>>89024382Those so called badass characters were a product of their time. When hacks, fueled by their adolescent fantasies wrote characters as being 'cool' or 'badass' without understanding what made those characters so likable in the first place.
Take Wolverine for example. In the Claremont era, Wolverine was a character who struck out on his own and was willing to kill, like modern Logan. However, the difference between that Logan and modern Logan is that neither of those traits were seen as admirable. Wolverine's willingness to kill and the fact he could act like animal was something that people found disgusting, not cool. In fact, Claremont made it clear, time and time again that Logan was not a character to be emulated. In fact, he developed Logan into a team player, showing that as being good.
Ghost Rider meanwhile is something that should be feared. The whole idea and motif of his story is the battle for one's humanity and soul. Having him kill and attack indiscriminately and showing his host having no issue so long as it saves lives, showing no awareness for the amorality and the damage murder does for one's soul undermines the entire idea of that.
As for the Punisher, I honestly don't understand why Frank ever was called an 'anti-hero'. He at best, is an 'anti-villain'. The whole 'he does what no one has the guts to do', is a child's understanding of morality and ethics.
People have woken up to it and the 'badass' stuff has really died down, thank god. Now we are just in the age of the 'quirky' and 'flawless' characters who will be forgotten in a decade like most 90s abominations.
