What makes a character a good character?

The title pretty much says it all. (Apologies, Digi, if this is a repeat thread.)

What, to you, makes a character good? What makes you a fan of particular characters? If you have any example characters then that would be good too.

Is it their origins? Is it their tragedies? Is it that they're easy to relate to? Their character design even? Or is it simply that they beat this person or did that thing? (A lot of the time to the outside observer this last reason does seem like the reason some characters garner fans.)

On the flip side, what do you think makes for a bad character?

Nice design really helps.

It's all of those. Also their powers should be interesting, if they have them.

Originally posted by llagrok
Nice design really helps.

Originally posted by King Kandy
It's all of those. Also their powers should be interesting, if they have them.

And I agree for a lot of characters it is a combination of all of those mentioned characteristics that makes them appealing, but then there are some characters who gain followings, while lacking a lot of the above...

So are those characters considered good characters because they manage to attract a following or are they considered bad characters because they don't really have the qualities one would normally see in a great character concept.

Well for me I like characters that when written right create an absolute sense of awe and presence despite what abilities they have.

I also like them to have some personal flaw.

I think the personal flaw thing really humanizes a character and is part of the whole "easy to relate to" thing.

On a similar note to characters having flaws being a good thing - it often seems that some villains often have great potential when it comes to being good characterwise, and under good writers live up to it, sometimes even more so than the characters they were created to antagonize. But then they also say a measure of a hero is in the calibre of his foes I suppose.

Powers should make sense and work well with the personality. Also, it's always nice if there's some originality to the power. Even if this is a small thing, like growing dumber as you grow bigger, that separates you from every other super sizer.

Dumbasses are not fun characters to follow. Witty, clever or geniuses are more fun, though hopefully there's an element of wit or humor to the prodigies.

Finally, characters should be defined by their traits and personality, not their powers. Powers are nice and good, but there should be something that defines and separates them intrinsically from every other character with the same power set, or of the same personality archetype.

IMO.

Originally posted by xmarksthespot
The title pretty much says it all. (Apologies, Digi, if this is a repeat thread.

You know I'm running a tight ship when people start prefacing their threads with this.

😈

No, you're just an asshole. 😐

😛

Also I think a character can become popular just because they appear with such an air of power and importance and badassness, that they can be seen as cool even with horrible development. This typically works better on villains I find.

Originally posted by King Kandy
Also I think a character can become popular just because they appear with such an air of power and importance and badassness, that they can be seen as cool even with horrible development. This typically works better on villains I find.

The character in your sig is a perfect example of this.

??? Sentry is very well developed.

Lulz

Originally posted by Martian_mind
Lulz

Good character development and great art.

Wolverine for me IMO has ran out of good character development.

Originally posted by King Kandy
??? Sentry is very well developed.

I dunno yet....haven't read his mini yet, but I can see from other issues he's not written too well...I have to give him time.

Originally posted by xmarksthespot
The title pretty much says it all. (Apologies, Digi, if this is a repeat thread.)

What, to you, makes a character good? What makes you a fan of particular characters? If you have any example characters then that would be good too.

Is it their origins? Is it their tragedies? Is it that they're easy to relate to? Their character design even? Or is it simply that they beat this person or did that thing? (A lot of the time to the outside observer this last reason does seem like the reason some characters garner fans.)

On the flip side, what do you think makes for a bad character?

I think originality and development are important. Not everyone hero needs a tragedy in their childhood.

Too many clones.

lets take superman for example. Besides the obvious superman clone type characters their is the NON-obvious superman clones.

Like Wonder woman, martian manhunter, green lantern. Hell even flash.
Most of the JL are similar in their power nowadays.

back int he day they all were very different. Now after all of them got powerups through out the years they all basically have the same powers.

Flight, super strength, speed, ect. Yeah their powers differ a bit but the basics are there.

Back in the day ww couldnt fly thats why she had her jet, and she was not super strong.

I just used supes as an example. There are alot more cases like these as well.

And it makes characters less unique and unoriginal. Thus less interesting.

This is just one aspect of it. Of coarse there is also, a characters story , feelings, struggles, personality, ect. But i wasnt getting into that.

1. unique and interesting personality (not cookie cutter bland) - ie. Wolverine

2. well developed background that explains the motivations behind the character - ie. Batman

3. complex character (meaning character isn't just a black or white hero/villain type, but rather has many issues to deal with in life beyond fighting superpowered beings) - ie. Spiderman

4. good rogue of enemies - a character is only as good as the enemies he faces daily - ie. Batman again

5. cool factor (some characters are JUST cool, while others are duds) - ie. Superman