A comic book anti-hero is the protagonist of a comic book series who has some extraordinary traits and abilities, but lacks a conventionally virtuous or well-balanced disposition. Often, the character engages in violence to a greater degree than a traditional superhero. This is a particular iteration of an antihero.
In American mainstream comic books, anti-heroes have become increasingly popular since the 1970s. The comic book version is generally a variation on the formula of superheroes. As Suzana Flores describes it, a comic book antihero is "often psychologically damaged, simultaneously depicted as superior due to his superhuman abilities and inferior due to his impetuousness, irrationality, or lack of thoughtful evaluation." Particularly well-known comic book anti-heroes include Wolverine, Punisher, Marv, Spawn, and Deadpool.[1] These characters have all been adapted into feature films, as well.
