Unofficial H&V Newsletter Discuss Forum

You bring up something I had not considered. Does what defines a hero / anti-hero differ based on the media? Comic books have a defined line where they define the clean cut heroes like Superman and Spider-man and the anti-hero such as Wolverine and the Punisher. But if we consider Batman, he's an interesting case because he started out very clean cut but even though he does not kill, even at one point casting off John Paul Valley for killing, he does not shy away from some very dark violence. I think time changes the definition of a hero as well. The ideals of the 30s and 40s is greatly different than what we expect to see today.

Now if we look at books. Take the Executioner for example. I would consider him a heroic character but he is the inspiration for the Punisher who is definitely an anti-hero. James Bond shoots first and asks questions later but I don't think he would be defined as an Anti-Hero. Characters like Jack Reacher, Matthew Reilly's Scarecrow, Cussler's Dirk Pitt all have killed in their pursuit of what they considered right.

Just something to consider.