Comics top 4 anti-heroes

By Mike O’Keefe

Almost every comic book has a villain. Batman, Spiderman and the X-men have all battled against seemingly insurmountable foes, all for the greater good.

But what about those that defend something more personal, maybe even selfish?

I’m talking about those "heroes" that are not quite heroes. The anti-heroes, if you will.

For years, comic books had seemed to have had g-rated violence and virtuous victors who always come out on top of their villains. However, many comics explore a darker side of humanity. Here are a few:

Spawn:
Pretty much the epitome of vice. This not-so-lovable bad guy is an ex-black-ops commando, betrayed by his own commander. Ordered to complete a suicide mission, Spawn is sent to Hell after his death, and is asked by Satan to lead Hell’s army in a battle against Heaven. However Spawn refuses, tells Satan to take a hike and sets out to regain the love of his wife as well as his former life. Get ready for comic murder, drug use and sexual deviantism as you read the story of a lone hell-spawn battling his way through hell’s minions.

The Punisher:
Frank Castle, a mob-busting FBI agent, is in the tropics celebrating his wedding with his family and friends. However, Castle has a job that no man can escape. The mob hires a crew to find him at his wedding, at his most vulnerable time. When they find what they are looking for, the hit-men eliminate everyone with extreme prejudice, but forget to make sure that one important detail is taken care of. Castle rises from the grave, emerging as ‘the Punisher,’ a hero hell-bent on completely unsympathetic revenge, at all costs. Castle’s enemies will be blown up, torn limb from limb, and tortured mercilessly as punishment for taking away his perfect life. If you’re into revenge, this one is quite satisfying.

The Watchmen:

Watchmen tells the story of fallible heroes, following mis-guided morals and bias opinions. Although not as graphic, Watchmen is grittier and more realistic than any comic. The day-to-day struggles of washed up, useless heroes is a topic almost any human can relate to. Depicted as misguided vigilantes, these uncomfortably human heroes and heroines will make you think about philosophy, maybe even the meaning of life.

Ghost Rider:

A daredevil turned into a defender of hell and collector of souls. After signing his life over to Satan, Johnny Blaze is now invincible. He becomes an invincible daredevil by day, and by night he becomes an emblazoned vigilante, riding on a motorcycle from hell. A classic comic with a dark twist.

These comic anti-heroes may be un-lovable, but they sure do pack an un-ignorable punch, especially when it comes to getting even, and having fun while doing it.