Top 10 Best Anti-Heroes in Fiction

The concept of an anti-hero is a relatively new one in literature, compared to traditional heroes and villains. The anti-hero is a flawed protagonist, someone who may not necessarily have all the traits we associate with a hero. They may lack morality, or have a dark past, but they still manage to capture our attention and our hearts. Many of the best stories of the last century have centered around anti-heroes, from classic literature to comic books, movies, and television.

The term "anti-hero" was first coined in the mid-19th century by the Romantic poet William Hazlitt, but the concept didn't really gain popularity until the 20th century. This was a time of great upheaval and change, and the anti-hero was a reflection of this. In a world that was becoming more complex, with shifting moral values, the anti-hero represented a new kind of protagonist, one who was more nuanced and ambiguous than the traditional hero.

The anti-hero can take many forms, from the brooding loner to the charismatic rogue. They may be driven by revenge, a thirst for power, or simply a desire to survive in a harsh world. Whatever their motivation, they often become fan favorites, drawing us in with their complex personalities and unpredictable actions.

What are the best anti-heroes in fiction? From Walter White in "Breaking Bad" to Don Draper in "Mad Men," from Holden Caulfield in "The Catcher in the Rye" to Dexter Morgan in "Dexter," there are countless examples of anti-heroes who have left their mark on popular culture. So, let's take a look at some of the most memorable and beloved anti-heroes in fiction, and vote for the ones we think deserve to be at the top of this list.
The Top Ten
1 Wolverine A fierce and brooding mutant with animal-like senses, heightened agility, and a regenerative healing factor, Wolverine often clashes with his own moral compass as he battles both his enemies and personal demons.

I chose Wolverine because he is my favorite antihero because he has a lot of superpowers and there is one that I particularly like because it allows you to heal very quickly.

Wolverine is my favorite antiheroes because he has a lot of powers and abilities . He demonstrates exceptional strength and perseverance.

Wolverine is the best anti hero there is. He is one of the major reasons for the perserverance of the marvel comics. After all how can you disagree with the guy whos the best at what he does. Oh and by the way batmans not an anti hero he's a superhero.

2 Deadpool A wisecracking, fourth-wall-breaking mercenary with regenerative healing abilities, Deadpool is a morally ambiguous character whose unpredictable nature and twisted sense of humor make him both endearing and dangerous.

I think deadpool is the best antihero. I really like deadpool because it's a character with "regenerative healing abilities" and this is an unusual ability to me.. I like deadpool too because he has a sense of humour and this is special to find an antihero who has humour despite what he does. I also enjoy the "unpredictable" side of Deadpool, thanks to that, there are so many funny scenes in the movie.

I voted for this anti hero because even if he enjoys killing people, his sense of humor is quite dark and that is what makes him endearing. He is also a character with a unique personality and a surprising way of thinking that I like. Finally, he can be selfish and cold blooded but at the same time charismatic and skillful ; it's an interesting duality.

3 Vegeta A proud and ruthless Saiyan prince, Vegeta is initially driven by his lust for power and rivalry with Goku, but gradually evolves into a complex character who must reconcile his brutal past with his newfound role as a protector.

I voted for Vegeta because I like him so much, he was such a big villain in a lot of arcs however he still got a redemption in dragon ball super. He was really selfish and powerful at the same time due to his origins, he is still like that but less than before and that's what makes him a good antihero.

I voted for Vegeta as I find his character very interesting. Once a space alien causing genocide across the galaxy to now an alien reformed on Earth. He is quite stubborn and a bit arrogant sometimes (Cell Saga...), yet he still cares for the people around him, whether that be his friends, family or his lifelong rival, Goku. He always comes through and sacrifices himself for the planet if needed. He went from once a genocidal maniac in the Namek Saga, to saving those same Namekians in the Moro arc.

In short, to me, Vegeta is a fantastic character with an amazing development, even when we thought he could have never been redeemed, he ended up becoming one of the most loved and cherished characters in the Dragon Ball series.

4 Rorschach A morally rigid and uncompromising vigilante, Rorschach seeks to expose corruption and crime in a dystopian society, even as he struggles with his own demons and the impact of his violent actions.

Rorschach is a hurt man but he can stay true in his moral code. Even if he is violent and crazy and he kills people, to me it's justified, so he is my favorite antihero.

This guy is the best. He mostly stays true to his moral code and is willing to act, unlike Nite Owl.

He's literally the only true badass of Watchmen despite his violent and crazy behavior.

5 Batman A masked vigilante who seeks justice in the crime-ridden city of Gotham, Batman struggles with the darkness inside himself, as he aims to protect the innocent without becoming the very thing he fights against.

Batman is one of my favorite anti-hero because I like the complexity of his character. Yes, he fights for justice and wants a safer Gotham, but his constant fight against himself to resist his murderous desire makes him really interesting. He's still righteous even though he's broken ever since his parents were killed in front of him. To me, it's not just his actions that make him an anti-hero, but also and mostly his mind. I consider him a type 2 on the scale of anti-heroes because although he is dangerous, he still keeps a strong sense of justice, and refuses to kill his enemies.

6 Walter White A high school chemistry teacher turned methamphetamine manufacturer, Walter White's transformation from a mild-mannered family man to a ruthless criminal mastermind reveals the depths of human ambition and moral decay.

I choose Walter White because he's the best anti-hero. The story is very interesting, the character is impressive because he sells drugs but It's in the interest of his family. The anti-hero little by little will become a bad character and his family doesn't want him. It becomes really problematic for him. And the story becomes more and more interesting as we advance in the seasons.

Walter White is a very interesting character, you have to be able to understand his point of view. He does evil for the good of his family and the evil in question is the manufacture and sale of drugs. It only serves a need for people who have become addicted and who will probably continue to consume it, so they might as well take advantage of it.

7 Spawn A former elite assassin who is resurrected as a Hellspawn, Spawn struggles to reconcile his dark past with his newfound supernatural abilities, as he battles both the forces of evil and his own inner demons.

I like Spawn (HBO Series) better than the comic book version of Spawn and the live action version of Spawn, and I taught Spawn (HBO Series) to stop stealing Wanda Blake from Terry Fitzgerald and Cyan Fitzgerald and I can't blame Spawn's vengeance on the criminals and the villains who wronged the good sinless people, good guys and the heroes anymore.

8 The Punisher A relentless and brutal vigilante, The Punisher is driven by the murder of his family, and his desire for vengeance leads him to become judge, jury, and executioner, often at odds with the very concept of justice.

In my opinion, the punisher is the best antihero, he is strong, intelligent, and he is led by vengeance. He may kill but only those who deserve to be killed.

It's the best one.
He's an old marine man and when he comeback some guy killed his family. After that throughout the show we are going to see his revenge against the men and destroy all a group.

Wait! #50 that doesn't make since, Duffy duck is more ahead than the friggen punisher the punisher is the definition of anti hero it should go 1. The punisher 2.Barman 3.Mad Max 4.Daryl PERIOD

9 Zero (Code Geass) The masked alter ego of Lelouch Lamperouge, Zero is a cunning strategist and revolutionary leader who uses his power of mind control to fight against the oppressive Britannian Empire, while concealing his true identity and moral dilemmas.

Zero is my favorite anti hero of all time. Seriously he manipulates, kills, lies, steals and ACHIEVES WORLD DOMINATION. But he does all of this to bring down a brutal dictatorship, find his mothers murderer and, most importantly, make the world a better place for his crippled sister. In some ways he could be seen as a 'ends justify the means' manipulator, but unlike most of these characters, who are spineless cowards, Zero is willing to put his own life on the line for his plans.

Zero should be higher. He's the perfect example of an anti-hero. He's killed a lot of people but just want's to destroy the Britannians despite the fact he's one too.

10 Light Yagami A high school student who discovers a supernatural notebook that grants him the power to kill, Light Yagami becomes a vigilante known as Kira, whose godlike ambitions and twisted sense of justice lead him down a path of darkness.

For me, Light Yagami is the best antihero in this list because his case is the perfect one if we needed an example to "Antihero". An average student, wishing for a better world, finds an interesting book with the powers of a god. He wanted criminals to suffer like they made innocents suffer and all he had to do is writing their names on the Death Note, making them die of a heart attack. He was known as Kira and Kira was making his own justice. He stayed in his character only to protect the world until his power made him crazy. He was a killer but he only wanted peace and freedom.

The Contenders
11 Red Hood (Jason Todd) A former Robin who was brutally murdered and later resurrected, Red Hood becomes a ruthless vigilante who seeks to clean up Gotham City through any means necessary, even if it puts him at odds with his former mentor, Batman.

He defeated Batman. If that isn't enough he can control Bizarro. I can say more but I think I put down my case

12 Sweeney Todd A vengeful barber who turns to murder after a tragic betrayal, Sweeney Todd's descent into madness is fueled by his quest for retribution, leading him to blur the lines between justice and bloodlust.

He is driven by one thing and one thing only: his own goals and he doesn't care about anyone but himself. perfect example

13 Han Solo A charismatic and self-serving smuggler, Han Solo is initially driven by his own interests, but eventually finds himself drawn into the larger cause of the Rebel Alliance, helping to bring down the oppressive Galactic Empire.

We love Han Solo because he is an icon of the star wars movies, he is badass, smart and very courageous. Moreover he is outlaw

Alexis and Camille

He is the best character on the saga Star Wars!

14 Ed (The Lion King) A hyena and henchman of the villainous Scar, Ed's simple-mindedness and loyalty to his pack lead him to participate in the evil plots against Simba and the Pride Lands, making him an unwitting anti-hero.

Ed, in "The Lion King" is my favorite anti-hero because even if he is manipulated by Scar, a mean lion who wishes to be the king by killing others lions, he was very foolish so it's funny to see him. I think he was an anti-hero of type 2 because even if he is a criminal, when he still alone, he is sympathetic.

Ed is really funny for me. He is compelling even if he is foolish. I think he's just manipulated by Scar and I suppose that je is kind in reality. We can't see him all the time in "The Lion King" and this is a bad thing because it's a good character.

15 Travis Touchdown (No More Heroes) A crude and narcissistic assassin, Travis Touchdown's quest for infamy and wealth drives him to kill his way up the ranks of the United Assassins Association, making him an unconventional and morally ambiguous anti-hero.
16 Lelouch Lamperouge A brilliant strategist and exiled prince, Lelouch uses his newfound power of mind control to rebel against the oppressive regime of Britannia, all while hiding his true identity and grappling with the consequences of his actions.
17 Faith (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) A rebellious and troubled Slayer, Faith's struggle with her inner darkness and complicated relationship with Buffy make her a complex anti-hero who ultimately seeks redemption for her past actions.

A brutal Slayer with issues, Faith is after the one who killed her Watcher. But the desire sends her spiralling downward into an alliance with evil. A really interesting character to watch.

18 Deathstroke A master assassin and mercenary, Deathstroke's exceptional skills and tactical mind make him a formidable adversary, while his complex motives and personal code of ethics keep him walking a tightrope between hero and villain.
19 Heathcliff (Wuthering Heights) A dark and brooding figure, Heathcliff's passionate love for Catherine Earnshaw leads him to seek revenge on those who have wronged him, resulting in a destructive and tragic tale of obsession and vengeance.
20 Severus Snape A stern and seemingly heartless Hogwarts professor, Severus Snape's loyalties remain a mystery throughout the Harry Potter series, until the true depths of his love, sacrifice, and allegiance are finally revealed.

I also think that Severus snape is the best antihero, because he knew how to be detestable when he had to but he also managed to keep the secret throughout the saga, he helped Harry all along and we understood him very late unfortunately. By the way, he remains the best on the point where he knew how to keep his character despite the fact that he was not at all like that in reality

For me, Severus Snape is a good antagonist because in his story he is a guy who suffered from bullying and got all out on the children of the guy who bullied him but at the end he still showed love towards harry and helped him without harry knowing it.

21 Scorpion A vengeful specter and skilled ninja, Scorpion seeks to avenge his own death and the murder of his family and clan, often putting him at odds with both the forces of good and evil in the brutal and supernatural world of Mortal Kombat.
22 Garfield A lazy, sarcastic, and gluttonous orange cat, Garfield often displays selfish behavior and a lack of empathy, making him an unlikely anti-hero whose relatable flaws and dry wit have endeared him to millions of fans.

I choose Garfield because it's a compelling character. It's a funny character and yet he is annoying. Garfield do nothing, he is leasy despite being very sympathetic. He likes lasagna and makes practical jokes. He is in category one antiheroes because it's just a heroes

My favourite anti-hero is Garfield because it is a funny character who likes to eat lasagna. Garfield is a very lazy and egocentric housecat.
Although it is a cat, he is kind with mice.
I place him on the type 2 of the scale because it's an anti-hero who loves to kick Jon's other pet, a dog, Odile.

23 The Comedian A brutal and cynical vigilante from the Watchmen universe, The Comedian's violent methods and nihilistic worldview put him at odds with his fellow superheroes, revealing the darker side of the costumed crimefighter archetype.
24 Catwoman A skilled thief and occasional love interest of Batman, Catwoman navigates the fine line between hero and villain, often using her cunning and seductive charm to achieve her goals while still displaying a sense of morality.

I love her and her superpowers, she's really strong. However, I think she's way too sexualized just because she's a woman.

25 Shenzi A cunning and opportunistic hyena from The Lion King, Shenzi is both a comical character and a loyal henchman to the villainous Scar, illustrating her willingness to betray her fellow animals in order to secure a better life for herself and her pack.
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