Guest Speakers: Jenn Lyons, Glenn Parris, Sarah J. Sover, Shannon Strucci
Track Director: Nicole Givens Kurtz
Who are your favorite bad superheroes/heroines? Harley Quinn is definitely a fan favorite. Even if she may be cliché, she’s still a whimsical badass! Homelander is another… so evil, so messed up, worthy of psycho-analysis all on his own. Who could forget Loki’s journey from Asgard to the Avengers, and leading all the way up to the Time Variance Authorities? The animated TV show Invincible features a Superman-like character who’s legacy is not quite what it seems. Then there’s Magneto from the X-Men series, an excellent example of a morally grey character with justifiable reasons for his actions, considering his backstory.
What is the appeal for characters such as these, and why do we love them so much? Because perfection is a lie. Vulnerability makes them more human. It doesn’t mean that what they do is right, but it makes them far more interesting. What would we personally become if we had the same kind of power as they did? We can’t assume that we’d be puritans, and there is the element of guilty pleasure.
Some villains are taken into a hero’s light. Who gets a redemption arc, and why? It depends on several factors. For one, the audience’s mindset and perspective are crucial in this decision, as well as the writer’s intentions. For example, Black Panther initiated an attack against the Fantastic Four to see if he was ready to defeat Claw. Therefore, it could be argued that his first appearance was indeed an act of villainy. Another factor is taking circumstantial evidence into consideration. Everyone is the hero of their own story, and humanity can be morbidly fascinating. If there’s a chance of redemption, people often want to see it come through fruition.
So, who shouldn’t be given a redemption arc? Let’s take a look at the TV show The Boys. Homelander is irredeemable, because he actively murders for wanton satisfaction, and shows no remorse whatsoever. Butcher, however, while also being guilty of directly advocating for murder, shows that he is capable of redemption. Even though he sees all superheroes as evil, due to everything he’s lost at their hands, he’s willing to stretch past his beliefs in order to help a child with superhuman capabilities. Any character can technically be redeemed if the writer does it well.
The further down the characters spiral in committing atrocious acts, the more is required to rectify and redeem them. Queen Maeve successfully gains redemption. She was initially afraid to stand against Homelander in the beginning, but decides to actively rebel against him at the end.
What are your thoughts when heroes are not required to face real prison time or any legal consequences? They must simply “express their regrets” and get off scot-free? Examples of this would include A-Train, The Punisher, and Darth Vader. Context absolutely matters! Whether or not the character has genuine remorse for their actions is a crucial part of the process.
Do villains that we like get more of a pass because of charisma or emotional involvement? The Winter Soldier was not in control of his actions, yet he remembers everything. It’s easier to forgive him because he tortures himself via his own guilt. Some people give Killgrave from Jessica Jones a pass, simply because he was played by an attractive, fun actor – even though his character is completely irredeemable.
Power doesn’t necessarily define, but rather it reveals what is already inside of us. So what defines these superhuman beings as good or evil? It often boils down to a matter of control. The Hulk, a very chaotic force, could be controlled by Natasha and the Avengers for the sake of good. Abomination from She-Hulk unfortunately was uncontrollable. Society will not tolerate the Untamed Hero. Hollywood often kills off anomalies–even if they’re interesting–in order to re-establish the status quo.
Further parallel examples include Scarlet Witch and the Phoenix. Both exhibited uncontrolled immense power from broken women, an interesting recipe for a menace. The indication may be that women are not able to handle power because they’re ‘too emotional.’ Homelander, on the other hand, is an emotional baby, which showcases a trope flipped on its head. Stories are more interesting when they explore the full ranges of emotion for both men and women.
The hot girlfriends of superheroes often get redemption, even if they’re frequently committing evil acts without remorse. Examples include Catwoman from the DC Universe, and Irene Adler from Sherlock Holmes. Again, this comes down to the element of control. Batman and Sherlock do what they can to keep them balanced and in check.
It would be far more intriguing to see Batman in a situation where he is forced to either kill or be killed, but they won’t write scenarios like that for him. What would it look like to see the aftereffects of Batman post-murder? Delving into the ramifications of PTSD makes for a more relatable depth, and is more interesting in a story sense, rather than keeping him constantly toeing the line of “is he going to kill or not?”
However, there are some characters who are considered heroes, even when they’re not in control, such as Blade and Deadpool. They usually fit into the anti-hero category, because their chaotic patterns rebel against the traditional hero type, but they do not fill the villainous roles either.
What are some of YOUR favorite “bad” superheroes/heroines? Why do they appeal to you on a personal level? Does it matter to you if they’re redeemable or not? Let us know in the Comments Section below! 💜
If you’d like to see more panels like this and receive the FULL experience in person, check out Multiverse Con! Get your tickets here: https://www.multiversecon.org/ Hope to see you there! 😊
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