Meta Question - Character Treatment

[seagull2eagle.livejournal.com]

So here's a general question/poll for my fic-readers: How would you prefer I handle the um... more controversial of the side characters?

(Note - this is not a general meta question for all and sundry. It's specifically for my readers to get an idea of how I might approach some future fics.)


As a general rule, I try not to do any/much character-bashing in my fics. I like to use the best of the characters as we've seen then and not dwell on the poorly written inconsistencies. However, there are times when I'm a little tempted... (devil on my shoulder)

So the current dilemma is in a couple of fics I'm working on with the future fic worlds where I mix the DC Justice League. I most often will cut off the majority of my Smallville timeline between seasons 2 and 3, with a smattering of future canon if I like the canon from 3-9 (which, um, won't be a lot o.o). When dealing with the JL, I kindof want to go off the Smallville JL even though they're introduced after my timelines... but in all honestly, I don't *like* some of them as Smallville portrays them. ^^;;; Okay, okay. Aquaman I can deal with, Impulse is kindof fun, Cyborg is cool... it's really Green Arrow I've got a problem with.

My options for a future JL mix are therefore:
1) Write the Smallville characters as heroes (and grit my teeth when I do it for GA)
2) Snark at GA and yell at him and tell him what an ... he is through the other characters
3) Leave GA out of it altogether and just use the JL characters from the DC worlds that I like and respect (and in all honesty, GA? He was never a major part of the JL way back when.)

I'm seriously thinking of #3. Avoid the problem altogether. Even if it feels a bit like dodging the question. But I just don't think I can honestly write him nice, and I'm kindof burnt out on character abuse. So... avoidance seems like the best option.

But out of curiosity, what do think? About both the current GA problem, and about the other characters too? (I'm making the poll a locked poll, to keep it a bit more friendly, even though it's understood that not everybody likes all the characters all the time.)

First three questions on GA - scale rating for 1-"no-don't do that" to 5-"I'd prefer this treatment". The other question on the other characters just to get a general sense out them. I probably won't change too much on the ensemble fics, but if I'm writing shorter ones... might help in getting an idea of who to leave out and who to include.

[Poll #1618527]

Comments

[twinsarein.livejournal.com]

You have to do what makes writing the story most enjoyable for you. That might be leaving GA out of it. Send him on a mission or something. If you try to be nice, the hypocrisy you feel may make the story an unpleasant experience. If you have other characters snark at him, it might make the story difficult because you're writing in a way you don't like.

I know, I'm with you on your dislike. I never liked GA, not even in comic books. Oliver is the one character I thing SV didn't actually screw up, because he's been screwed up long before the show. I hope you can figure out what to do.

As to the other, I'd say the same thing. Write them the way you think fits the story best, or you won't enjoy writing it.

[seagull2eagle.livejournal.com]

Yeah, being nice wasn't really going to work too well. ;p I'd have to completely use DC canon and ignore pretty much everything out of Smallville and that would be too much effort for a minor character!

I don't *mind* snipping at GA, but it feels to me like another "fix-it" thing - fixing something in Smallville that should never have been broken in the first place. Why did they make him a bully in high school? (That was a *stupid* background for a hero.) His reasoning sucks to high hell for his actions... and I just don't feel like fixing it. I got tired of fixing all their mistakes with Clark, and I *like* Clark. Why do it with a character I don't like? ;p

But I might rant a bit. ^^;

[ctbn60.livejournal.com]

If I had the problem with the character then I'd personally leave him out unless he worked within the story. Sometimes GA being an ass works to really move the story along. (Depending on what is happening.) If you can use that GA persona within the fic then go for it. If not, then send him on a trip. lol

I just listened to ihero and GA is a total butthead in that story and I don't like him at all, but he really fits the story well so it adds to the general overall plot. If he wasn't there the story would not have been the same.

[seagull2eagle.livejournal.com]

Good point on iHero. I love that story, even took it with me on vacation for my casual reading. I absolutely adored Lex's music melt-down when he found out who GA was, and the scene of him on the couch with Hope and Mercy supporting him - brilliant.

I'll have to think about it some more... figure out if yelling at GA actually will help the plot or not. At least I know nobody will mind if I *do* yell at him. :)

Thanks!

[jlvsclrk.livejournal.com]

GA is a pretty silly hero from a power point of view, and he's always been an ass - though never so much as on Smallville. I'm completely neutral on the question of whether you should include him, but if he's there, snark away!

[seagull2eagle.livejournal.com]

I read in GA's wiki that he was supposed to be a Batman-like character that they could put in the JL because Batman was a limited-rights character. Only they missed, like a hundred miles. I rather liked the Golden/Silver age GA (which is where I pull a lot of my comic characteristics from), but he's never been that effectual. Making him Clark's best friend in Smallville... I mean Jason is cute and all, but character-wise, Ollie... {shudder}

Heh, well, looks like I have open field to yell at him or make him disappear, but almost nobody wants me to try and write him nice, lol. ^^ Thank you! Makes me feel better about my options. :)