“ | When there's no cops around, anything's legal. | „ |
~ "Grunkle" Stanley Pines' philosophy. |
“ | We both know he's going to keep doing these things. Sometimes two wrongs are the only way to make sh*t right. | „ |
~ Cecily guides to Cal |
Heroes who usually go against villains who are Lawful Evil (the ones who use the law for their own purposes and evil deeds). Sometimes may commit crimes such as murder, theft, terrorism, vandalism, etc. (Juvenile Delinquents and Outlaws count), but that still help save the day. However, often the people that these heroes look after don't show any gratitude, because the law system and society probably paints these heroes as villains via propaganda. There are several reasons why a good person would resort to crime.
- Vigilante: The society/law system they live in is corrupt and oppressive and is making things extremely difficult or impossible for a good or neutral person to make an honest living. Or the system itself is the source of conflict of the story via the injustice it inflicts, forcing heroes to resort to crime and/or vigilantism to survive and correct wrongdoing. This is the most common form of a Heroic Criminal and in some ways the rest of the examples fall under it. Examples include Zorro, Aladdin, and Robin Hood.
- Revenge: The hero experiences a personal tragedy involving one or more members of his family and/or other loved ones (often with fatal consequences) and due to the inability (or unwillingness) of the law system to properly prosecute and punish the criminals who wronged him and the ones he loves, he ultimately chooses to take matters into his own hands (i.e. vigilantism), acting outside of the law in order to make justice and avenge his loved ones and other innocents. Examples include Frank Castle/Punisher, Mack Bolan, Carrie White, Paul Kersey and Kim Soo-hyun.
- Minority Species/Culture: The hero is a member of a species, culture, religion, sex or gender, or any group that is frowned upon and/or discriminated against by a majority species/culture, forcing them to resort to crime in order to survive since the local law enforcement probably is biased against their species or culture and the society likely denies them rights and good wellfare. Common in Science Fiction and Fantasy where multiple races can be found, and related to real life racism, the hero resorts to crime because the local law enforcement is more likely to arrest them rather than help them, simply because of their species or culture. Examples include the Dovahkiin if they are an Argonian or Khajiit or Esmeralda for being a gypsy.
- Poverty: The hero resorts to crime out of poverty and survival. Often the society these heroes live in care more about money, power, and the elite more than commoners (and often these commoners are among a disadvantaged group) and does anything to ensure that poor people "know their place". Good examples include Catwoman and Aladdin.
- Mafia/Gangsters: These heroes are rare type of being a criminal. They may be ruthless, but they have good intentions in mind. Likewise, heroic gangsters all have a deep trust and respect in each other, and their ultimate goal is to take over other mafia and turn it into a force of good for the people of their homeland. Examples include Team Bucciarati and Jackie Estacado
- Being Framed: The hero is actually a decent law abiding person, until they were framed for a major crime by a villainous character and are now a wanted criminal. This character is typically found in mystery stories where the hero tries to find out who really committed the crime so they can clear their name. But until then, they must resort to crime since law enforcement is more likely to try and arrest them than listen to them. Examples include Dr. Richard Kimble, Judah Ben-Hur and Vash the Stampede.
- Tragic History: Sometimes the hero becomes a criminal because of their tragic backstory like being an orphan or being rejected by society so they had no choice but to become a criminal. Examples include Megamind, Catwoman, and Gru.
- Anti-Hero: The hero simply has a tendency towards criminal behavior, but is still ultimately a heroic person. Examples include Duncan.
Heroic Criminals can qualify as Pure Good, but they can ONLY qualify if their crimes are for the sake of others and not for their own needs.
All items (2838)
- A-Train (TV Series)
- AAARRRGGHH!!!
- Aang (Avatar)
- Aaron Dingle
- Abigail Jones
- Abigail Roberts
- Abigail Walker
- Abu
- Adam "Kane" Marcus
- Adam (The Hollow)
- Adam Clay (The Beekeeper)
- Adam Stanheight
- Adam Warlock (Marvel Cinematic Universe)
- Adelbert Steiner
- Adelheid Bernstein
- Adu Du
- Aegis Alver
- Aerith Gainsborough
- Agent 47
- Agni
- Agâh Beyoglu
- Ahlbi Ur'gaid
- Ahsoka Tano
- Aiden Pearce
- Airi Arcadia
- Aisha (Saints Row)
- Ajax (Genshin Impact)
- Ajax (The Warriors)
- Akame (Akame ga Kill!)
- Akane Hiyama
- Akane Kurashiki
- Akane Owari
- Aki Murasame
- Akira (Togainu no Chi)
- Akira Kongo
- Akira Nishikiyama
- Akuma
- Aladdin (2019)
- Aladdin (Disney)
- Aladdin (Once Upon a Time)
- Alan the Cable Guy
- Alastor (Hazbin Hotel)
- Alba Meira
- Aldo Trapani
- Alex (Control Z)
- Alex (Lockout)
- Alex Cloudmill
- Alex Hopper
- Alex Mercer
- Alex Pruitt
- Alex Standall
- Alex Taylor
- Alexei
- Aske Stenstrom
- ALF (Gordon Shumway)
- Alfie Moon
- Aliceliese Lou Nebulis IX
- Alison DiLaurentis
- Alistair Krei
- Allelujah Haptism
- Alma (Gokurakugai)
- Alopex (TMNT 2012)
- Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad
- Alto Clef
- Alyssa (The End of the F***ing World)
- Amber (The Owl House)
- Amerika
- Amethyst (Steven Universe)
- Amicus
- Amsterdam Vallon
- Ana Spelunky
- Anais Watterson
- Anakin Skywalker (Star Wars)
- Anatoly Knyazev (Arrowverse)
- Andi (Hotel for Dogs)
- Andie (The Nut Job)
- Andreas Sanchez
- Android 18
- Andy & Chris
- Andy Barclay
- Andy Beanstalk
- Andy Bernard
- Andy Dufresne
- Anew Returner
- Ange (Princess Principal)
- Angel (IDW)
- Angel Dust
- Angela Jitrenka
- Angela Orosco
- Angelino
- Angry Video Game Nerd
- Angus Scattergood
- Anguy
- Ani Achola
- Ann Takamaki
- Anne Boonchuy
- Anne Frank
- Anne Frank (Ari Folman)
- Annoying Orange
- Ant-Man (Hank Pym)
- Ant-Man (Marvel Cinematic Universe)
- Ant-Man (Scott Lang)
- Ant-Man (Yost Universe)
- Anthony and Ian (Smosh)
- Anthony Fait (Cradle 2 the Grave)
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- Antie
- Antonio Foscarelli
- Anya Oliwa
- Aoi Kunieda
- Aptom
- Arataki Itto
- Arc (Knight Squad)
- Archangel (X-Men Movies)
- Archie Moses
- Aria Montgomery
- Aria T'Loak
- Arisa Uotani
- Arkin O'Brien
- Armando Armas
- Armin Arlert
- Arronax
- Arsène Lupin III
- Artemis Fowl II
- Arthur Hastings
- Arthur Morgan
- Arthur Read
- Aru Rikuhachima
- Arvin Russell
- Arya Stark
- Ash Fox
- Ash Graven
- Ash Lynx
- Ash Phoenix
- Asha Greyjoy
- Asher Forrester
- Ashi
- Ashura Doji
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- Assassins
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- Atilla
- Augustus Hill
- Aurelio
- Auron
- Aurora Crew
- Ava & Tanzie Marchetta
- Aventurine
- Avery Bullock
- Avery Carrington
- Awaki Musujime
- Axel (The Walking Dead)
- Axl (Mega Man X)
- Axton
- Aya (Green Lantern: The Animated Series)
- Ayame Kajou
- Ayase Shinomiya
- Babe Carano
- Babs (Chicken Run)
- Baby (Baby Driver)
- Babylon Rogues
- Bad Mr. Frosty
- Badger
- Baek Doo San
- Bain
- Balder
- Ballister Boldheart
- Ban (The Seven Deadly Sins)
- Bandit Darville
- Barabbas (1961)
- Barbie Roberts
- Barley Lightfoot
- Barnabas Collins
- Barnacle Boy
- Barney Stinson
- Baroness (G.I. Joe Film Series)
- Barret Wallace
- Barriss Offee
- Barry Robinson
- Barry Steakfries
- Bart Simpson
- Bartholomew Kuma
- Bartolomeo
- Basil (Omori)
- Basim Ibn Ishaq
- Bat Family (Arkhamverse)
- Batman (Arkhamverse)
- Batman (Batman: Caped Crusader)
- Batman (DC)
- Batman (Frank Miller)
- Batman (Injustice)
- Batman (Matsudaverse)
- Batman (Nolanverse)
- Batman (Telltale)
- Batman (The LEGO Movie)
- Batten Rouge