I've been having a discussion with a friend of mine about what defines an edgelord, and perhaps the only thing we've come to agree on is that Sasuke here is the definitive edgelord, with other examples including the likes of Shadow the Hedgehog (shudder) and Vegeta. However we're struggling with a couple of aspects, I would like the opinions of you learned gentlemen.
1.) How would you define an edgelord in a single statement? 2.) What word would you use to differentiate between an edgelord character (Sasuke, Wolverine, Sephiroth etc) and real-life edgelords who troll online and would typically cosplay as one of the above?
That second one is the real sticking point, the only word we have for both is 'edgelord' but they're very different things. Little help guys?
Not sure it really works. I wouldn't say that applies to other leading edgelords such as Wolverine and Sephiroth...
Daniel Anderson
How is Wolverine edgy?
Ian Parker
BIG
MEATY
CLAWS
Mason Perez
god damn it
Gabriel Adams
That's a fair question. As I said in OP, it's hard to define exactly what makes a character an edgelord, but he seems to fulfill a lot of the criteria. Magnet for real-life edgelords, dark mysterious past, driven by revenge, doesn't give much of a fuck about 'the rules', lone wolf..... see what I mean?
Bentley Brown
you mean like this?
Lucas Taylor
>Vegeta Oh come on.
Dominic Sanders
I see edgy as someone who indulges in violence and murder with glee or satisfaction in a way that is poorly done, or at least not done well. For example, you can have a character who has a well done mental fucking illness as to why they're so fucked up, and it's not edgy, but if it's a character with like a two page sob back story, or they just love killing, then pretty edgy. And the type of enjoyment is purely from violence and getting off on one's self image, even if the person they're killing isn't a bad guy or isn't bad enough to make it justified. Also when they start to talk about shit like darkness, and wear all black. To be honest I see more edgy women in anime and manga by that definition, though.
Cooper Stewart
Explain to me why he isn't, and I'll give you a cookie.
Josiah White
Reaper is a parody of edgelords
Ethan Flores
Because anti-hero =/= edge I do not see how he is edgy at all so I cannot begin to describe how he isn't. I could only properly refute if you said why he is edgy.
Noah Bennett
Naaaah, not sure I agree with all that. Perhaps edgelord isn't the right word I'm looking for? Like I said a minute ago about Wolverine, there are a lot of characteristics that in my mind make up an edgelord, and Sasuke is the best example I can think of. His past, his attitude, his demeanour, just everything about him screams edgelord. He even has a power that makes his fucking eye bleed for god's sake. Who is edgier than that, or is edgy the wrong term??
Juan Cruz
Your problem is edgy is a broad term I just used what I find make an edgy personality other factors contribute to making a character be, or even just SEEM edgy, for example Ryuuko's hair makes her look edgy as fuck when she's not really that edgy at all.
Landon Jenkins
Being edgy isn't inherently bad. If the edgy character seems like they're trying too hard then it's bad.
Matthew Gonzalez
It's more Vegeta from a certain point in time to be fair, he's mellowed out a lot, but during say the Frieza saga up until perhaps Majin Buu, I would say he demonstrated a lot of characteristics that I would define as edgelord (though like I said in another post, perhaps I'm using the wrong term). He's irritable, lone wolf, rule-breaker, kinda cruel, thinks he's the best, kinda dark, cocky attitude.... if you think about the people I'm trying to group together for this definition, perhaps you can help me come up with a better one? Ideas for edgelords so far include:
Edgelords are people who buy their clothes at hot topic and claim to be pro-anarchy. Mass murderers like vegeta aren't edgelords, he was just a psychopath.
Ryder King
>Liquid Snake >Edgy Okay I'm done we clearly have differing views on what defines edgy.
Sasuke, Shadow, Sephiroth, sure, add Dante from DmC, but fucking Liquid? He isn't edgy in the slightest and I don't see how he would be.
Other ideas to your list would be Esdeath from AgK. She's actually edgy.
Ayden Ward
This. There is nothing wrong with edge.
Ryan Miller
Edgy is edgy. Dark and basically everything you described. There is no inherently good or bad, just how you view it. Danganronpa, for example, is edgy. Berserk is edgy. A lot of it is up to you to decide whether it's "good edge".
Lucas Parker
Edgiest thing I've seen in Naruto was that scene where he shoots chidori through Karin.
Oliver Long
I have to be honest, that was my friend's suggestion. I've not actually played MGS.
Adrian Brown
No. Edgiest Naruto character award goes to that immortal Akatsuki dude who was immortal because reasons. Objectively bad writing.
Jackson Anderson
>implying
Cameron Barnes
Do you know what that word means?
Zachary Sanders
Don't think there's many that can top Sasuke's edge. Not only did his shit had made you cringe, it got to the point where his purpose made no sense later on because even he didn't know what he wanted to do. All the edgy shit he did, screaming darkness all the time, talking about/planning to kill everyone all to end up with, "Yeah, sorry". His edge was just all over the place and yet you just couldn't look away.
Jaxon Rivera
kek I also thought about making a gif when I first saw that scene
Camden Torres
>couldn't look away i dropped right after itachi died and not because itachi had died, mind you. it was pure trash by that point.
Elijah Gray
>DOKE DOKE DOKE
Adam Smith
Liquid Snake isn't edgy at all.
Leo Ross
>Don't think there's many that can top Sasuke's edge Hes done it in like 2 episodes
Isaac Howard
He's not a parody of anything, he's just edgy on purpose.
Jacob Gray
No the Edge Award goes to Obito who turned into a faggot because his waifu, who loved another dude, died.
"Liquid Snake Where to begin with Liquid Snake's edgieness? The rage against his father and the world? The bitterness towards his supposedly superior brother? The desire to menace the world with nuclear weapons and then sell them? The rebellious mullet? The fact that he used Wite-Out to paint his jacket with a phrase he thought sounded cool?"
Colton Gray
Sasuedge is still edgier.
The edgiest character in anime is definitely Nishi from Gantz, though.
Liam Sanders
So is Itachi.... and Madara.....
.... basically, the entire Uchiha clan are fucking edgelords.
Andrew Campbell
Itachi isn't really an edgelord.
Andrew Richardson
>Sephiroth
I only really remember him being an edgelord in the movie.
He seemed like a real bro in Crisis Core, and was just weird in FF7.
John Ramirez
An heroic character starts to do anti-heroic things because mental trauma while shrouded in bad/cliched writing emphasis in anti-heroic things wich makes the character not a villian
Hudson Kelly
Is there an edgelord larger than this cock sucker?
Lucas Flores
u wot m8 1v1 me ill fukin fite u
Elijah Jenkins
His edge is so sharp I can feel it cutting me.
Jason Davis
disregard that A badass character does evil things or lets evil things happen because bad writing to look cooler
Adam Rodriguez
What do you think of pic related, is he edgy?
Isaac Lee
LOL where is this from?
Jason Jackson
He has his moments.
John Brooks
Being an assassin doesn't make you edgy.
Gabriel Smith
...
James Anderson
Don't think too hard about it. Edgy means provocative or controversial. It's not inherently a bad thing --it doesn't stop a character from being well-written or likeable/fun. Edginess can appeal to aspects of ourselves and our experience, like our desire to be individualistic or break the rules, or it captures our loneliness or desire for identity. There's a reason the characters are so prominent in works for teens and young adults.
I guess people dislike when a character is up its ass in edginess and there's nothing campy about it either. Like Sasuke, it was like his entire character was defined by it (antisocial, tragic backstory, angsty, obsessed with power, backstabber, vindictive, hateful, DARKNESS) and author kept feeding into that with shit like "Curse of Hatred".
I don't know, I dropped the series years before it ended, but you have characters like Kurapika and Guts who are more balanced and feel more human. Then there are wacky edgy characters. Sasuke was just awful.
Austin Walker
I'd say a "sob-story background that's supposed to justify a character's unjustifiable actions and behavior" is a decent determinant. I think the "you are supposed to sympathize with the character" part is pretty important. There's also the "don't talk to me", "sssh nothing personnel" etc. part - the way they actually carry themselves; this over the top behavior is what separates a morally ambigious character (like Edmund Dantes) from what we can qualify as an animu "edgelord".
Christopher Nelson
Vegeta had actual character development though whereas Sasuke was just a faggot.
Cooper Morgan
How does Sup Forums feel about a clown who hides his edge with a smile and happy demeanor? Like that guy from Tales of Symphonia, Zelos
Luis Clark
I thought kirby was the ultimate edgelord. Saucy is tame in comparison
David Howard
Edgy is something where the sheer shock value/"hardcoreness" of something is its only selling point. Something inherently edgy can have good moments.
Dominic Wilson
Yes
Xavier Williams
I swear I'm an edgelord IRL. I'm always lying and saying stupid shit to make people react.
Adam Anderson
OP here returning. Here's the problem I'm having. That list of features you've given (antisocial, tragic, angsty etc etc) is a good demonstration of what I think of, these comments combined. The whole "pssh nothin' personal kid" demeanour. Here are my problems 1) Is Edgelord the best word to describe these characteristics, of which Sasuke is king? 2) If it IS, then what word should be used to describe the real-life internet 'edgelords'?
Basically there is a situation where one word is being used to describe two very different sets of characteristics - what I define as edgelord, and internet edgelord-wannabe types, who are typically anything but.
One of these things needs a new word/name. Any ideas?
(Pic mostly unrelated, but hilarious)
Ian Martinez
I challenge you to find an edgier faggot than Bakugou.
Adam Moore
You just replied to one.
Bakugou isnt edgy. He's just mad and angry especially when it comes to deku. When he's under a stressful situation he can be coolheaded and calm. What makes him so great is that he's basically a really annoying prick, but almost no one in story can stand him so he basically just becomes a joke.
Jaxon Taylor
I never found Sasuke all that edgy. He walked around like he was hot shit and mostly kept to himself but other than that he only barked out those edgelord responses after shit heads like naruto stepped to him.
Alexander Russell
>bullets? blades? fire? uh. I'll take it without even blocking, my life is pain anyway >weapons? nah I got my claws >society? bunch of faggots. better live alone forever >problems in my life? better hit harder and take more hit did you have enough?
Levi Young
"edgy" basically defines supposed mature themes seen through the lens of a junior high kid without a hint of irony
if your character looks like he'd be the favorite of the goth kids from south park and spouts one liners that seem to come from the original devil may cry then he's probably edgy
Aaron Perez
Shadow is like one of the biggest edgelords ever
Gavin Stewart
man... what the fuck
Caleb Ramirez
>Esdeath Thirst of blood doesn't mean edgy since she's evil from the get go.
Dominic Cooper
Actually got me thinking of how to put this in words, so I actually tried, god forbid people calling me a faggot or an autist.
A definition of an edgelord for me, as a character is someone that is effectively written to appeal to pre-teen or teenaged boys. This is generally achieved by having the character either not play by "the rules" or outright rebels against them (see where I'm going?). In this way, many anti-hero characters often fit the bill.
By going against convention, edgelords essentially embrace the following: >Darkness (in opposition to light, as that's traditionally portrayed as 'good'), which involves the color black, sometimes red. Invoke shadow imagery and maybe blood. Can be metaphorically dark and not in a literal sense. >Acting anti-social (not asocial), as in, enjoys or embraces things like death, killing, assault, etc. This point might not always be true, but is a calling card of edgelords. >Sob backstory that explains why they enjoy killing/why they have dark powers and shit. This can take other forms as long as the character "suffers" in order to justify their demeanor. Don't get me wrong, there are characters that can have shitty (in two senses of the word) backstories and not be edgelords. >Sometimes some display a "code of honor" (you're not worth killing), or some sort of restraining factor that elevates their "coolness". Another way of saying this would be acting "cool" (basically cringe, one-liners, etc). The standard chuu2 routine. >Usually view themselves on a high ground of sort, either in authority, moral, or something other. Results in smug and arrogant behavior. Even if not in actuality on a higher ground, can be presented or written to try to be. This also encompasses "I'm special because xyz".
That's all off the top of my head without getting into concrete examples
William Clark
was he really an edgelord?
i thought he was pretty well written
Jonathan Reed
He's more of a sad and broken person. Hei is similar.
Joshua Smith
The one and only Tokyo Ghoul is quite an edgelord faggot with mommy and daddy issue.
Nicholas Williams
Yeah. Im sure you'd be totally alright in the head after having live centipedes wriggling around in your ears for a week.
Henry Miller
>a week >the centipede torture only started on the 10th day. Keknekifag is a speedreader.
Ryder Miller
subscribed
Kayden Turner
Its been a while. Whatever same idea. If you were tortured for a week and then had centipedes wriggling around in your ears for a few more days you probably still will be a bit fucked in the head.
Jason Cox
my momma is a whore and pappa is a codependent kek i was neglected all my life i'm not an edgelord (only pathetic and insecure like shinji)
Bentley Campbell
I will kill myself before he can torture me. Problem solved.
Chase Lee
Well he didnt have that luxury. Cause he would pretty much regenerate everything he could inflict on himself in that context.
Adam Ortiz
He should've jumped from that fuckin tower in the first place, not even ghoul can survive that shit.
Jaxon Wilson
Eto survived a bigger fall didnt she? And she was half eaten at the time.
But then she still died like a bitch a while later so WHO CARES.
Christopher Jackson
Betaneki wasn't as strong as Eto back then he was even weaker than touka/tsukiyama.
Jose Smith
I know I was just mentioning the fact.
He was so pure and innocent back then. Such a shame.
Angel Thompson
I prefer this guy user.
Dylan Perez
Kanedgy
Nathaniel Martinez
edge animes are in demand because of all of the comfy SOL shit, and comfy harem shit.
you want your feel good, no one gets hurt, fan pleasing comf anime? then dont complain when the industry pumps out the exact opposite. its just two sides of the same coin.
Benjamin Jenkins
The thing that seperates vegeta from being edgy is the fact he always jobs. Edgelords normally win fights they shouldnt just because of how badass they are.
Bentley Hernandez
I haven't read the sequel yet but the only edgy thing about him in TG is that stupid mask
James Lewis
Its not even his mask. Uta made it like that for him.
And its a pretty fucking cool mask.
Gavin Ortiz
>responding to this blatant of a newfag thread what are you doing
Dominic Stewart
>Sasuke >Shadow the Hedgehog >Wolverine >Sephiroth Watch more anime you complete and utter newshit faggot cunt
Cooper Scott
>posting a top 10 list as evidence of something >geek.com literally kill yourself my man
Colton Hall
>Rikku (from KH)
I was almost confused. From the way you spelt it, I thought you were talking about Rikku from FFX, who is the complete opposite.
Anyway, you just reminded me how much I rolled my eyes with the faggot during the first two games. Also, about his design...
>Sephiroth
Nomura just simply went fuck it after The Bouncer and made Riku a "Mini-Sephiroth" in design.
Jason Hall
Bakugou isn't edgy, read the manga, he's socially retarded because all he can do is be angry at anything. His edginess really isn't taken seriously by his classmates, (the hardening quirk dude saying stuff like 'man thats vintage bakugou' after bakugou hadn't really been angry for a while)
You could argue Tomura is also an edgelord, but he is the main antagonist and villanous foil to Deku, and of course, he was raised by All Might's foil, consider the massive impact All Might had on Deku, but on a villanous scale and it's not hard to imagine why Tomura is so hateful of heroes and All Might on the level of Deku praising heroes.
Bakugou is almost a caricature of edgy characters, you can draw parallels to Deku and Bakugou to Naruto and Sasuke, but Bakugou never/hasn't become evil yet, despite the majority of the world expecting him to be a villian and many people commenting on his sinister rage. When he was locked up by the Villain Association he spat in the face of Tomura at the prospect of becoming a hero. It's not like MHA is to be taken seriously or anything anyway, pretty good B manga to read while taking a shit, has it's moments though
Josiah Thomas
I just noticed the quantity of edgy characters in Naruto.
Dominic Rivera
This.
I used to heavily dislike Vegeta ever since his appeareance until the Buu arc.
Now I tolerate him better.
Zachary Howard
LOL sure he is
Elijah Harris
i got ur edge lords right here u fuckin pussies
Carson Evans
Difference is, he pays for all that edge and was nearly broken until he was saved by saving a kid from burning to death. That's bordering extreme of anti edge.