The Antihero in Transmedia Narratives: A State-Of-The-Art Review

Abstract

The antihero has become a central figure in contemporary storytelling, particularly in film and television. Unlike the traditional hero, bound by a strict moral code (Campbell, 1968), the antihero is defined by ethical ambiguity and internal conflict (Vogler, 2020), challenging both character and audience perceptions. This complexity has sparked academic interest in how audiences negotiate and interpret these morally ambiguous figures.

Existing research has primarily explored the antihero’s portrayal in audiovisual media. Studies by Vaage (2017) and Schubert (2017) examine ethical dilemmas in series like Breaking Bad and House of Cards. However, little attention has been given to audience reception in transmedia storytelling, where the antihero’s development spans multiple platforms. This state-of-the-art study identifies a gap in the literature regarding how audiences engage with antiheroes in transmedia contexts, highlighting the need for further research on moral negotiation in these dynamic and interactive narratives.