Category: Homework

Daredevil – Antihero

April 11, 2015 / / 0 Comments

Potroyed by the actor Charlie Cox in the netflix series (Ben Affleck in the movie) Daredevil is A comic character; one with depth and strong, personal convictions.

Blinded at A young age, Matthew Murdock grew up in lower new york, where crime is rampant and weaved thickly into the lives of its residents. His father, a boxer, was no saint. Rather than fall victim to the criminals, he became one, although always wishing for his son to lead a better life, ensuring his well being and that he studied. Jack Murdock support his blind son untill his was no longer able to. Matthew was then raised in an orphanage.

Later, Matthew would grow up to be A lawyer. Beleiving strongly in justice, this was ONE of his ways of enforcing the law, most likely due to his fathers grey past, which begs the question: is he trying to ensure they same doesent happen to others that striked him, or resenting his dad taking is out on criminals. His other means involve nightly patrols, where actions speak much louder than words in A courtroom. Able to do this through his gift of heightened senses, and training from another blind fellow he met growing up.

Matt often finds himself in church or with company equally spirtual. He struggles with morality, wondering if what he does is the right thing and is helping his city and not helping to destroy it. He understands and refers to his understanding of right and wrong, knowing that the line between is often more blured than clear. Its almost like Murdock is making an attempt to atone for sins, seeking redemption, giving explainations and reasons for his actions as a vigilante, speaking once of how “the devil” is inside all Murdocks, and was shown occasionaly in his fathers boxing matches. Not skitzophrenia, but rather his own way of explaining his brutality and tendancie to go too far or enjoy combat, leading him to question who he is- the hero, or the villian. Maybe somewhere inbetween.

 

 

Ghost Rider – Antihero

January 31, 2015 / / 1 Comment

The Bounty hunter of the devil himself, named the Ghost Rider, for being spiritually possessed, and for driving/riding on hell on wheels (sometimes hoofs) – transportation that turns along with the host of the Rider.

A comic character originally and acted later by Nicolos Cage in the 2007 movie, Johney Blaze makes a deal with satan in an attempt to save his stunt bike performer dad’s life. He only asks for A small thing in return – his soul. Having never seen any old horror movie in his life (a joke that is later mentioned in the sequel) he signed the contract.

Years later, having left most of his old life as a circus performer, Johney is doing well for himself, still contuing his stunt biking. But thats whats bothering him. After numerous close calls, his alive. “You’ve got A guardian angel!” his friend says. A mutter from Johney follows “..or maybe its something else..”

Discovering the powers of the Rider and learning more about the legends, it is known that it is an enslaved demon that is responsible for bringing the souls of the damned down to hell. He’s essentially being forced to work for a devilish fiend, so he’s quite relatable to any working man. As if that wasent enough to class him as an antihero, his soul sucking is usually done by burning out the life of the evil doers through their eyes- his penance stare, the Rider’s most powerfull weopon.

Closely following Johney Blaze’s battle, burns also one inside him, to which he loses love and friends to both. He considers himself A monster so long as this curse is his to burden. But if this is HIS curse, he will claim it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wolverine: Origins – Antihero

January 12, 2015 / / 2 Comments

The Wolverine: Origins graphic novel explores the untold aspect of the Wolverine. Reading it, James Howlett is not yet the antihero. He isn’t the tough bearded fellow you see in the films or other comics. He’s vulnerable, quick to trust others and wishes the problems he encountered never happened, rather than to combat them. This being his origin story, doesn’t show him being born and continue from there, but instead shows the pinnacle events that occurred in his early life that made him the man we see today, depicted in the present comics and movies.

Tragedy after tragedy strikes before the man with accelerated healing has any time to spit them out and close up the wounds.  Family disputes, love affairs and abandonment hits hard, all at once, ripping Logan up and leaving him to put himself back together, but regeneration doesn’t medicate a broken heart, and some wounds become permanent scars. If every day you kick the dog you walk past, eventually you’re going to get bitten, and the animal wont make the same mistake of letting you make the first move next time.

By the end of the book, the character is not in the same place he was in the beginning. He isn’t quite the polished product that is the Wolverine, but you would never look at him in the same way. Instead of some of Logan’s actions being perceived as cruel or unkind, they’re what’s expected from him. His choices are understandable, given the circumstances at the time, and if he has gone through something similar before. To be cold-hearted, still requires a heart to be frozen over. That meaning that no-one is born the way they are; its their surroundings that shape them. There is a reason why he is constantly trying to withhold his animalistic side, why he tries his best not to get too close to people, why he’s so hard on himself and others. Now I know that reason.