Jack to kill his own family. Grady is a representation of the fear many carry with them of the dead and their ability to haunt or influence us long after their deaths. 

Dr. Malcolm Crowe (The Sixth Sense) – I hate to join the list of people who say they guessed that Malcolm was a ghost from the beginning, but I have evidence in the form of childhood friend with whom I went to see The Sixth Sense that it's true. I guessed it from the moment he started talking to young Cole Sear, the boy who "sees dead people". 

And last but not least, a few ghostly Honorable Mentions: 

> Grace, Charles and Anne Stewart (The Others) 
> Sam Wheat (Ghost)
> Casper the Friendly Ghost (Casper) – I was never a big fan of the cartoon or comics as a kid, but to this say I still watch the live-action movie with Christina Ricci and Devon Sawa every year for Halloween. 

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

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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.

F is for Femme Fatale

A femme fatale is a mysterious and often dangerous woman who uses her seductive charms to ensnare men, leading them into dangerous and compromising situations. Making their heyday in the film noir era, their allure and mystique has transcended the genre and made it's way to modern film. Here are few of the most memorable femme fatales . . . 

 F is for Femme Fatale 

Phyllis Dietrichson (Double Indemnity) – A predatory housewife with an angelic face, Phyllis Dietrichson is as alluring as she is devious. A master of seduction, her powers are so great that she's able to convince insurance agent Walter Neff to murder her husband, relieving her of a boring, emotionless marriage and simultaneously making her the recipient of $100,000 in life insurance. 

Catherine Tramell (Basic Instinct) – Perhaps the most famous femme fatale in modern film, Catherine Tramell oozes sexuality and guile. When Detective Nick Curran investigates her for murder, she turns her wiles on him, seducing him despite his mistrust. Nick's well aware that she's a homicidal killer, and yet seems incapable of resisting her. Catherine puts the fatal in fatale. 

Matty Walker (Body Heat) – Matty Walker is the very embodiment of smoldering sex. One look at her ignites the libido of Ned Racine, a shady lawyer that's already on thin ice with the justice system. When Matty tells Ned she wants to leave her husband to be with him, but divorce would leave her without any of his money, Racine suggests that the only option is to kill him. Matty orchestrates everything so Rancine takes the fall and she get the one thing she desires most – to be rich and live in an exotic land. 

Black Widow aka. Natalia Romanova (Marvel Comics) – A former Russian spy turned S.H.E.I.L.D. agent, Natalia alias Natasha Romanov was raised from a young age to be a femme fatale, using her feminine wiles to gather intelligence. Apart from her weapons and martial arts training, she's able to use her femininity and sexuality to enhance and aid her uncanny skill for psychological manipulation, thus making her an unexpected and effective field agent. And of course a terrific example of a femme fatale who uses her, uh, capabilities in a professional capacity. 

Marquise de Merteuil and Katheryn Merteuil (Dangerous Liaisons and Cruel Intentions) – I decided to go with someone a little different for this last slot . . . two someones. The Marquise is a wealthy, strong-willed aristocrat from the 18th century, circumvention the social rules inflicted on her gender by sleeping with and beguiles men for entertainment Katheryn is her modern counterpart from the Dangerous Liaisons retelling, Cruel Intentions. Both Merteuil women seduce and manipulate men, using them to exact revenge on those who cross them.

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

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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.

E is for Evil Overlord

Intricate plots for world domination. Secret lairs. Minions. Evil Overlords are the mother of all villains. And often comedic gold. There's nothing I love better than watching an Overlord at work. Especially when they make the classic mistakes documented in Peter's Evil Overlord List and inevitable foil their own schemes. 

*** Note to readers: If you've never heard of the aforementioned list, check it out here. Immediately.

E is for Evil Overlord 

Dr. Horrible (Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog) – He sings, he wants to take over the world in order to enact social change, he creates weapons of mass destruc - well, they try. And his life's ambition is to make it into the Evil League of Evil. Dr. Horrible is the brilliant creation of Joss Whedon, brought to life on a three-part webisode during the 2007 Writer's Strike. He's endearing and love-sick, and like those of us participating in this challenge, he's a blogger. I hope and pray for the day Dr. Horrible finally gets a sequel. 

Dr. Evil (Austin Powers series) – A somewhat less altruistic Overlord than the previous "doctor" (which reminds me, I'd like to see some documentation on these supposed doctorates), Dr. Evil is the antagonist of International Man of Mystery, Austin Powers. He even went as far as to create a "Mini-Me", a villainous clone exactly one-eighth his size. And yet between his devotion to laser-wearing sharks and count-downs, Dr. Evil is incapable of actually carrying off a scheme. It's bumbling overlords like him that gave birth to the highly entertaining Evil Overlord List. 

Buddy Pine aka. Syndrome (The Incredibles) – Though he was once famous superhero Mr. Incredible's #1 fan, Buddy Pine's anger at being rebuffed as a sidekick and subsequent bitterness morphed him from an idealistic kid into Mr. Incredible's nemesis, Syndrome. Wholly bent on exacting his revenge, Syndrome uses his talents to create a myriad of gadgets and sinister inventions with the sole purpose of making his childhood hero pay. 

Brain (Pinky and the Brain) – Ah, Brain. Who can forget the lab mouse with grand schemes. "What are we going to do tonight, Brain?" "The same thing we do every night Pinky . . . try and take over the world." Again and again he comes up with plots for world domination, and again and again they backfire. But this determined rodent never gives up, marking him as a true evil overlord. With the moronic Pinky by his side, this megalomaniac mouse will spend the rest of his life attempting to rule the world. 

Palpatine aka. The Emperor aka. Darth Sidious (Star Wars) – Though he's more specifically a Sith Lord, the in-sidious, power-hungry emperor of my childhood definitely makes my list of evil overlords. He uses deception and betrayal to gain political mobility, climbing from Senator to Chancellor, and eventually abolishing the Imperial Senate and naming himself Emperor. A cunning politician and tyrannical ruler, Darth Sidious is so evil he is, for all intensive purposes, inhuman.

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

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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.

D is for Demon Hunter

I have to admit I've been waiting for the letter "D" ever since I came up with my A through Z theme a month ago. Why? Because I simply love demon hunters. Protectors from evil. Warriors fighting against the forces of darkness. They symbolically battle the monsters that plagues our nightmares, allowing little children – and fully grown writers with overactive imaginations – to sleep peacefully after the lights go out . . .

D is for Demon Hunters

Buffy Summers (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) – The hero of my adolescence, Buffy Summers is a five-foot two, blond bad-ass. Created by Joss Whedon as the antithesis of "the little blonde girl who goes into a dark alley and gets killed in every horror film", Buffy steps up as the Chosen One, protecting the world from demons and vampires alike. With the help of her "Scooby gang" and vampire-boyfriend that is. 

Ash Williams (Evil Dead series) – A sawed-off shotgun in one hand and a chainsaw strapped to the other, Ash is the formidable opponent of the evil dead and their Army of Darkness. He won't hesitate to kill his girlfriend or cut off his own possessed hand with a saw in the name of Deadite destruction. Now that 's dedication. 

John Constantine (Hellblazer comics and Constantine) – A character that could have easily made the Antiheroes list, Constantine is a chain-smoking sorcerer and occult detective. Unlike most demon hunters – who are quite happy to slash and burn – Constantine generally dislikes guns and weapons. With an army of magical tricks, cunning wit and mystical knowledge, Constantine mostly takes on his demon foe with brains rather than brawn. 

The Winchester Family (Supernatural) – A father and sons demon-hunting family, the Winchesters are definitely high on my list supernatural slayers. With their preference for classic rock, fast cars and lethal firearms, they are a force to be reckoned with. For demons that is. 

Solomon Kane ("Weird Tales" short stories, Solomon Kane comics and film) – A 17th century Puritan, Solomon Kane travels the world with the sole purpose of fighting evil. Carrying a rapier, pistols, a dirk and the mythical Staff of Solomon, Kane is more than equipped to take on vampires, ghosts and other demonic forces of evil. 

Here are a few honorable mentions, each for a specific demon category . . .

> Vampires – Blade (Blade comics and films)

> Zombies – Alice, the Redfields and Jill Valentine (Resident Evil movies and games) 

> Werewolves – Selene (Underworld series) 

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

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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.

C is for Con Man

Confidence men – I just can't help but love them. And why not? They make their living on their charms. They can convince us to hand over the contents of our wallets, and do so with a smile. Hell, by the time they're done, we think it was our idea to open those wallets in the first place. And while, yes, real life grifters are a serious problem I hope never to encounter, their fictional counter-parts are often too charismatic to dislike. For example . . . 

 C is for Con Man 

Neal Caffrey (White Collar) – A former con artist, Neal Caffrey is a connoisseur of the finer things. He projects an air of elegance and sophistication, demonstrating knowledge in a wide array of fields, from wine to art, food to fashion. And of course, white collar crimes. Fortunately for the FBI, this former con artist now uses his prodigious skills to help catch other criminals. 

YoSafBridge (Firefly) – One of the greatest characters Joss Whedon ever wrote, Saffron . . . I mean, Bridget . . . or was it Yolanda? Anyway, this little con artist shed names like a snake sheds skin. And she's just as deadly. She manipulates, seduces, and generally cons men into doing her bidding. And when she turned her talents onto Mal Reynolds and his crew, she nearly caused them to fry in a galactic space net. Definitely not shiny. 

Frank Abagnale (Catch Me if You Can) – Based on a very real life counterpart, young Frank of Catch Me if You Can was a born con artist. A chameleon, he's able to seamlessly slip from one role to another – everything from pilot to physician – without causing suspicion. Furthermore, he forged checks worth several millions of dollars before he was caught, making Frank Abagnale, both real and fictional, one of the greatest grifters of all time. 

Jake Vig (Confidence) – Several years ago I went to see the movie Confidence with my family, and the character of Jake Vig stuck with me. He likened grifting schemes to a chess game where you play every possible move in your head. The person who can see ahead the furthest is the one that wins the game, or in this case, the con. Jake reminds us that it's not enough to rely on a winning personality to pull off a hustle. First and foremost, you have to be able to out-think the other side. 

Danny Ocean and Rusty Ryan (Ocean's Eleven,Twelve and Thirteen) – George Clooney and Brad Pitt. Enough said. But to expand further, Rusty and Danny are the Holy Grail of con men. Not to mention extremely well connected in the criminal world, with a virtual Rolodex of every "Boesky" and "greaseman" out there. Captivating and suave, good looking and charismatic, they are the very image of cool. It's not hard to imagine caving under the joint force of their charms. 

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

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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.

B is for Betrayer

Betrayal. It's the fuel that feeds countless plots. It's the ultimate heartbreak. And most importantly, it's at the heart of many of my favorite literary and cinematic masterpieces.

So, who is it that commits these heinous acts? Some of the most devious – and fascinating  – characters ever conceived are those who prove themselves willing betrayers. But why do they do it? What could possibly motivate them to turn against those who trust them?  

B is for Betrayer

Wormtail (Harry Potter series) – Fear. Fear is often a great motivator for cowardice and deceit, in literature as in life. It's Wormtail's fear that causes him to betray Lily and James Potter to Lord Voldemort, trading his life for theirs. 

President Alma Coin (The Hunger Games series) – Political power. President Coin wouldn't be the first person to commit betrayal in order to achieve power. Politicians have long been caught making back door deals and betraying the people they've sworn to represent for political gain. President Coin simply takes betrayal to the brink, sacrificing hundreds of men, women, and yes, children, to advance her position of power. 

Judas Iscariot (The Bible) – Greed. Though there are several theories as to why Judas  Iscariot betrayed Jesus, the most common is greed – he betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. I think it's safe to say that greed is one of the more common reasons for betrayal, and Judas fell to it as so many others before him, be they disciples or CEOs. 

Brutus (Julius Caesar) – Ideology. Perhaps the most famous betrayal in history, immortalized by Shakespeare's famous line, “Et tu, Brute?”, Brutus's betrayal of Caesar is ideologically driven. He cares greatly for Caesar, but he loves Rome more. It's his strong beliefs in a government free of dictatorship that leads to his manipulation and ultimate betrayal of his beloved friend.

Lancelot (Arthurian Legends) – Love. Last but not least, the man who betrayed his friend, his leader, his king. And why . . . for love. Lancelot was devoted to Arthur, the man who made him a Knight of the Round Table. But his love for Arthur's beautiful wife Guinevere was too great to deny. Unfortunately, betrayal comes at a cost, and in this case the fall of Camelot. 

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

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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.

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.