Was Rorschach The First Anti Hero?

Rorschach

Rorschach is a violent anti-hero detective in the 1986 DC Comics series Watchmen. He wears a constantly shifting inkblot mask which he considers to be his true face. He is shown to possess zero tolerance for moral deviance or criminality, labeling him as an extremely right-wing character by others.

Was Rorschach The First Anti Hero?

#1 Posted by ReverseNegative (2729 posts) - 3 years, 2 months ago - Show Bio

I've heard rumours but I'm not sure if they are true...

#2 Posted by The_Martian (36980 posts) - 3 years, 2 months ago - Show Bio

Not by a long shot.

#3 Posted by ReverseNegative (2729 posts) - 3 years, 2 months ago - Show Bio

@Nobody:
Then who is?

#4 Posted by MrMiracle77 (1584 posts) - 3 years, 2 months ago - Show Bio

A good bet would be for Punisher (Feb 74), who edged out Wolverine by a few scant months.

#5 Posted by Jotham (4564 posts) - 3 years, 2 months ago - Show Bio

Well, antihero is kind of a broad term. There were definitely antiheroes long before comics even existed. Even in comics, they've been around for a while. The oldest I can think of is the Shadow.

#6 Posted by Nova`Prime` (3935 posts) - 3 years, 2 months ago - Show Bio

Ya I would have to go with some classic golden age characters like The Shadow, The Phantom, I believe Namor was called an anti-hero back in the day as well. Lets not forget Batman can be classified as an anti-hero as well.

#7 Posted by Harlekin (677 posts) - 3 years, 2 months ago - Show Bio

Rorschach being based off off Mr. A makes it kinda hard for him too be the first. Also the Comedian appears in Watchmen before Rorschach so even if Watchmen was the first appearance of the Anti-Hero Comedian would technically be the first.

#8 Posted by The WeatherMan (3214 posts) - 3 years, 2 months ago - Show Bio

He is certanately quite unique in his own sense and being in such awesomeness as The Watchmen definitely doesn't hinder your chances at being a well written character. But he is definitely not the first.

#9 Posted by The Man of Tomorrow (403 posts) - 3 years, 2 months ago - Show Bio

Def@Nova`Prime` said:

" Ya I would have to go with some classic golden age characters like The Shadow, The Phantom, I believe Namor was called an anti-hero back in the day as well. Lets not forget Batman can be classified as an anti-hero as well. "

I agree with everything said here. Except Batman was the definitive anti hero at his release. He carried and used a gun.

#10 Posted by MrMiracle77 (1584 posts) - 3 years, 2 months ago - Show Bio

While a good number of pre-code characters took their anti-hero cues from film and literature, I'd have to say that the vast majority of them switched to "standard hero" post comic-code or simply went out of publishing due to the new regulations.

Post code, I'd still go back to the Punisher marking the return of anti-heroes.

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