Tez, in my opinion is probably the least likable and most morally reprehensible character I've ever written. He is entirely convinced that he is only a victim who was raped by his sister (who was likely manipulated into doing so) and his mother for this semen. He really shouldn't be the bad guy. He is an anti-religious atheist who believes in science, but is absolutely disgusted by capitalism and the way it destroys the benefits of science. He rightfully mourns the destruction of humanity and his innocence. Which is precisely why he is so terrible.
He is convinced of his rationality. In spite of renaming himself after an Aztec god, he completely discounts the idea of gods. Just like men before him used religion to justify misogyny and tyranny, he uses his hatred of religion to justify his misogyny and tyranny. He doesn't get how awful he is, because he hasn't confronted his trauma. Instead he demonizes his sister as a blood-crazed rapist while trying to convince himself that his mom loved him (in THAT way.) He hasn't dealt with the fact that his anti-clone bigotry drove away his best friend, Candida, either.
Tez was inspired by the nasty gender-based Twitter fights over games years back. I remember asking a lot of those misogynistic guys, "why?" I was shocked as to how many guys talked about their "feminist" or religious upbringing and not being allowed to speak as abuse survivors. It felt like a lot of these (I wish I had a nicer word) misogynists, weren't angry with the women they were targeting, but rather with the circumstances that turned them into what they became. They punched down at women, not caring who they were, as long as they were "angry" women who they viewed as not deserving of their status or fame.
Here's the interesting thing: Most men, just like most women, endure some sort of abuse; sometimes as mild as an unkind word and sometimes as heinous as a sadistic rape. Most men, however, don't lash out violently, just like most women don't. But, there was a type that did. Invariably, these men were very religious at one point (even some atheists,) or raised in "feminist" households. In these environments men are often allowed to feel their emotions, with a special emphasis on guilt, but weren't really taught how to cope with these feelings in healthy ways. This didn't make them any more sympathetic, pitiable or likable. In some ways "manliness" and "rationality" were the only ways the could feel any power, in spite of their inability to really shut down their emotions like most men are taught to do. 'Twas the worst of both worlds.
Of course, I'm not qualified to do this kind of assessment and a study with a much larger sample of men in with this kind of conditioning would be necessary. But, I'm sure that there hasn't been a long term study done on this, which is too bad, because it's a societal threat. This is why I didn't make Tez likable or sympathetic. Men who have that kind of abusive upbringing are often not nice. They generally don't learn how to behave in a healthier way unless they seek out intervention or something happens that forces them to reevaluate their misogyny.
My comics don't always exist to entertain folks. They often exist because I want to understand flaws within myself and systems influencing behavior. They are a metaphorical mirror, for myself and others. I was the misogynist, but I don't want to be that guy anymore. I hope you don't either, kind reader, if this feels like a description of you. This commentary is grim, but if it helps a man or masculine person confront their misogynistic actions, then it's worth it. Likewise, if it inspires a man or masculine person to acknowledge that they are an abuse survivor, even if he's not a misogynist, then it's worth it. If a man or masculine person seeks help, it's worth it.
Author Notes:
He is convinced of his rationality. In spite of renaming himself after an Aztec god, he completely discounts the idea of gods. Just like men before him used religion to justify misogyny and tyranny, he uses his hatred of religion to justify his misogyny and tyranny. He doesn't get how awful he is, because he hasn't confronted his trauma. Instead he demonizes his sister as a blood-crazed rapist while trying to convince himself that his mom loved him (in THAT way.) He hasn't dealt with the fact that his anti-clone bigotry drove away his best friend, Candida, either.
Tez was inspired by the nasty gender-based Twitter fights over games years back. I remember asking a lot of those misogynistic guys, "why?" I was shocked as to how many guys talked about their "feminist" or religious upbringing and not being allowed to speak as abuse survivors. It felt like a lot of these (I wish I had a nicer word) misogynists, weren't angry with the women they were targeting, but rather with the circumstances that turned them into what they became. They punched down at women, not caring who they were, as long as they were "angry" women who they viewed as not deserving of their status or fame.
Here's the interesting thing: Most men, just like most women, endure some sort of abuse; sometimes as mild as an unkind word and sometimes as heinous as a sadistic rape. Most men, however, don't lash out violently, just like most women don't. But, there was a type that did. Invariably, these men were very religious at one point (even some atheists,) or raised in "feminist" households. In these environments men are often allowed to feel their emotions, with a special emphasis on guilt, but weren't really taught how to cope with these feelings in healthy ways. This didn't make them any more sympathetic, pitiable or likable. In some ways "manliness" and "rationality" were the only ways the could feel any power, in spite of their inability to really shut down their emotions like most men are taught to do. 'Twas the worst of both worlds.
Of course, I'm not qualified to do this kind of assessment and a study with a much larger sample of men in with this kind of conditioning would be necessary. But, I'm sure that there hasn't been a long term study done on this, which is too bad, because it's a societal threat. This is why I didn't make Tez likable or sympathetic. Men who have that kind of abusive upbringing are often not nice. They generally don't learn how to behave in a healthier way unless they seek out intervention or something happens that forces them to reevaluate their misogyny.
My comics don't always exist to entertain folks. They often exist because I want to understand flaws within myself and systems influencing behavior. They are a metaphorical mirror, for myself and others. I was the misogynist, but I don't want to be that guy anymore. I hope you don't either, kind reader, if this feels like a description of you. This commentary is grim, but if it helps a man or masculine person confront their misogynistic actions, then it's worth it. Likewise, if it inspires a man or masculine person to acknowledge that they are an abuse survivor, even if he's not a misogynist, then it's worth it. If a man or masculine person seeks help, it's worth it.