ARCHETYPE HEROES EDITION

Inside...
The Skeptic and
The Believer
NEWT SCAMANDER Discussing the
Reinventing Masculinity in Apollonian and
the Harry Potter Universe Dionysian
Dichotomies

Archetypes
from the Are Podcasts the
Classic and New Mainstream
Storytelling
Modern Eras Medium?
The Adventure Zone s
Griffin McElroy and
Nightvale s Cecil
Baldwin Share Their
Thoughts

Anakin Skywalker
Villain or Tragic Hero?

A Riley Turner
Publication
 W
THE WARRIOR
Say it again, who's a man among men?
DESCRIPTION
He s hot, he s powerful, he s hypermasculine! Meet
the Warrior. He s usually a straight white man with
a talent for combat. He is most prominently featured
in mythology, seen going on quests and fighting
monsters for fame and glory. He is often very well
liked by his community; the women want to be with
him, and the men want to be him. He starts his
journey as an outgoing, volatile source of power and
energy, but after training with a mentor of some
sort, he is able to control his power and face
whatever his ultimate challenge is. He is either able
to complete the challenge, or dies trying.

FATAL FLAWS
Because the Warrior is so powerful, he often lets his
talent and accomplishments get to his head. His
complacency can lead to his downfall. He is also
aggressive; he finds violence much easier than
diplomacy. The Warrior has to learn that he can t
punch his way out of every situation. Lastly, he is
usually something of a womanizer. An enchantress
can easily slip past him because she is beautiful and
he is full of lust.

FAMOUS EXAMPLES

Gaston Heracles/Hercules Thor

Beauty and the Beast Greek/Roman Mythology MARVEL comics,
Norse Mythology
All artwork original by Riley Turner
THE ORDINARY GUY
I didn t ask for any of this.

DESCRIPTION
He s nobody special. He s an average guy who learned that he
has some sort of magical power or ability, and is then launched
into narrative he had no choice in joining. Meet the Ordinary
Guy, also commonly known as the Chosen One. This character
doesn t have a typical gender, but is usually a child or a
teenager. This character has his destiny thrust upon him by some
sort of inciting incident revealing the true nature of his world.
This character is meant to represent the audience. The Ordinary
Guy archetype is common because he is relatable and often
shares the reactions that a real person would have. He is the way
we are able to live out our fantasies of being taken on a magical
quest.

FATAL FLAWS
The Ordinary Guy is often very empathetic and can have
somewhat of a savior complex. Because he is a normal person,
when he sees others suffering, he does anything to make it right.
He can also become manipulative due to his discovery that he is
the Chosen One and decide that he is better than others. He
can become selfish and narcissistic.

FAMOUS EXAMPLES

Harry Potter Peter Parker

Clary Fray
Harry Potter series Spiderman
Shadowhunters
All artwork original by Riley Turner
THE LEADER
I speak for the people.

DESCRIPTION
In contrast to the Ordinary Guy archetype, this hero seeks out
their own destiny. Meet the Leader. This archetype does not
have a specific gender, but is usually a young person
belonging to some sort of minority, whether it be gender,
race, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic class. The leader
has a goal and actively pursues it instead of being told one
day that they are part of a bigger narrative. They are often
passionate and empathetic figureheads of revolution. They
speak for those being oppressed and are charismatic and
selfless.

FATAL FLAWS
Due to their empathy and driven nature, the Leader is willing
to die for her cause. She is always willing to do what she
thinks is best for others, not necessarily herself. The Leader
can also become so involved in the cause and working up the
ladder that she becomes the very thing oppressing people
(you either die a hero or live long enough to watch yourself
become the villain, as the old adage goes). The Leader is also
capable of getting lost in her work towards a brighter future
that she completely neglects her personal friendships and
relationships in order to achieve her goal.

FAMOUS EXAMPLES

Enjolras Katniss Everdeen Alexander Hamilton

Les Miserables The Hunger Games Hamilton: An American
Musical
All artwork original by Riley Turner
THE REBEL
I m not like other girls.
DESCRIPTION
She s an edgy outcast with unconventional hair. Meet the
Rebel. This character is typically exclusively female and exists
to provide a contrast to the boring male protagonist. She is
often the opposite of what is considered traditional
femininity , whether that be wearing all black or never
wearing makeup. She is usually daring and thrill seeking,
dragging the protagonist along with her to make him more
adventurous. She is somewhat mysterious and gets into a lot
of trouble. She often has the potential to be an interesting and
likeable character, but because she is often putting a divide
between her and other girls, it makes it seem that
traditional femininity is something to be looked down
upon. This is an archetype most commonly seen in modern
media such as movies, comic books, and video games.

FATAL FLAWS
The Rebel is often breaking rules to cover up some sort of
emotional pain that is addressed later on in the adventure.
She is also very emotionally connected to the protagonist,
even if she tries not to be. Because of this inner conflict, she
can become angry or reserved, lashing out and getting herself
into perilous situations.

FAMOUS EXAMPLES

Chloe Price Ramona Flowers That Girl from the

Life is Strange Scott Pilgrim vs. the World Emoji Movie
The Emoji Movie
All artwork original by Riley Turner
THE BOOKWORM
And she was right in front of me the entire time.

DESCRIPTION
The Bookworm is often a supporting character, yet she is just
as important as the main role. She is usually an incredibly
smart girl who has a close platonic relationship with the main
character. She is not considered conventionally attractive. She
is the brains behind every operation and provides wisdom and
insight to the main character. She balances the group and
avoids conflict. By the end of the story, she is either still a close
friend of the main character, or the main character realizes that
she was the girl he had been looking for all along (not after
altering her appearance, though, whether it be taking off her
glasses or wearing a dress).

FATAL FLAWS
The Bookworm s personality can range from being meek and
shy to outgoing and eager. Despite this, she often has some
sort of insecurity regarding her worth and usefulness to the
protagonist because she may not be as skilled in combat or
social interactions. She may also be rigid and uptight, not
willing to change her opinions on things easily. With the help
of the protagonist, she becomes more open minded.

FAMOUS EXAMPLES

Hermione Granger Layla Williams

Michael Mell
Harry Potter series Sky High
Be More Chill
All artwork original by Riley Turner
THE INDEPENDENT
WOMAN
I don t need no man!
DESCRIPTION
It s a bird! It s a plane! It s the Independent Woman! The
Independent Woman archetype is most common in comic
books, movies, and TV shows. She is the main character of a
series and the coolest person on planet earth (or whatever
planet she calls home). She is powerful and commands
respect, but often cannot gain respect until proving herself to
her male counterparts. She often has to fight both crime and
the misogyny and preconceptions of the men around her. She
is tough, beautiful, and determined; a combination of traits
that is usually very intimidating and makes the men in her
story either scared of her or attracted to her. She doesn t need
a male love interest, but she gets one anyway.

FATAL FLAWS
The Independent Woman is another very empathetic
character. Because she is female, she is also considered
inherently gentle and kind. This, however, can be her
weakness. She loves the people around her but believes she
must isolate herself from them so they don t get hurt. Her
flaws are also what shape her as a character and give her
depth, something not often granted to female characters in
modern media.
FAMOUS EXAMPLES

Mulan Agent Peggy Carter

Diana Prince
Mulan Agent Carter, Captain
Wonder Woman
America: The First Avenger
All artwork original by Riley Turner
THE TORTURED SOUL
I didn t mean for this to happen.

DESCRIPTION
The Tortured Soul archetype is often a man with a
tragic backstory and a questionable state of mental
health. He was once a proud and honorable person,
but he became unstable, usually due to outside
forces or circumstances, whether it be the death of a
friend, brainwashing, or torture. The causes of his
grief may be psychological or physical and have
various detrimental effects. He tends to isolate
himself or is isolated by the forces working against
him. He can either have been a kind person or an
antihero at the beginning of the story, but by the
end he is suffering because of his state of mind. All
in all, these characters deserve better.

FATAL FLAWS
The Tortured Soul is often an extremely flawed
character. Because characters in this archetype are
often forced to make hard decisions with
treacherous outcomes, their belief that they are
doing the right thing often leads to their downfalls.

FAMOUS EXAMPLES

Marcus Brutus Dorian Gray James Buchanan Barnes

Julius Caesar The Picture of Dorian Gray Captain America series

All artwork original by Riley Turner

THE ANTIHERO
I guess.

DESCRIPTION
The Antihero does not have a specific gender and age
and ranges widely in personality. The defining aspect
of an Antihero is that he is not immediately likeable,
or is likeable for the wrong reasons. The Antihero
often has questionable morals, from being somewhat
mean spirited to committing crimes. He is sometimes
spiteful and seeking vengeance. Despite these obvious
villainous attributes, the Antihero is witty and well
loved because he is framed as the protagonist.
Whatever crimes or sins he is committing are justified
because they are less evil than the antagonist s.

FATAL FLAWS
Because the Antihero is often disregarding the law,
getting caught poses as a threat for him. He also may
recognize that his actions are contemptible, and this
can lead him to becoming the Tortured Soul
archetype. The Antihero is often reckless and
unforgiving, something that can also lead to problems
in the future.

FAMOUS EXAMPLES

Veronica Sawyer Wade Wilson

Hamlet
Heathers Deadpool
Hamlet
All artwork original by Riley Turner