What is it about vigilantes, rogue cops, and superheroes that keep us captivated?
This trend is nothing new, though over the last few years the vigilante-as-hero has been on the rise. I look back to Westerns as the rise of vigilante justice. When America was a new country and there wasn’t any real system in place to keep people safe. People were responsible for each other–families for their own, neighbors for their neighbors, towns for their towns. Someone comes onto your land to steal your cattle, shoot them. Someone rapes your wife, shoot him. Someone robs the bank? Hunt them down and hang them.
Standard set-ups in vigilante stories is usually heart-wretching. The hero (or anti-hero) has someone he loves violently taken from him, and he hunts down the people responsible. There’s a clear “good guy” and a clear “bad guy” and no doubt that the bad guys deserve to be shot or hung. As society has grown, laws made, law enforcement spread throughout the land, there’s less need of vigilante justice because there are protections in place. Some people own guns. Some people have security systems. Some people know self-defense. There are security cameras protecting businesses, security cameras on public streets and in homes, cops paid to respond and investigate crimes. A court system that wrings out the bad guys and sorts the truly evil from those who just made a mistake. Prisons to keep them in check.
Except, the system doesn’t always work. It’s a good system, but no system is perfect. Sometimes, innocent people end up in prison. Other times, bad guys are let free on technicalities. Sometimes, the bad guys are never caught. We all know a personal story, something that happened to us or to a loved one where justice was not served.
And that’s why vigilante stories remain popular. Westerns, Robin Hood, THE EQUALIZER, DEATH WISH, and others. It’s why superheroes have always been popular, but we’re seeing a resurgence. It’s why shows like JUSTIFIED and PERSON OF INTEREST and ARROW become popular. Why we can root for the anti-hero because he’s meting out justice when the system has failed.
In LOVE ME TO DEATH, the first Lucy Kincaid book, I tackled vigilante justice. A group of vigilantes were targeting convicted sex offenders who were released from prison early. Statistics show that sex offenders are the most likely to reoffend; these are predators who take pleasure in hurting those weaker than them. As I wrote the book, I was having a hard time seeing what was wrong with what they were doing–these guys were bad news, and they were going to hurt another woman or child. Why not kill them? In fact, when I was looking for a new agent in 2010 and LMTD was written, I used it as my WIP for the new agents I was interviewing. One agent didn’t like it–the first victim in the book, Roger Morton, was a bad guy and he was shot in the head. The agent commented that no one is going to feel bad about him, or the other victim who was a convicted rapist, and she didn’t see how readers were going to care about solving these crimes. She only read the first third of the book, and I can see why she would think that. But isn’t that one of the great hooks in stories? To see these crimes as justified … and then when do they step over the line?
Even Lucy is torn. From LMTD:
In the back of her mind, Lucy realized that she was relieved they were off the streets. But she couldn’t accept cold-blooded murder. If vigilante justice ruled, anarchy would soon follow.
“The system is far from perfect. But your way is not the answer. It’s premeditated, cold-blooded murder. That makes you as much a monster as they are.”
In most vigilante stories, the hero (anti-hero) is torn because of this exact idea–that they, too, are monsters. Monsters hunt monsters. They can justify it because they’re saving innocents and taking down bad guys, but it takes its toll on them, even superheroes. It’s what makes them compelling characters–alpha, damaged, brutal, compassionate.
Why do you think vigilante stories are so popular and compelling? What’s one of your favorite characters from film, television, or literature?
Good news! I found out yesterday that STALKED, the latest Lucy Kincaid thriller, is debuting at #10 on the New York Times bestseller list. Thank you to all my readers who helped put Lucy on the list. AND our own Laura Griffin’s SCORCHED also hit the NYT extended list, the first time her Tracers series has made a showing. I am SO thrilled for her because her series rocks.
To celebrate that Laura and I are on the same list, I’m giving away a $25 gift certificate to the on-line bookseller of your choice. One lucky commenter will be our random winner–check back on Sunday for the announcement. Whoot!
Allison Brennan is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of nearly three dozen romantic thrillers and mysteries, including the Lucy Kincaid series and the Max Revere series. She lives in Northern California with her husband, five children, and assorted pets.
Congrats to both you (and Lucy) and Laura! As for the rise in vigilante characters, I think part of it is the badass factor. Raylan Givens is a badass. Rooster Cogburn was a badass. Jack Reacher (Child’s, not Cruise’s)? Badass. Bubba Rogowski? Badass and psychopath. Josey Wales? Dirty Harry? The Pale Rider? All Eastwood, and all badasses.
The other part of it, maybe, is the personal nature of being helped by a vigilante. Think about it this way: we all KNOW the system fails, and it fails far too often. As such, here are men and women of uncompromising justice who punish the wicked. No one wants to recognize that the vigilante is also BEING wicked in the process, because it’s personal…the person is being saved or avenged. You don’t fuss at your hero for the method in which he or she is heroic for you; that’s rude.
Look no further than the reactions many people have toward cops. They piss and moan about cops pulling them over for speeding, or giving them the eye when they’re about to do something immoral. But let that same person need a cop to rescue them, and suddenly cops RULE. It’s the self-centric nature so many of us have.
Oh, that’s a very interesting way to think about it! That we’re willing to put our own morality aside to accept help from anyone, even a vigilante hero, when we need it. Survival is a powerful, primal need.
Congrats to you and Laura on making the NYT list.
I think it’s partly seeing the bad guys get their dues, but also the vigilantes tend to be handsome and sexy. I liked a tv show which was quickly canceled (of course, I liked it that’s why) called Vengence Unlimited with Michael Madsen from the 90’s. It was great because he wasn’t so obviously a good guy like Arrow or Bruce Wayne, etc. He had real menace.
I never heard of that show (and since I’m a TV addict, I usually know about most of them!) I don’t know that Arrow is all that much of a good guy, however. He takes out the bad guys — and everyone around them. He’s brutal. John Reece is a bit brutal, too. I night need to see if that show is on DVD or something …
Congratulations to both you and Laura!
I’m loving Person of Interest and Justified. Not sure how far you are in POI, but there is an interesting twist towards the end: Reece might not be the vigilante everyone believes him to be. Part of what I find so interesting about that show is how much they actually work within traditional law enforcement channels. Same with Justified.
I’m all for those who bend the rules, but I’m with Lucy breaking them is not acceptable.
No spoilers! I’m about to start Disc 5 of POI … I’m frustrated because I can’t watch season 2 immediately … it’s not available for streaming on Netflix, and it’s not available to purchase on iTunes. Very, very frustrated. I’m going to have to see if it’s on the website for the show or something, once I’m done with season 1.
I like bending rules. Breaking them? That’s where it gets very grey. It’s a interesting concept to think and write about, however.
No spoilers. that’s why I worded it the way I did. 🙂
check cbs.com. they were streaming most of their shows. Not sure if POI is one or not. Also, some are on hulu.
Congrats on the list! Just got my copy of Stalked yesterday! I think vigilantes are so popular because it’s empowering to the little guys like me. What a great fantasy to think I could single-handedly right a terrible wrong! And I’m a lawyer, so I know all too well the dysfunction and inefficiencies of the legal system–in so many cases the victims get “punished” and the rights of the perpetrator become exalted.
Thanks Deborah! And I don’t know why I didn’t know you were a lawyer … hmm … hahaha just kidding!
Vigilantes are all about righting wrongs that the system either let happen because it’s imperfect, or caused to happen because it’s corrupt. They’re the last ditch effort for salvation.
Congratulations! Vigilantes are always fascinating. Their lives, and how they fight justice and win is mesmerizing.
We definitely want to know more about them and why they risk themselves for people they don’t know.
Congratulations on the list. I think we just like the bad boys with a hint of good inside.
Bad boys … yes, they have a definitely allure!
Congratulations Lucy and Laura! Vigilantes have the power to right the wrong, to rescue and help and to believe that they are all powerful when no one else can be depended upon.
It’s nice to know that when you hit rock bottom and thing all is lost, that someone is out there who cares … and will do something to help.
Love Person of Interest! I think I like the shows a little better when the hero works with law enforcement or leaves the bad guys tied up or something for the law, instead of killing them. It makes them seem more merciful. Of course, if they have to kill, they do…to protect.
Definitely one of those grey areas — whether homicide is justified or not. I also like law enforcement heroes, but I also am fascinated by rogues — those who were shunned by their department because of corruption and take on a cause in order to fix the system.
Congrats! I think it’s because not a lot of the bad guys get the right sentence for the crime they have committed. You see so many repeat offenders and wonder how they can keep letting them out back into society. Some people just can’t take what the person has done and want to go after them to make sure they get the punishment that they think they deserve. Take Eye for an Eye for example, the mom went after the man that raped and killed her daughter. She got him good in the end too and put the blame back on him. The bad guy in the movie was released on a technicality.
I think you’re right — when the system fails, we need to find a way to fix it.
That reminds me — my short story “Above Reproach” tackles this issue, too.
Congratulations, Allison and Laura!!!!!
Thanks so much Deb!! 🙂
Congrats ladies! I love watching Burn Notice to see those bad guys who slip through the cops fingers go down.
I’ve never watched that show … hmm, might have to check it out.
Congrats to both of you for (much-deservedly) making the NYT list! STALKED and SCORCHED are definitely my favourites in two already-excellent series. I guess I can thank Sandy for giving me the time off to read them right upon their release 🙂
I’m more a comic and manga person (hello growing up in Asia) than a TV person, and both those media have loads of vigilantism. Pick your favourite superhero– unless they’re officially sanctioned by the government, they’re vigilantes! I’m especially partial to Batman, Superman, and Ironman on the comic front, and Akumetsu and Berserk on the manga/anime front.
I’ve tried to get my son into comic books, but he just doesn’t like to read anything! Comics and all the variations (manga, etc) have definitely made vigilante justice an art form.
Congrats Allison and Laura!!! Terrific news!
Interesting topic about vigilante justice and I love the photo of our boy from JUSTIFIED. Darn he is cute.
I just love Timothy Olyphant. He’s proof that you can still be gorgeous over 40!
Awesome on the release Allison and best selling list! Congrats Laura!! I loved this post! We have a recently (last year or so) a new channel here called ME (Memorable Entertainment) and has older shows which I finally get to watch captioned! Including The Big Valley, Gunsmoke, Bonanza (loved Little Joe!) and too a new to me one that I didn’t know about, The Rifleman and The Wild Wild West with Robert Conrad (I’m hooked on both now!) I always loved to watch them but its fab now to know all they are saying! But I go from favorites that change when I’m watching them but Robert Conrad is my favorite right now!
I do tend to love reading bad boys who redeem themselves as the book goes on! I’m trying hard to remember a Linda Howard book that had one and he ended up having his own book. Now I’ll be digging books out to look. LOL.
I loved Bonanza and Wild Wild West! Watched those in reruns all the time. Hmm, my sons might like them. Even my 9 year old daughter who has seen every Little House on the Prairie like 10 times (and read all the books!)
Congrats, Allison and Laura!
Interesting post. I think we like vigilantes because they stand up for those who can’t fight for themselves…that’s how I see my favorite of the group, Lee Child’s Reacher.
I kind of like Arrow, but I think they should’ve called the show Green Arrow. His jacket is so dark green it looks black, don’t you think?
Favorite characters are Indiana Jones, Sherlock Holmes, Harry Potter, Hercule Poirot, and Miss Marple (and other Christie characters such as Tommy and Tuppence). I also like Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane. Spider-Man is my favorite superhero.
I remember the Equalizer show — Edward Woodward. He was also in A Christmas Carol as one of the ghosts.
I think they are so popular because so many people are wronged and don’t get justice that it’s nice to know that justice can happen even if it’s only in fiction.
Congrats Allison and Laura!
I think Nick on Grimm is a kind of vigilante, going after creatures with his family’s weapons while also being a law-abiding police officer. I love all of the twists and sheer creativity on that show!
I love, love, love GRIMM.
Congrats to both of you!!!
I’ve just started watching a new show titled Arrow and it seems that his goal in life is to rid the town he lives in of all the bad people that take advantage of the rest of the townspeople. So far it’s a good show!
Congrats to you and Laura! My favorite anti-hero is good old Robin Hood – and his merry men.
Congratulations, Allison and Laura!
Both STALKED and SCORCHED arrived today, just in time for the weekend.
In the early 90’s I watched a show titled Dark Justice. The main character was Judge Nick Marshall who went after criminals whom he believed had escaped being prosecuted.
Congrats Allison and Laura!! I loved Stalked, haven’t read Scorched yet, but I’ve loved all the Tracers books so I’m really looking forward to it.
I think vigilantly stories are popular because we know the system is imperfect and we want the bad guy to get what’s coming to him. Let’s face it in romantic suspense we not only want a HEA, we want the bad guy to get his or her just desserts.
While Reece and Finch in POI act outside the law (most of the time), they aren’t traditional vigilanties since they are trying to stop the crime before it happens, not seek revenge after. And Reece never kills unless he has to, mostly he just kneecaps them.
Can’t wait for the return of Justified. Raylan certainly pushes the envelope, but he doesn’t kill the bad guys in cold blood, he’s just smarter and a better shot. Sometimes he’s just lucky.
I think even when we are on the side of the vigilantly it’s a fine line. There can be no doubt that the bad guy is guilty. When they cross the line and hurt someone that turns out not to be guilty or kill to protect themselves from discovery, they lose out sympathy.
I love the film TAKEN because Liam Neeson is so well motivated. Every parent can relate to his quest for revenge against the people who would hurt his daughter.
And on another note, CONGRATS on the success of STALKED! So happy to see it rocking the NYT list!
I think the idea of getting revenge for a terrible wrong is attractive to most people, even though they most likely wouldn’t do something like that themselves, they can live vicariously through the character’s actions. My favorite character is Raylan Givens in Justified, he’s awesome. 😀
Congrats on making the list, whoo
Like bad boys,, with strength and make their own rules
Congrats to you both for making the list. So keep them coming!
Congrats in making the NYT list Allison and Laura!! I think my fav vigilante is Jack eache for sure! I also like the crew from Burn Notice especially Fiona.
For some reason the links to all your blogs are not showing up on the MSW facebook page…
Ok nevermind they are showing up on the fb page!! There just not showing up on when I bring the page up on my phone. Thats my tech prob sorry!
I think vigilante stories are popular because you obviously side with the hero, but then even he or she might begin to doubt himself. I remember in Harry Potter and Order of the Phoenix, Harry had doubts, because when he found out how similar he was to the villain of the series, he thought he was going to turn evil. However, his mentor reminded him that “bad things can happen to good people”, but it doesn’t necessarily turn them evil.
I have not read any Jack Reacher yet, but it’s on my booklist.
Congratulations to both of you Allison & Laura,
I just got “Twisted” today as a gift from Laura with a lovely card!!
You two are great authors. I hope you are celebrating!
Jan
I love it when they make it personal and in doing that we feel their pain and the way in which they came about to exact their revenge. I love my bad boys bad and though they could be doing something awful but in the name of justice, it’s hard not to swoon 🙂
Allison, congratulations!!! Reading Stalked and loving it!
While I was reading your post, all I could think about was White Line Fever with Jan Michael Vincent. Very tense and violent. yay!!!
Congrats to you both! Love it that authors I know (kind of anyway) are achieving such success! I brag about you ladies all the time. Could not have happened to two better authors…except for maybe the rest of the MSW ladies, past and present.
I love reading about vigilantes, but also love watching them on TV. JUSTIFIED is one of my favorites and it never fails to surprise me or make me say OMG out loud. My husband is very into PERSON OF INTEREST. I also remember the EQUALIZER from way back when. I even wanted a Jaguar and that show might be why I love vigilante stories. One of my all time favorite movies is A MAN APART with Vin Diesel. He’s just so perfect with nothing to lose and so much revenge to exact.
Can’t wait to read STALKED. Received it in the mail a few days ago (thank you Allison!). And with the 3 day weekend I might just have time to read the whole thing. 🙂