I thought about turning this blog entry into a review of the series and its characters. But I decided to go with a topic that springs from comment my wife made about the 3rd episode. Which incidentally was the episode she "checked out" of the series and allowed me to continue along on my own.
Daredevil was kicking the crap out of a LARGE number of Russian mobsters when my wife looks over to me and says... "You really like these darker characters don't you?"
Of course, as always she was right. It started WAY back in the day with EVERYONE'S favorite mutant...
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| RIP, Bub. |
Wolverine.
Then there was the one symbol that every bad guy feared on sight.
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| Frank FREAKIN Castle! |
Punisher
And of course the most uncompromising of the Watchmen...
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| *hrrm* Get your hands off me before I chew your thumbs off! |
Rorschach! Wait... that is my dog... hold on...
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| *hrm* I'm using this more than my Sidekick |
Rorsch.... DAMN IT!
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| *hrm* Finally, the blogger get's it right! |
Walter Kovacs aka RORSCHACH!
In every case, my love of these characters began for more of the superficial reasons. In Wolverine's case, it was the fact he was Canadian ('eh), and those kick ass claws. For Punisher and Rorschach... the costumes caught my eye at first, and the fact that they were "Regular Joes".
But as I grew older and continued reading and maturing, there was something much deeper to my enjoyment. Deeper... and darker.
In all three of these cases, I loved how they were able to go out and deal with the evils in their worlds.
On many occasions Wolverine had moral battles with the rest of the X-men, namely Professor Xavier, because they were unwilling to "do what was necessary to get the job done". If a villain was threatening innocent people or other team members. you didn't just stop him...you EVISCERATE THEM.
The Punisher was born out of revenge. His wife and children murdered by mobsters in a Central Park shootout... the war vet (clearly a "Black Ops" kinda soldier based on his abilities) wages a one man war on crime. His family's killers are the first to die, and he continues from there.
And then, there was Rorschach. His philosophy was just like his mask. There is no grey area in his world. Everything was black or white. You were either good or evil. And if you were evil...prepare to suffer. (Of course the backgrounds of each of these characters are much deeper... but I need to get to my point)
Now I don't mean to brag, but I could be the quintessential "nice guy". I do my best to help everyone I can, because that is what you are supposed to do. Put my best foot forward in everything I do, try to be a good example for my daughter and for people around me.
But there are days. Days when I wish that I lived in a world where I could "straighten out" all the wrong I see in the world. Days where I could just take it upon myself and make things right.
It starts, as usual, with "taking care" of the murderers, rapists, pedophiles that we see and hear about night after night on the news. I think it's pretty safe to say that is where ANYONE who imagines such things would start. And then I started thinking about where to go from there.
I would beat a little common sense into a few people that need it.
Like drivers in Calgary (seriously people... PUT YOUR EFFIN CELLPHONES DOWN WHEN YOU ARE BEHIND THE WHEEL BEFORE YOU KILL SOMEONE!)
But how far down the rabbit hole do you want to go? Do you then start attacking the backstabbers and people that have done you wrong for no other reason than their own selfishness or personal gain?
It's at that point it stops being about "justice" and turns into revenge.
Which is why THIS guy...
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| The "Man Without Fear" |
...the Daredevil should have been EXACTLY the type of character that she preferred.
Sure, he is a vigilante that kicks some serious ass. And YES he has a dark side... but he is able to fight that with a set of morals that he holds on to. And while *I* don't agree with where he supposedly GETS these morals (as Matt Murdock is Catholic), his belief in a sense of the law and his choice not to kill (despite having every reason to do so) are something to be admired...and sets him apart from other characters who simply seek vengeance.
He may not have been my favorite character growing up... but he is certainly one to enjoy now.
