Decisions, decisions…. A good guy hero, or bad boy who occasionally shows up to save the day?
We all love our firemen, police and law enforcement men who save us. They’re strong, courageous, giving, the heroes who will always capture our hearts and attention. They’re good. You can see the halo above their heads, right? What’s not to love about this kind of hero? I can’t think of anything.
But there is another kind.
Yes, I’m doing it again. I’m writing about the bad boy heroes. While I like the heavenly kind noted above, I also like the ones who are dark, wicked, and naughty. Behind the thick layer of bad, they have a tiny good quality hidden deep in their heart or soul. In the right situation, one can encourage that bad boy to shine. Maybe he’ll do it for selfish reasons, or in exchange for something else. Reasons don’t matter as long as he comes through as the hero. I don’t know about you, but I like to see someone bring light to the darkness, even if it’s only briefly and he returns to his wicked ways. Hey, nobody is perfect.
I suppose you could have a mixture of the two. As I was looking for a photo, I found one that showed a sexy fireman with a hint at a hidden dark secret. I continued searching for a photo showing a resemblance of hero with a hidden dark side and suddenly Batman came to mind. From firemen to Batman, yep, that’s how my mind works. The ideas are flowing now.
Which kind of hero do you prefer, and why?
Feel free to share your thoughts on the matter and answer the topic question.
About Mary Abshire
I love a good-hearted bad boy! The kind who can’t completely hide their nice guy side but have a dangerous streak that can take over when someone he loves is threatened. That’s what makes action movies fun for me- The former soldier just trying to live a normal life, either with a family or just good ol’ joe in the neighborhood until something from his past brings back the need to be the avenging hero again.
Bad boys, who doesn’t love ‘em?
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I’m partial to both. Love a determined good guy, like Noah in The Notebook. How could you not adore the man?! But then you can’t go past a bad boy who is lock-up-your-daughters hot. A film bad boy I love is from the rom com “Game Plan”. The Rock Dwayne Johnson plays a hugely successful celebrity grid iron player, who is totally self-obsessed. So frustrating and simply gorgeous! Then of course he meets the woman who changes him. She’s eight years old. =)
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I must confess to a soft spot for the bad boys. Lately, I’ve found myself writing some genuinely nice guys, though. Guess maybe I get bored with too much of one thing and not enough of the other, and I need to switch things up.
IRL, I’m all about the nice guys – I wouldn’t want to marry many of the guys I’ve written about, or that other people have written about – but vicariously speaking… yeah, bad boys all the way. 
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I’ll say it outloud. I don’t understand the appeal of the bad boy. I guess I grew up around to many boys who grew into men who thought they could make their own rules. And if they are just possibly hiding that tiny bit of good, I don’t have the energy or patience to dig around for it. I like a complex hero, even a wounded one, but I like the ones who are good despite the cost. In my head brooding equals sulking and I find that immature and irritating.
Now watch. Someone will name a bunch of bad boys and I’ll say– oh yeah– but I do like him!
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I like a reluctant hero – good boys or bad boys can both apply.
Like John Maclean in the Die Hard films. He doesn’t want to be a hero, he just wants to get on with his life. But when trouble’s about, he steps up to the plate.
John Maclane. He’s that guy
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Bad boys who are reluctantly forced to become heroes.
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