Karen Rock | What Marvel Can Teach Us About Creating Romance Heroes

A special on Marvel Superheroes got me thinking… what can authors learn about creating romantic heroes from them?

According to Stan Lee, Marvel superheroes have gripping backstories with past tragedies that motivate them- positively or negatively. Sometimes, and this is most intriguing of all, the heroes themselves caused these circumstances. Driven by regret and a need to atone, they devote their lives to making up for these mistakes or ensuring they won’t happen again. On the flip side, they may shut themselves off, not ready to risk opening up again. Additionally, superheroes should be relatable, have flaws or weaknesses, and a moral code that is often tested.

If we applied the same principal to our romance heroes, they similarly become layered, complex characters. Spiderman is my favorite superhero. In his dark backstory, his refusal to intervene while witnessing a crime allowed the escaping criminal to fatally shoot Peter’s uncle. His guilt over his inaction motivates him to become a crime fighter so as to protect the innocent and stop villains.

The hero in my December Harlequin novel, A LEAGUE OF HER OWN, star pitcher Garrett Wolf, also has a guilt-ridden past. He neglected his foster brother when he made it to the minor leagues. When he learned his foster brother aged out of the system, rejoined his old gang, and was killed in a drive-by shooting, Garrett is wracked with guilt. Garrett had promised the boy he could live with Garrett when he left foster care. If Garrett had kept his promise to stay in contact, Manny would still be alive. His guilt motivated him negatively. It drove him to alcoholism, got him tossed off his team and destroyed all that he’d once dreamed of achieving. Additionally, it made him wary of getting close to anyone again.

Despite having superpowers, Spiderman is still just a regular guy with flaws and weaknesses. He has money woes, struggles to keep his job, and even shrinks his costume…. Deep down, he wants love, not power. Likewise, Garrett has been gifted with a 95 mph fast ball, but he has to work hard to overcome his past addiction, to get his wild arm under control, and is wary of getting close to anyone after losing his foster brother. Garrett seems to have his life on track again now that he’s sobered up and back on another minor league team, but he more than a seven figure contract… something he believes he can never have and doesn’t deserve… a close, loving relationship and family.

Spiderman has a strong moral code. He fights crime. However, that code is tested when his constant comings and goings cause him to neglect his job, school and family. His aunt has a heart attack, he loses his job and his grades are slipping. He’s worn out and he quits being Spiderman. Similarly, Garrett’s moral code to work hard and turn his failed childhood into a successful adulthood was tested after his foster brother’s death. He lost his bright future when he stopped chasing his goals and turned to alcohol. This lapse makes his comeback all the more compelling because we see that it’s not easy for him to resist the pressures of professional sports and his new feelings for his team owner’s daughter. He can’t bring himself to get rid of the two, unopened bottles of whiskey he bought in a moment of weakness. Although they’re in his car’s trunk, and out of sight, they are never far from his mind. This constant threat to his moral code makes him a compelling character to watch as he struggles to overcome all that’s stacked against him.

Great superheroes and romance heroes have a lot in common. Yes, they have qualities that make them special. Yet what is even more attractive about them is their dark backstories, flaws, weakness and tests to their convictions. What favorite romance heroes have you read that would fit this mold? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below and you’ll be entered to win an autographed copy of A LEAGUE OF HER OWN! Check my Facebook page tomorrow, as well as in the comments section of this post, where I will announce the winner. I can’t wait to hear your picks for super-romance heroes! (Psst. I might have to go with Mr. Darcy… :)

Read Fresh Fiction's Review of A LEAGUE OF HER OWN