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People use the word "antihero" so loosely it has really lost its meaning. Before, an "antihero" was just a "bad guy" who did good things, like Dexter Morgan. He's a serial killer; he's a high-functioning sociopath who does feel emotions and love and knows right from wrong, but he kills bad people, so he's an "antihero". Punisher is a mass murderer. Yes, he kills criminals, but unlike other heroes who kill in self-defence when there is no other option, he kills every criminal he sees, even street criminals. He does this because he likes being in war and likes killing people, so he decides to only target those who he thinks deserve it, and those who he deems "deserve" it are criminals, and sure, on occasion, he will help a hero or two. Deadpool is a mercenary; he does what he does for money. He kills bad people and goes on missions, but mainly for money does he do good things? Sure, but he does it for morally questionable reasons.

I'm going to focus the term "antihero" mainly for comic book and superhero characters. A lot of people think an "antihero", when it comes to superheroes, is just an "edgy" or "R-rated" superhero or a superhero who curses a lot or just has negative flaws. Mainly a lot of people use the term "antihero" for characters who aren't Superman- or Spider-Man-level goody-two-shoes boy scout characters. Like, people will call Spider-Man 2099 an "antihero" just because he isn’t a Boy Scout. No, Miguel is a hero. through and through; just because he's a bit of a dick doesn't mean he's an "antihero".

I see people calling the characters in Invincible "antiheroes" just because they are not "boy scouts". People call Immortal, Duplikate, and Rex Splode "antiheroes" just because they are human with human flaws and realistic personalities; that doesn't make them "antiheroes".

Rex isn't an "antihero" just because he cheated on Atom Eve. Yes, he did a bad thing. Yes, he was an arrogant arsehole, but guess what? He still put his life on the line for his team, did the right thing and was still a good person. Despite having some annoying personality traits, he was a hero through and through.

Immortal and Duplicate aren't "antiheroes" either. Yes, they are hypocritical, a bit whiny and self-righteous, but they still save people's lives for no other reason than that they want to help and help their team.

I like Invincible because every character is just a flawed human being who just so happens to have superpowers, and they go out saving people.

Are they antiheroes? No, they are just superheroes.

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[-] remon@ani.social 1 points 1 week ago

It really hasn't changed for me. Then again, I don't watch any super hero garbage.

[-] meliante@lemmy.pt 1 points 1 week ago

That was a long shower.

But yeah, you're right.

[-] karashta@piefed.social 1 points 1 week ago

An antihero was not and is not a "bad guy who does good things". It's a person who lacks the usual hero characteristics taking up the role of a hero.

Shrek is the perfect example of an antihero.

An ugly big green ogre who is rough and uncouth, sent on a quest that isn't his own, yet still fulfills the role of hero.

[-] jellyfishhunter@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago

By definition an antihero is a hero with a lack of heroic attributes. What we understand as heroic attributes keeps changing however. Sometimes it's a lack of virtues, sometimes it's generally a wrong motivation (like being the hero merely for profit). I've also seen antihero instances that described a tragic hero, who challenged the status quo and ultimately failed, where it could be understood that protecting the status quo and always winning is a heroic attribute.

All in all the term is as diluted as what we perceive as heroic. In the literal and dramaturgical sense.

Just don't make the mistake and describe villains as antiheroes.

[-] anamethatisnt@sopuli.xyz 1 points 1 week ago

I know you wanted to focus on comics, but if we step out of that genre for a second we'll find that "a bad guy doing good things" is the original usage of the term, minted in 1714

For me personally I've always thought of the antihero as either someone who does good but for the wrong reasons or someone who strives for a goal that is good, but uses means that isn't.
I'd say the Punisher fits the first definition well and Dexter Morgan more the second.

this post was submitted on 30 Sep 2025
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