Writing Heroic Characters

I think we've all seen time and time again heroic characters who run in and save people out of a sense of inborn goodness. Going in and saving people is something that good people do, right? Well, it's a good ideal to strive for, but I think most people when they see trouble, fall into the "Bystander Effect", and are too afraid to stand up and do anything about it. 

That being said, just because people can't relate to it, doesn't mean it's not a good ideal to strive for. I would see the occasional article pop up saying where people who have a "savior" complex are actually super insecure and would crumble or turn on their "damsels" the second they aren't shown gratitude, and maybe that's true, but I feel like that's just reflective of the peoples' personal problems and shortcomings rather than simply being brainwashed by these great movies and films. (That being said, I do have a character who is exactly like this! He already made his appearance, but he plays a greater role later!)

I think people tend to forget that being a hero isn't about doing the brave thing and expecting a reward, but it's about being the kind of person people can rely on, someone who will hold the unit (whether that's family, squad, country, city-state, etc), and lead people. 

Then, there's the other side of heroism I've been kind of thinking about- someone who harbors deep regret for being a coward in the past and has to make up for it. Then in turn not being "heroic", but reckless. Thinking they don't have anything to lose, so they'll put themselves in harm's way for someone who's shown them kindness. Then how do you temper that? Keep that same self-sacrificing "if there's a burgaler in the house, I'll be the one buying time for the rest of the family to get out" but still remembering they have a family who needs them?

I don't know! And I'm excited to explore this theme! But I'm interested to hear what you think, so please leave a comment!

On that Note, Writing Themes

I've said time and time again that I'm using this comic to explore themes. One of the things that prompted me to start this story after letting it sit in my brain for so many years was this question,

"How can someone who always claims to be about saving the world make the lives of everyone they meet worse somehow?"

I think of a better way of cleaning up the sentence later.

Time and time again, I see movie critics talk about how movies are brave because they "explore certain themes", but then you actually watch said movies and they're just vomiting a one-sided message. (The biggest offender is the movie Midsommar- which has been praised by critics for tackling themes such as breakups, loss, etc- but when you watch the movie, it's about an insufferable crybaby who gets back at her boyfriend, and the theme is "Emotions are good! There are evil people out there who tell you that you need to bottle up your emotions, but your emotions make you strong!" It doesn't challenge you, it just makes you roll your eyes if you don't 100% agree with the message, and if you do, then you get a nice cozy feeling of confirmation bias.

Vs. The Witcher 3 video game where it literally made my brain hurt how they made an alcoholic wifebeater likable, and he became an alcoholic wifebeater because his wife cheated on him repeatedly! But he's an alcoholic wifebeater! I'm not supposed to like him! But he gave my in-game daughter a horse and treated her nicely! But-! But-! HUH???

See, THAT'S the kind of theme-exploring I like. It takes you out of your sense of moral superiority and makes you think. There's no "good people" and "bad people". Just people. People are complicated. 

Or I dunno, maybe I'm just a sick and twisted person and you should all stop reading now.