In the comic world today, our heroes deal with a range of situations, and from that emotions. Why wouldn’t they? After all, their consequences for their actions are usually something on the lines of global (or even in some cases) galactic devastation. That’s a lot of pressure on an individual (or team), and with that those situations probably have emotional consequences as a result right? Not too much.
It seems that nowadays the hero (usually) or villain has no residual effect on what they have done or what has happened to them. If they do, in most cases, it isn’t long lasting and hardly has any effect on the story in the long run. That I don’t get. I understand that the heroes I’m talking about are larger than life and in that can deal with anything and everything thrown at them. I get it, but I don’t like it. It’s not enough. To me, if there is an emotional tie, it makes the character that much more interesting.
My two favorite comic book character are without doubt Magneto and Batman. I know, I know, everybody likes Batman: Playboy billionaire by day, masked vigilante by night. No powers, but can beat Supes (strongest character in that universe) in a fight using nothing but his will and intelligence. What’s not to like? I like Batman and Mags (I going to refer to Magneto as that from here on in.) however, because they were molded into those larger than life beings by the TRAUMA they went through. Young Bruce saw his parents murdered whist helpless to do anything about it, as Mags (Erik Lehnsherr) who not only survived the attempted genocide of the Jewish faith (the Holocaust), but also the bigotry of mutant persecution which caused the death of his wife and love of his life Magda. Seriously, who wouldn’t be able to at worst SYMPATHIZE with Mags and why he is the way he is. These traumas in their lives are what give them the will to fight whatever fight they have. In that they are so much more interesting than most character s in comic books today.
It seems that nowadays the hero (usually) or villain has no residual effect on what they have done or what has happened to them. If they do, in most cases, it isn’t long lasting and hardly has any effect on the story in the long run. That I don’t get. I understand that the heroes I’m talking about are larger than life and in that can deal with anything and everything thrown at them. I get it, but I don’t like it. It’s not enough. To me, if there is an emotional tie, it makes the character that much more interesting.
My two favorite comic book character are without doubt Magneto and Batman. I know, I know, everybody likes Batman: Playboy billionaire by day, masked vigilante by night. No powers, but can beat Supes (strongest character in that universe) in a fight using nothing but his will and intelligence. What’s not to like? I like Batman and Mags (I going to refer to Magneto as that from here on in.) however, because they were molded into those larger than life beings by the TRAUMA they went through. Young Bruce saw his parents murdered whist helpless to do anything about it, as Mags (Erik Lehnsherr) who not only survived the attempted genocide of the Jewish faith (the Holocaust), but also the bigotry of mutant persecution which caused the death of his wife and love of his life Magda. Seriously, who wouldn’t be able to at worst SYMPATHIZE with Mags and why he is the way he is. These traumas in their lives are what give them the will to fight whatever fight they have. In that they are so much more interesting than most character s in comic books today.
In creating Sons of Fate, I had the opportunity to take what I love best about storytelling and use them. Kamau’s scar he received while protecting his friend from an attacking cheetah is the physical manifestation of the beginning of that trauma. To him, it is a constant reminder of his failures in the story, although he received the scar actually doing something good. When in distress you will see Kamau stroke the side of his face. If you look throughout Sons of Fate (ORIGINS), you will see when he starts to do this and how this action coincides with the current situation. It is further explained and explored in the follow up sons of Fate (LEGACY). In the second of the three part trilogy, the trauma has developed, and the reader is starting to see the RESULT of that trauma not only from what we know that happened in the previous book, but the unknown events which helped him to get to Japan.
In short, Kamau has PTSD.
I wanted my protagonist to not know where the line is and in sometimes cross it. The events that happen in his life have profoundly affected him in a way where he is so focused on what he believes is the right thing to do, he misses whether he should do it or not. The reason of the immaturity in his actions are a result of that trauma happening early on in his life and only having sporadic moments of guidance. In short, he has to figure things out by himself as he goes on, not making the wisest decisions because of that fact.
I wanted my protagonist to not know where the line is and in sometimes cross it. The events that happen in his life have profoundly affected him in a way where he is so focused on what he believes is the right thing to do, he misses whether he should do it or not. The reason of the immaturity in his actions are a result of that trauma happening early on in his life and only having sporadic moments of guidance. In short, he has to figure things out by himself as he goes on, not making the wisest decisions because of that fact.
For me that is the only way the character will grow. Trained by some of the greatest samurai, but not emotionally stable to fully utilize those skills to make the world better. The one thing he wants to do. With that, the burden, and responsibility of carrying the weight fate has unwittingly burdened him with. Forging the history of Japan. I know, I went all heavy in the end. well, …IT IS HEAVY.
In the end, Sons of Fate could be called a morality tale. There are consequences, and those consequences not only play out to those involved, but also have a long lasting and far-reaching effect. There are lessons to learn. I wouldn’t call it a morality tale however. To me it is just a life in the lives of many. A situation we all face (although not a grand and far reaching. To me, it is life. An ordinary story wrapped in a Western Samurai Epic.
In the end, Sons of Fate could be called a morality tale. There are consequences, and those consequences not only play out to those involved, but also have a long lasting and far-reaching effect. There are lessons to learn. I wouldn’t call it a morality tale however. To me it is just a life in the lives of many. A situation we all face (although not a grand and far reaching. To me, it is life. An ordinary story wrapped in a Western Samurai Epic.