I would say general yes- where it becomes interesting is when we think about how many people idolize or relate to these characters despite them largely being fairly universal examples of rejected morality or as embodiments of what is seen as “wrong” of a specific time and it’s zeitgeist.
All of these characters tend to share some commonalities. Most have just a little soft edge- some remorse or “good” or likability or something to keep them from being obviously and plainly villains sure, but that’s not the truly important stuff, that’s just what allows us to digest them.
The similarities come in when we realize that these people are all classic power fantasies.
They all come from positions of relative powerlessness but represent power fantasies. Powerless men who are at the same time powerful- who take attitudes and paths of self actualization wether those ends are self destructive or socially destructive etc. these are guys that “do what they want” and “stick by their guns” once they’ve committed. They’re worldviews and such tend to be unhealthy, extreme, often binary, usually harsh and dripping in adolescent and young male thinking based around world views full of cynicism, angst, anger, and so forth. They’re “cool” because they get things done. They are dangerous, self empowered. They do what they want even when the world tells them no. The world can tear them down and try to kill them or even succeed- but it can’t stop them so long as they are alive and willing.
So why would people idolize such characters who are perhaps at best one or two single humanizing or likable or relatable moments or traits away from being full blown villains? Because- so many people themselves are only a few likable or humanizing things away from being g full blown villains in real life. Because the idea that these men have power to exert their will and be defiant. Because when a healthy well adjusted person encounters a binary thinking sociopath like a Rorschach- they don’t idolize them- they see them as perhaps at best tragic and at worst sad. The Rorschach mindset to some degree though is what wins wars and what makes careers and so forth. Of course we know many rich powerful leaders are sociopathic so…!
Anyway- the reasons and details are too complex to discuss in this initial post. The point is more that the fact these characters resonate or are so aspirational to so many people shows A problem or two in society. At the end of the day though, if we don’t give people hope there can be a better way they often give up trying. Something to consider on our politically divided times is that when we drive out others er usually hurt ourselves too.
All of these characters tend to share some commonalities. Most have just a little soft edge- some remorse or “good” or likability or something to keep them from being obviously and plainly villains sure, but that’s not the truly important stuff, that’s just what allows us to digest them.
The similarities come in when we realize that these people are all classic power fantasies.