Hello everyone. I was just recently thinking about certain stories or heroes and how many times when the story or hero becomes popular an origin story or prequel is made to show how everything started. Some recent examples are Casino Royale, Hannibal Rising( I think that's the title), and of course the three Star Wars Movies Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, and Revenge of the Sith.

There always seem to be at least two opinions, it takes away the mystique or it is really interesting to find out how the hero became the hero.

So my question is this, do you like learning the history of a hero or villian? Do you like Origin stories or does it take away too much from the original idea?

In many cases I like origin stories, I find them interesting, finding out what drives characters or understanding how they got to the place they are. But I can defiantely understand those who say leave it alone, having mystery is a good thing.

I might write more later but I am interested to hear others thoughts on this.

Batman Begins. Wow. To date, that is my favorite Origin Story of a Super Hero.

It helped that he's Christian Bale. :drool:

I don't think villains should be given origin stories, by giving them a "human side", it robs them to inspire terror and fear in me. I ended up giving them sympathy... and it destroys their role in the long run.

My opinion, though.

I definately see your point with the villains Anti-R. Even now I am still torn about learning about how Darth Vader became Darth Vader. I still think he is one of the great tragic characters and still one of the best villains but showing him a younger ages really helped to take away from his evil luster.

Oh and I love Batman Begins too. Honestly until I saw Christian Bale in that movie I didn't understand what the big deal was, now I get it :lol:

Though I can understand wanting the mystique of a mysterious past, I personally love origin stories. It just feels like it completes the character: they had to come from somewhere, and now you know.

I don't see it as constricting the character, as the argument against it goes. Perhaps because a lot of origin stories that I know are almost always retcon in some way... it somehow gives me the freedom to pick and choose what I like, because I know the writers are doing the same thing. If I don't like the idea of Clark Kent and Lex Luthor being friends in the past, I can pick some of version of his origin story. If I don't like the idea that the Joker shot Bruce Wayne's parents, I can have it be some random punk.

As for villains-- good point, I'm divided on that. :hmm: I'll probably take both kinds-- sometimes, the main purpose of a villain is for you to hate him, so a backstory isn't necessary. The hired killer-duo in Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere exist in the here and now, with no origin story and no true explanation for their motives; but they work well just the same.