Heroes or Anti-Heroes? Which of the two would you prefer writing and why?

[RiidDisBuk]

If anyone saw a post related to anti-heroes recently (which is this one: https://forums.tapas.io/t/a-good-anti-hero/32300), then yes I was inspired by it.

However, this isn't a post about what makes a good anti-hero? Instead I ask, if you had to choose between a hero or anti-hero, who would you write and why?

I personally, have a strong obsession for writing an anti-hero. Though if I were to explain why, it would take me all day to write. But if I had to summarize it in a few words, it would be for something like; universal salvation.

Which of the two would you prefer to write?

[TJSchongar]

If I HAD to choose, as a main character? That is HARD... I would probably have to say I'd choose a hero. Mostly because I like to take someone who is kind of clueless and challenge their world view. But I do love pairing them with an anti hero

[Zaboem]

Hero -- because I write stupid comedies. In comedy, the protagonist is already shackled with character traits like dumb or unlucky or unwise. Making the main character into an anti-hero is like doubling down on an already bad bet. It moves the genre dangerously close to dark comedy or tragedy.

It can be done and is often done well. Case in point: my favorite Marvel character currently is Gwenpool. For anyone who doesn't know her, Gwen Pool was a comic book fan in her own world who read a lot of Marvel comics. When she got lost in Marvel's main universe, she brought with her all of her comic book knowledge. Her only superpower is the knowledge that she is the main character in her own series, but she gets a lot of mileage out of that. She's resourceful, friendly, and adventurous. She would be a straight hero if it were not for how she is about as wise as a broken fortune cookie. Gwenpool continually makes terrible decisions (both strategically and ethically terrible) which plant her squarely in the anti-hero category. That's an example of an anti-hero in a comedy which works.

[RiidDisBuk]

It is a tough question since they are both people who fight for the greater good. Though one would argue that anti-heroes have their worldly view more challenged than that of a hero's.

[RiidDisBuk]

Your opinion is very understandable. Though I would say that making a main character an anti hero doesn't double down completely. Especially when you brought up Marvel. We got someone like Deadpool who is hillariously entertaining (not that I agree with everything he does).

[IdiotWithPencil]

I think a hero would be more interesting, in these cynical times it is so easy to write an anti-hero and have it easily accepted that it's gotten to be generic and cliche

I think a true hero one who has to struggle and says no to evil or darkness and actually enjoys doing good for goods sake would be refreshing

[rmdooley]

Heroes. I think they are more of a challenge to write well and I personally find it much more interesting when a virtue becomes a vice, when the hero's good qualities are an obstacle to success, than when the anti-hero's vice becomes the virtue that saves the day.

[Zaboem]

Yeeeah, Deadpool hasn't been an anti-hero for a long time. He was a villain until his first limited series in which he was an anti-hero; that was his pivoting story arc. He's been a superhero ever since his second limited series. At this point, none of the other heroes in Marvel ever attempt to put him in jail or anything. Some of the heroes find him annoying is all.

[mariusthered]

anti-heroes can be cool, I have a line with my character heroes come in all shapes and buckets, because although he does good 90% of the time he has been known to just do things his way.
If you really think about it Batman is an Anti-hero, he is after all a vigilante breaking the law to up hold the law. how ever my fave bad boy will always be Ghost-rider the guy who gave the devil the finger.

[amortelito]

This is hard to choose because I technically center my comic in anti-heroes. I love them, they are complex and interesting.

But lately I'm loving true heroes. Maybe because I am having a hard time in real life and seeing how so many people are selfish and cruel. Lately there are plenty of tragic news about murders, robberies, executions etc. It makes me want to be rescued by someone genuinely kind, brave and strong. Like the old-fashioned heroes.

[unknown_user]

I'm deeply sure, that heroes can't live for long in really dark, hostile worlds, if they are written realistically. They are too inflexible for surviving in tough, morally complicated situations. So all possible opportunities to save them, retaining their heroic dignity in the same time, are artificial and boring. They will die in the first such a situation, if only author will not make them absurdly overpowered or will not constantly use Deus ex Machina and other artificial methods to save them.
And, since I like complicated settings and situations, my main characters just can't be heroes. Besides... most of the heroes I've seen themselves look boring and unrealistic for me anyway. I feel irritation for them more often, than empathy. So I feel no desire to make them main characters.

Main characters in my comics are something in between anti-heroes and villain protagonists ( yes, my choice was between these categories, not between anti-heroes and heroes )
A year ago, when I just started to planning all of this, I wanted to make them pure "villain protagonists", who have bloodthirst and lust, but no empathy or mercy and are pure egoists. So I wanted to implement "all shades of black" trope. But in the process of refining plot and setting, I've slowly walked away from it a bit. I've realised, that the plot itself pushes them to develop human feelings in some situations, so they can't being kept "black" without feeling artificial. Moreover, if I will allow them to be "dark grey" instead of "black", it will make them more interesting. So, I've decided to let them have these feelings.

[Raven_C]

To make a simple answer, I would choose the hero. Simply because I love their qualities. Of course, I wouldn't want them to be good-goody. They still need to have a complex thing about them (whether that's a flaw, or a doubt, or weakness). But at the end of the day, their Truth still has to be about wanting to do good for others or the world, despite all the darkness that surrounds him.

[ble]

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[MK_Wizard]

I think it depends on the setting and what I feel that world needs. In my current world, it needs tough love an anti-hero is what it needs to whip in shape.

[vothnthorvaldson]

I'm deeply sure, that heroes can't live for long in really dark, hostile worlds, if they are written realistically. They are too inflexible for surviving in tough, morally complicated situations. So all possible opportunities to save them, retaining their heroic dignity in the same time, are artificial and boring. They will die in the first such a situation, if only author will not make them absurdly overpowered or will not constantly use Deus ex Machina and other artificial methods to save them.And, since I like complicated settings and situations, my main characters just can't be heroes. Besides... most of the heroes I've seen themselves look boring and unrealistic for me anyway. I feel irritation for them more often, than empathy. So I feel no desire to make them main characters.

Totally ok if we are solely speaking about heroes in pop culture. Empty shells, everyone love them, what?? I do realize some of them are written in a way to flesh them up a bit, give them a few faults or self-questioning which could help making them be more relatable, but to me, because the bases are all wrong, it make them even more artificial. Instead of looking full, they look like an empty shell with some clutter stored inside.

[RiidDisBuk]

Not how colossus saw him, but I guess you have a point xD

[RiidDisBuk]

Batman wasn't considered an anti-hero for what he's done mainly because he limited himself to the law of his city. I do see why you believe he was an anti-hero for a time being. Though, all that changed in the time of the Justice League.

[RiidDisBuk]

"It's a funny world we live in." - Joker, The Dark Knight

XD

[RiidDisBuk]

Ayy! I'm a fan of your opinion. It's a shame that we aren't getting memorable characters nowadays like we did in the 80s and 90s

[TJSchongar]

Absolutely. Anti-heroes are constantly coming up against a slew of challenges to their vision, by nature of their vision or their methods.

The reason I would choose a hero over an anti-hero, though, is because the quantity of challenge is not as important to me as the quality. I'd use Doctor Strange as an example. He is a pain, but ultimately, he is a hero. He challenges authority (like an anti-hero), he's got unconventional methods (like an anti-hero), and he's got some bad boy attitude. But because he does fit in with the general consensus that he IS ultimately doing the right thing, he's an easier sell as a protagonist and someone the audience can root for. It's a good balance between interesting writing and good marketing

BUT! That is also just my style and comfort Someone ELSE could absolutely make a strong argument for the opposite