List your fictional role models!

[WhiteFangofWhoa]

Marco in Animorphs, my main kids books growing up. The others to an extent, but Marco most of all.

He explained it pretty well in an early book narrated by him- you can spend your life moping about how awful and grim and depressing everything in life is, or you can try to find the funny side and chuckle at how insane everything is. If humour can get him through the day when his mother is dead the host body of the leader of a race of evil alien parasites and his father was so destroyed by that he spends all his time parked in front of the TV, surely I can endure a much less crazy life without complaining too much.

Optimus Primal. Because I was too young for G1.

Darkwing Duck, but mainly as an anti-model, as in don't be as egotistical as he was in the 'Justice Ducks' 2-parter (had the video of it so I still have every line memorized), and most other episodes besides.

 

[Scarim Coral]

God dammit OP I was going to mention Optimus Prime too!

You still can! Entries aren't exclusionary!

Yeah but you pretty much summed up already why you idol him.

I mean I too view him to be a great and wise leader (he took a liking and understanding toward humans when others would had invade/ step on us). I would literally follow him (not blindly) to the end of the Earth. Also despite his peaceful outlook, he is not a pushover! As seen from the animated movie, he is a force to be reckon with so he does have the strength to protect others from harm.

Also I just remember another good character is Yoh Asakura from Shaman King, granted it has been YEARS since I last watched it so I forgot most of it. I just remmeber him being another good leader whose I would follow due to his good moral outlook (he believe in others and can forgive past foes when Lyserg seek only revenge and the means for it when he deserted them in favour of the X-Law for their extreme method of justice) and he too was an excellent fighter!

 

[Chanticoblues]

This is a tough one, because a lot of the characters I love I don't necessarily look up to.

I do love the acting troupe in The Traveling Players. I can't think of anything more beautiful than spreading art in such a disastrous environment.

 

[Programmed_For_Damage]

Roland Deschain of Gilead - A man who is both honour and vengeance bound. He is an unrelenting force of nature. Loyal to a small group of close friends and a gentleman when the situation calls for it. He doesn't speak much, but when he does it is always for a purpose. Someone I can totally relate to.

John Marston of Red Dead Redemption - He's a gruff, no nonsense man who would do anything for his family. He's had a troubled past which still haunts him, but he carries on in the pursuit of atonement. He's handy in a fight too. A real man's man.

Steve Rogers - While Cap is a little bit old fashioned and patriotism is a two-edged sword, there's something to be admired about his values of honesty, integrity, loyalty, humility and helping out those who are helpless.

 

[Madmatty]

Oh, I forgot another role model.


Like Liberty Prime, I too have an irrational fear of a long dead political system, am prone to long winded sentiment that uses bombastic language, and wish to solve all my problem with laser vision and hand tossed nukes.

My role models in fiction are Tyrion Lannister, Raiden from metal gear rising not Jack the Ripper, and Liberty Prime. He should fight Isis

 

[American Fox]

Ororo Munroe
John Constantine
Jessie Custer (The real one from the comics, not this fucking idiot on that horrible TV show.)
Zoey Ashe (Futuristic Violence and Fancy Suits)
Spider Jerusalem
Kathryn O'Brian (Punisher MAX)
Claire Redfield
Shiva (Training Tim Drake/Cassandra Cain storylines)
Martin Blank
Frank Castle (all Punisher MAX stories)
Battle Angel Alita
Dexter Morgan

 

[Extra-Ordinary]

Jessie Custer (The real one from the comics, not this fucking idiot on that horrible TV show.)

Wow, and I thought I was gonna be the hard-the-please fan for the show.
I like the show, by the way.

Toss another vote in there for Custer, original.

I've got quite a few but I'm just gonna mention the first.

Don Draper from Mad Men.
That was the first time I can say I wanted to be a character from fiction. Deep down, he's a miserable bastard, but most of the time, he's fiercely masculine, carries himself with confidence, and has a good principle of business first.
He also exists in a time when all those things meant something, was it perfect for everybody, pffft, no, but that doesn't mean I can't aspire to the things I listed.

Other than those two, pretty much just mark down everybody on The West Wing and The Newsroom. Everyone's so sarcastic and hilarious, I love it.

 

[MysticSlayer]

I can't think of any that I truly saw as a role model. There's a lot of characters I love, and there are some I may identify with to some extent, but I wouldn't say that I look up to them.

 

[davidmc1158_v1legacy]

Hmmmm. People in fiction that I admire? Well, let's see.

First off, I'll go with Teal'c from SG!. He was someone who had their entire worldview completely wrecked and destroyed, but who had the mental and emotional fortitude to take what honorable and good things he could from the wreckage and carry on. I found that very admirable.

Perhaps King Theodan from the Lord of the Rings novels. While I certainly did like the character that Jackson rewrote for the films, that person is pretty different from the one in the novels. A man who loved his people, fought for his ideals and never shirked from his duty even when he realized it probably would mean his death.

The original Optimus Prime gets an upvote from me as well. Just an all around honorable and decent guy.

In that vein, the Batman from TAS as well. And for the same reasons Scarim Coral gave above.

And for a fairly obscure one, Julius Ceaser in the Heroes In Hell books. Stuck in Hell, recognized as the leader of the Roman/Italian faction whether he liked it or not, responsible for the safety and care of VERY diverse personalities, and saddled by the devil with care for a returned-to-teenage-years-and-with-no-memories-from-his-later-years Brutus. He couldn't catch a reasonable break (it is set in Hell, after all) but he keeps on going with a sense of humor as well.

 

[FPLOON]

Rayman[footnote]If Mario v Sonic is like Repubican v Democrat, then Rayman is the Independent or Non-partisan...[/footnote]: This guy's chill as fuck! He doesn't let his lack of arms and legs discourage him from either relaxing or from being a hero... all with a genuine smile on his face... YEAH!Afro: Outside of being a black, skinny guy with a 'fro, he's absolutely nothing like me... However, I can relate on a emphatic scale when he's on his vengeful journey with only the company of an "imaginary" companion who, "coincidently", is also voice by Samuel L. Jackson...Static (aka Virgil Hawkins): This was the superhero I connected to the most growing up with the animated series in particular... Plus, in said series, his best friend was a white guy who was very tech-savvy, which we [Virgil and I] both had in common...Tenchi (from the OG OVA): He essentially embodied what my future self would be like from a personality perspective... Featured in one of the OG anime series I watched before elementary school, I could just watch him interact with the women all day[footnote]And I technically can! *looks over at the Blu-Ray of the OVA*[/footnote]...Other than that, now that I think about it, I kinda wished I had more fictional role models...

 

[Neverhoodian]

-Captain Picard from Star Trek: The Next Generation. I grew up watching TNG episodes. Outside of real role models like my father, Picard was the character that shaped my morality the most. To this day he represents an ideal to strive for.
I try to ignore his depiction in the movies; I hated how he became just another Big Damn Action Hero.

-Captain America from the MCU. he's the embodiment of what the United States SHOULD be, even if it isn't. Plus, he's just a good man. #TeamCap all the way.

-B.J. Hunnicutt from M*A*S*H. Some folks insist that the show got "too preachy" in later seasons, but from my point of view it just got better and better. The change in major cast members was a big part of that, starting with good ol' Beej at the start of season 4. He's generally more quiet and reserved than Hawkeye and his predecessor Trapper, but he also has a mischevious streak that rivals some of their greatest shenanigans.

What I like most about B.J. is his sense of loyalty and morality. Unlike Trapper, he resolves to stay loyal to his wife while overseas. While he does slip up once in this regard, his distraught reaction is a far cry from Trapper's cavalier attitude. He also realizes that there's a time and place for decorum and helps serve as a counterweight and a voice of reason for some of Hawkeye's more hare-brained schemes. Hell, there were times when he outright refused to help Hawkeye, sticking to his moral code at the risk of alienating his closest friend.

-Tohru Honda from Fruits Basket. Yeah she's a real ditz sometimes, but her selflessness and compassion for others knows no bounds. A sterling example of how a little kindness can go a long way.

Optimus Primal. Because I was too young for G1.

Nothing wrong with that, Beast Wars was boss. Fun fact: my mother watched the show with me back in the day because she thought Optimus' VA sounded sexy. Can't say I blame her...though Megatron's was sexier

Batman from Batman:TAS- Just to be clear, I am listing this version of Batman only. Sure Batman is mostly the same in any friction but what I liked this version more is that he is display more for having compassion! Sure I can assume his comicbook form does it too sometime but not when it shown him on tv!
Example-
He saved and help defrost that goon when Mr Freeze left him for dead when he got hit by his ice.
He symapthies and stayed a reality bending girl Ace til her death in Justice League: Unlimited.
He symapthies Harley Quinn when she was freed from jail.
He comfront that villain Baby Doll, an adult forever to look like a child.
Even when he comfrot the villain Lock Down whose belittle him for caring the lowlifes, he doesn't view the ideal of helping and reforming villains to be a bad thing at all.

Agreed, though I'd extend it to include the DCAU in general.

Spoiler: Tell me you didn't cry at this scene

It's a shame the compassionate side of Batman is explored so rarely in other mediums.

 

[FalloutJack]

I don't have alot of fictional role models. Off the top of my head, I can think of one, because mostly what any other character was to me was basically just being badass and cool. And while there IS no such thing as being 'just' badass and cool, the point of this exercise is to be profoundly influenced by this character. So, I submit to you the only character that has THAT MUCH of an impact on Jack from a fictional setting:

Spike Spiegel.

There's alot of great heroes and villains, and all points in between, but more than just being a great character, Spike got me on the road to Jeet Kune Do. It is ENTIRELY Spike's influence that has led me to appreciate the art that Bruce Lee created. He made me appreciate the art, which led me to appreciate Bruce Lee, which led me to appreciate the deeper philosophy of Jeet Kune Do AND be able to flip a 300-pound man into a wall, I shit you not.

Being informed of something great by a fictional character is just as important as being told about it by a real person. Spike told me about something real and amazing.

Now, you might ask "But Jack! Why not list Bruce himself?". Because he's a real person, even though he put his heart and soul into his movies. This is the same reason I don't list the Doctor, specifically the ever-wise-and-witty Fourth Doctor, because Tom Baker added so much to the role himself. This is a case of honoring the man behind the man, there. And before anyone says anything, Steve Blum IS an awesome guy and a great actor, but he is not the reason for all this.

 

[Siege_TF]

<- This guy, right here.
I admire his focus and dedication, he's also a scary bastard, but wouldn't hurt someone just for the fun of it.

 

[spacemutant IV]

I enjoy the the world and its possibilities that George Lucas has created with Star Wars more than the actual stories being told therein, but I guess most of my fictional role models were Star Wars characters. I grew up without a father figure to look up to, so finding characters in fiction to identify with and model my own character after was something I did quite regularly and I would say almost consciously as a kid.

Yoda for wisdom, Luke for when in doubt, Vader for his unrelenting dedication. There were others from other fictional universes, but I'd say these were the most important ones.

I had to figure out who I was going to be, and I was on my own. It wasn't so much about finding that one character to identify with, but I had to find good examples of how to act out the various parts of myself that I knew were there, but that I didn't quite know what they looked like. Those examples can't all be found within one character, and whether the characters who serve as inspiration are portrayed as good or bad in their storylines didn't matter at all. All that mattered was that they could give me a piece of the puzzle and complete myself.

 

[Gordon_4_v1legacy]

Optimus Prime will arguably the first entry on any list like this I ever make. Nobility, courage, wisdom, compassion and self-sacrifice were all things I associate with the character.


Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the U.S.S. Enterprise. This is a man who to my mind represents the greatness we as people can become if we wanted to be.


Captain America (MCU), although one could argue for Cap as a whole, the MCU is my primary exposure to the character. He's a good man; not a perfect man, but a good one.


Commander Shepard, arguably Paragon!Shepard is the greatest essences of the above three all distilled and directed by a righteous player but has enough Renegade spice to make a tough choice and live by it.

 

[Bobular]

"Quis custodiet ipsos custodies? Your grace."

"I know that one," said Vimes. "Who watches the watchmen? Me, Mr Pessimal."

"Ah, but who watches you, your grace?" said the inspector, with a brief smile.

"I do that too. All the time." said Vimes.

I just came in to drop off Samuel Vimes, blackboard moniter and saw this.
Happy to be beaten to the punch.
Justice, but with a heart.

When I was a very young kid my mum used to take me to the local library every week to get a book. She would leave me in the kids section whilst she got something for herself, she would take ages to decide what she wanted (which is an unforgivable sin to a little kid who has picked his thing) and so I had time to read the books before taking them out. I remember coming across a copy of Mort and starting to read that, I liked it so tried to take it out but the lady in charge of the kids section wouldn't let me have it, saying it shouldn't be in the kids section. I had to beg my mum to take it out for me.

After reading that I wanted more, so I started reading the rest of the Discworld stuff about death, then moving on to the wizards stuff and then started reading the watch stuff as well and so on. I believe the whole Discworld set my outlook on life, for example I did think for years that the scene in Mort where all the young boys congregate in the town center and get picked for apprenticeships was how you actually got a job.

Whilst Death was always my favorite character, I think all the characters from Discworld have been my role model in one way or another so I'm going to be greedy and say all of them.

 

[Jute88]

Hmmmm. People in fiction that I admire? Well, let's see.

First off, I'll go with Teal'c from SG!. He was someone who had their entire worldview completely wrecked and destroyed, but who had the mental and emotional fortitude to take what honorable and good things he could from the wreckage and carry on. I found that very admirable.

Was it completely wrecked, though? Master Bra'tac had long before planted the seed of doubt into Teal'c about the godhood of the Goa'uld. True, he probably learned a great deal more while spending time with the Tau'ri and had to adjust his way of thinking, but before meeting them it seemed more like he was just playing along the "loyal jaffa" role he'd done most of his life. He only stopped the act once O'Neill convinced that he could save the prisoners.

Still, Stargate probably has the best good guys in any scifi-show.

 

[FillerDmon]

Also Goku was in my list but not anymore thanks to Dragonball Super!

I count Super as no more valid than GT is. If anything, ironically, less so. Canon-Defilement Trope in full effect.

I'm also among the people who chooses to check pick the good values Goku still had before Toriyama ran out of material for writing and just started throwing things on the wall. Perseverance, Honor, Truth, Determination, Focus, Self-Respect without Pride, Self-Control, Self-Sacrifice, Humility...

In between the badly written plot holes, the deus/diabolicus-ex-machina pulled out so often, and the repeated frames of animation, there -is- enough in the original series and in DBZ that -is- worth watching. And there's enough about Goku there that is still good. Most people pick the point in which he'd sooner let the Androids have a chance at destroying the Earth than go out and stop them early as reason for the start of his being a bad father, but even that I'm willing to defend: He doesn't go and seek out a fight to kill someone (and by that, I mean premeditated murder). He goes and fights only to protect his family and friends, and to push the own limits of his talent.

Shine a dirt and shit infested rock, and you may still find diamonds there. Even if they turn out to not be diamonds but much less valuable gems, they're still worth while.

----------------------------

In other news, I also count the Joestar Bloodline as being role models. Because they're all just too awesome in their own ways to -NOT- respect.

Also Undyne from Undertale. Everyone should live their lives like her. Be as Hype as Fuck. Always and forever.

And as one person beat me to, Captain America, particularly the MCU version. That's how a hero should be. TAKE FUCKING LESSONS, ZACK SNYDER'S SUPERMAN!

 

[CrazyGirl17]

Not sure about role models, but I personally identify with characters like Fluttershy, Lisa Simpson, Daria Morgendoffer, Stan Marsh, Huey Freeman, and Sir Samuel Vimes. I'm kind and compassionate with a strong sense of justice, but also somewhat cynical and sarcastic with little tolerance for stupid people.

 

[Oinodaemon]

Rand Al'Thor from the Wheel of Time. Started reading the series in 2001 when I was 11 years old, read and reread the books until the last one FINALLY came out in 2013, and walked away (moderately) satisfied. So yeah, he's definitely the first character I think of when considering fictional role models.