Bully Characters

They exist. And much like bullies in real life it is not something that one cant just overlook. Its like having a pest in the house. If its ignored then it doesn't solve the problem, it just makes it worse. So to any writer looking to make bully characters I fully encourage it. But there are right ways and wrong ways to create bully characters. Lets get the wrong out of the way.

I don't give a shit if I get flack from this but it has to be said. As mentioned in my previous topic. The dude is an extremely unlikable character. I DARE say the guy is worse than Flash from Spider-Man and Mark from I Am Number 4. I'm serious.

At least the previous two get called out on their acts and the latter got his ass kicked. And, from a narrative standpoint, we are supposed to hate those characters as much as we do Biff Tannen from Back To The Future.

With John Bender however...ugh. Its like the movie was going out of its way to make us feel sorry for him by using the same "I act this way because I come from a broken home" narrative. I'm sorry but I'm really tired of this excuse. Its the same BS people use to make folks feel bad for serial killers. It doesn't change the fact that they kill people and hurt the victims friends and family in the process. Why should a bully characters actions get glossed over just because they have a crappy home life?

I can see calling social services and having the character get help. Maybe have him atone for his actions. Thats the best way to go. But in The Breakfast Club he ended up befriending the ones he tormented and got hooked up with Claire. The same Claire he treated like shit and not once apologized for it.

Karma Houdini ten times worse than what Flash or Mark ever got.

Now lets look at bully characters done right.

That last one always gets me. LOL!  But these three are prime examples of bully characters done right. They get called out on their crap, they're layered, and there are instances where they are more than just standard bully characters. Also they're funny.

What also makes them good is that they at least have traits that makes em likable instead of you just want to see them die or get their asses kicked.

You actually get to see them develop and through time you'd be surprised at how much they've improved. Especially when comparing how they were before.

So when writing a bully character. Please don't take the John Bender route. Take the other examples shown below as a better alternative instead.

BTW. Nelson is a John Bender character done right. He comes from a broken home but his actions doesn't get glossed over and unlike John he usually gets his comeuppance. And gets called out on his actions.