  Action/Adventure
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Action/Adventure! It comes in many forms, not just books and movies. However people get their thrills, in this genre it's our job to bring more excitement into their lives through writing.
 In this newsletter, we explore an uncommon form of hero. Enjoy! 
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Satuawany comments: Aw, but why can't the hero complain while the foil remains in good spirits? The way I'm reading this—help me if I'm wrong—even the similar foils sound like they're meant to be weaker than the hero. But what about anti-heroes? Sometimes it's nice to see a hero that has all the same complaints we do, that has all the same flaws, and still manages to come through. Is it bad, then, if the foil is the one that helps the hero through? Or, am I venturing into something that is not a foil?
Anti-Heroes
Everyone knows what a hero is. He's the one who saves the day, fights for goodness, and is a role model of ethics and behavior. The trouble is, ideal heroes are in short supply and hard to characterize differently from the Superman stereotype. Thus the anti-hero was born.
The original meaning of anti-hero is that of a protagonist who gets things done more by accident than intention (Inspector Gadget and Inspector Clouseau come to mind). In today's books and films, an anti-hero will perform the usual "heroic" acts but will not have the most noble methods or personalities. The modern classic example is Conan the Barbarian from the stories by Robert E. Howard. The comic book Groo the Wanderer is a spoof of Conan and fits the original, bumbling definition.
Origins
Why did anti-heroes develop? One possible cause is the rejection of traditional values by each new generation. Another theoretical motivation could be the disillusionment felt after World War II and the Cold War.
Anti-heroes continue to be popular, and why shouldn't they? Audiences recognize that heroes are still people, and that people are fraught with human frailties. The stereotypical noble hero is just not as believable as a flawed character with good intentions.
In Fiction
As a main character in fiction, the anti-hero's flawed character will be revealed. One way to do that, as Satuawany mentioned, is to use a better character as a foil. The moral sidekick will highlight the anti-hero's shortcomings. Then the story will focus on how that flawed personality affects the people met in the narrative.
Often, the less noble personality is better suited to dealing with the challenges in the plot. The story may show how the character changes over time. This could be for the better (redemption, like Han Solo at the end of Star Wars: A New Hope) or for the worse (punishment).
To create an anti-hero, give your main character imperfections that separate him from other good personalities. Selfishness, bigotry, and violent tendencies are common choices. Alternately, choose a bad personality (amoral, greedy, spiteful) mitigated by other factors (confusion, self-loathing, feelings of duty).
The character's noble motives are pursued in less than savory ways, usually bending or breaking the law. Anti-heroes firmly believe that "the ends justify the means." Finally, the unconventional actions must be addressed, either by legal/lethal consequences or by a truly heroic act.
Popular Examples
Book and comic readers will recognize these anti-heroes readily: Lestat from Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles, Wolverine from The X-Men, and Frank Castle from The Punisher. Wolverine's character is contrasted by clean-cut Cyclops, and the Punisher is contrasted by the two popular heroes in his neighborhood, Daredevil and Spiderman, who work with the law instead of outside it.
From the movies, Clint Eastwood played "the Man with No Name" in the Sergio Leone movies. After losing his wife, Mel Gibson wasn't very nice in the Mad Max series. The Michael Corleone character started as a sweet kid in the first movie of The Godfather trilogy.
More recently, Vin Diesel portrayed Riddick in Pitch Black and The Chronicles of Riddick. Johnny Depp got away with his character Jack Sparrow in the Disney movie Pirates of the Caribbean. Malcolm Reynolds from Firefly and Serenity is a pragmatic, day-to-day version of Han Solo.
Pet Project
I'm working on an Adventure/Comedy story, and I need a little help. Now don't stone me, but I've only seen the first season of Survivor! I'm writing a parody and would like to hear some Challenge ideas for my story's two mystery groups. Of course, there's a reward for anything that gets used, and it won't be just peanut butter. 
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Some less-than-heroic reads:
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Bradly  asks: Hey, I was just wondering if there is a speculative fiction news letter in the works? If so please tell me so I can be the first to recieve it! These newsletters really are helpful!
Answer: Nope, sadly there's not. Currently, speculative fiction and science fiction are covered under the broader genre Fantasy Newsletter. I haven't heard of any plans to start another newsletter officially, but enough interested authors could always get together and make an unofficial newsletter...
Satuawany comments:
Also, can I respond to Vivian's question? If she doesn't want her female A/A character to be "tough" why not make that her thing--not being tough.  What I mean is, while on an adventure could she not make sure her clothes are always clean? Demand a seven-course meal over the campfire? Wield a sword, but still squeal like a girl when she gets cut? Heh. That actually sounds like a fun character.
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Action/Adventure: October 18, 2006 Issue [#1326]
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