This character is controversial, should I continue?

Because of the controversial nature of this character, I made this thread so as to resolve potential controversy between me and the audience.

Ok this character's concept is born not out of any sort of admiration for a previous work or real life person. It is a result of disgust and horror for a particular tragedy that has repeated itself many times in recent years.

This character is a school shooter. Because of the nature of such a person and the actions that such a person commits in real life, he is to be permanently branded as an antagonist.

Now if you managed to stomach that first part, I hope you are up for part two.

Now this character doesn't just commit one act of mass murder and then die by suicide or by law enforcement. He is nigh-invulnerable, and is in prison for 90% of the story. But when he breaks out, the horrors happens once again.

Personally, this is the part that troubles me. People might question my views and sanity if I were to essentially make a super villain out of a school shooter.

So now that you know what I plan, should move forward or scrap the premise?

edited 8th Feb '14 3:10:29 PM by Worlder

I'd say move forward. It sounds like a really interesting premise for a horror story.

Here's a question: Why would an invulnerable character want to shoot up a school in the first place? Another: Why on Earth would they go back once they got out? They could go anywhere and do anything that they want. Consider the psychology of most school shooters. Are you applying invulnerability to a school shooter or a school shooter mentality to an invulnerable person? There are so many questions as to what you mean or intend in the first place.

This character had a high probability of snapping even before the event that gave 5% of the world super powers. Having super powers only made him more mentally unstable.

Oh and if this character got back out, he would just be a general mass murderer. Targeting places where people gather and killing the civilians off in gruesome ways (and then setting sights on law enforcement and even military).

edited 8th Feb '14 4:49:47 PM by Worlder

This actually sounds like a really interesting character. As long as he's not written insensitively, he should be fine.

Well I worried about a Draco in Leather Pants situation that could lead to people accusing me of glorifying mass murderers of civilians.

edited 8th Feb '14 5:48:00 PM by Worlder

That is a fandom reaction to villains which you can't really predict or change.

If your character is clearly considered a villain in the universe of the story, people will usually understand that you do not condone his actions.

I say move forward. Controversial nature in and of itself does not mean you should bin a character.

Well, if he's invulnerable and completely crazy, he's uninteresting. Is there anything to explore with this character except "get's out, shoots people again"?

Unfortunately, not much motivation or goals beyond "kill people because life has been cruel". He is more of a catalyst that started a Super Registration Act in the US.

Now if you want me to assign him a Super Weight, I say 1.8. He is small fry in my story, yet the extent and type of damage he cause is more than enough to become a rallying cry for a new type of legislation.

Oh now how about this twist:He doesn't need an actual gun to shoot people. A second ability of his is enough for him to take a toy rifle and make it work like the real deal. Of course unloaded weapons are even better than plastic facsimiles.

edited 9th Feb '14 4:34:02 PM by Worlder

What is the term used for a section of a story that isn't considered a full chapter?

If it was in a visual medium, it would be a short scene in one time and location that builds up suspense before it cuts to another scene in a different time and location usually detailing the climatic event posteriori.

What would be the equivalent in a book? Something like 2 pages in between chapters of 20 pages or more.

That sounds like something more suited for Writers Block Daily, or Random Questions threads.

Go on, my graphic novel in development will feature people who started out their "heroic" carreer with murder in school (they didn't need any weapon as they have superpowers).

Someone, somewhere, at some point in time, is going to disapprove of whatever you do. Just go for it.

Honestly, the lack of depth here is bothering me. People don't kill people just because they can and vaguely want to. Now, if this character were to already have a solid psychological reason and set of violent and crazy but believable goals and then have their sense of reality further shaken by receiving the powers that you have described, that could be interesting. But cardboard cut-out spree killers are a bore. They are scary like a rabid dog is scary, not intriguingly scary—the difference being that a dog is an animal, and perhaps less dull for the fact that it can't just give weak excuses.

Of course, there are situations in which weak-sauce reasoning makes a character more rather than less impressive or creepy, but you don't seem to be writing that kind of story...

Yes, character depth is important. I remember I wanted to say, that there's a lot of exploit behind a school shooter. My protagonist set on fire his bullies (and the school as an incident) after he gained the ability of manipulating fire. This leads him to choose between to go on trial and go to prison for arson and murder (no jaywalking), or to join to the secret group called The Brotherhood where he works for almost nothing as a "superhero". There's also other reasons behind why he did what he did, but they're very spoilerous.

Also I suggest to not to give his reason behind the shootings because he was bored with his videogames, as it was overdone and most likely to discredited in real life as most school shooters were bully victims. There's a possible way to subvert the sociopathy of these characters, but it's hard.

Yes he was bullied, and after the worldwide incident of super empowerment, had tried to commit suicide by throwing himself in front of heavy traffic. But due to the nature of his changed body all he got was more pain.

Not so sure about how the second power came to be, but it should be the last straw that causes him to snap and think he is unstoppable.