This is a list of fictional anarchists, including the source material in which they are found, their creators, the individuals who interpreted them as anarchists during development (if not originally created as such), and short descriptions of each.
An anarchist is a person who rejects any form of compulsory government (cf. "state") and supports its elimination. Anarchism is a political philosophy encompassing theories and attitudes which reject compulsory governmentMalatesta, Errico, Towards Anarchism. (the state) and support its elimination,"Anarchism". Encyclopædia Britannica. 2006. Encyclopædia Britannica Premium Service. 29 August 2006"Anarchism". The Shorter Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 2005. P. 14 "Anarchism is the view that a society without the state, or government, is both possible and desirable." often due to a wider rejection of involuntary or permanent authority.Bakunin, Mikhail, God and the State, pt. 2.; Tucker, Benjamin, State Socialism and Anarchism.; Kropotkin, Piotr, Anarchism: its Philosophy and Ideal; Malatesta, Errico, Towards Anarchism; Bookchin, Murray, Anarchism: Past and Present, pt. 4; An Introduction to Anarchism by Liz A. Highleyman Anarchism is defined by The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Politics as "the view that society can and should be organized without a coercive state."Slevin, Carl. "Anarchism". The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Politics. Ed. Iain McLean and Alistair McMillan. Oxford University Press, 2003.
However, fictional anarchists are subject to the personal interpretations and opinions of Anarchism held by the creator, and as such may imbue negative anarchist stereotypes. Further, characters may be interpreted as anarchists by second parties involved in their development. The inclusion of these characters may be controversial, but is necessary for purposes of objectivity. This provides a means by which social attitudes regarding anarchism and anarchists may be studied and compared to those of other eras and cultures.
Characters who are popularly considered "anarchic", but who are not specifically identified as anarchists by their source material, are excluded.
Comics/sequential art Anarchik A parody of the "bomb wielding, bearded anarchist" stereotype. He appeared in Rivista Anarchica, by Roberto Ambrosoli, 1970, and is often reprinted in contemporary anarchist pamphlets.
Anarky A comic book character appearing in various DC Comics publications as an antagonist of Batman. He was created and co-developed by Alan Grant and Norm Breyfogle in 1989.
Boy A martial artist, former New York City Police Department officer, and member of an anarchist secret society in The Invisibles (1994) by Grant Morrison.
Evey Hammond A protégé of V, an anarchist terrorist in V for Vendetta, by Alan Moore and David Lloyd in 1982. Evey eventually adopts V's role. A FOR ALAN, Pt. 1 , an interview by Heidi MacDonald, in which Alan outlines the core theme of the story being that of an ethical and political battle between Anarchy and fascism, and that V is an anarchist. In A FOR ALAN Pt. 2 , Alan explains that V is neither hero nor villain, but an allegorical force for Anarchy. Evey later assumes the same role in the story. Comicon.com/thebeat/ Accessed 24 January 2007
Green Arrow A superhero known for his liberal progressive characterization. Appearing in Green Arrow and various other comic books published by DC Comics, he was created by Mort Weisinger and George Papp in 1941. He was revamped in 1969 by Dennis O'Neil, who characterized him as a political progressive and dubbed him an "anarchist".When Dennis O'Neil recreated the character in 1970, he envisioned him as "a hot-tempered anarchist to contrast with the cerebral, sedate model citizen who was the Green Lantern." BulletPoints Reviews of Green Lantern/Green Arrow v.1 , Raging Bullets.com. Accessed 18 January 2007
Jack Frost A young hooligan, possibly a future Buddha, and member of an anarchic secret society in The Invisibles (1994) by Grant Morrison.As early as the first issue, references to anarchism, including the circle-A and Kropotkin, are made, however the members of The Invisibles are not identified within the text until the second volume. "American Death Camp" The Invisibles, volume 2 #11 December 1997 DC Comics; "The Tower" The Invisibles, volume 2 #22 February 1999 DC Comics. Within the comic The Invisibles are generally represented as an organization against all forms of oppression and for total liberation. As such, anarchism is only one facet of their larger world view.
Hobie Brown/Spiderpunk (comics)
King Mob A magician, assassin, terrorist, and member of an anarchist secret society in The Invisibles (1994) by Grant Morrison.
Lord Fanny A transgender Brazilian shaman, and member of an anarchist secret society in The Invisibles (1994) by Grant Morrison.: Mira Anarchy
An anarchist thinker, and changes worldview of a pro-capitalism protagonist Jullian in Her Name is Anarchy by Mason Carter.
Pillock An intellectual pelican, in Donald Rooum's Wildcat (1985). Pillock is often used to present complex social ideas and anarchist philosophy.
Ragged Robin A time traveling, cybernetically enhanced telepath, and member of an anarchist secret society in The Invisibles (1994) by Grant Morrison.
Tank Girl A violent punk, wanted criminal, and tank commander. She was created in 1988 by Jamie Hewlett & Alan Martin for their independent comic series, Tank Girl.The character, Tank Girl, self-identifies as an anarchist in Tank Girl: Apocalypse #3 (January 1996), by Alan Grant and Andy Pritchett.
V An anonymous, English terrorist with enhanced strength, reflexes, and mental capacity. He is perhaps a genius or merely insane, and acts as an allegorical force for anarchy. He was created by Alan Moore and David Lloyd for their 1982 comic series, V for Vendetta.
Wild Cat An anarcho-punk cat created by Donald Rooum in 1985 as the lead character in his comic strip, Wildcat.
Literature Hugh Crane, aka Cagliostro the Great An anarchist stage magician and Discordian counterculture figure in Schrodinger’s Cat Trilogy and Natural Law, or Don’t Put a Rubber on Your Willy (and Other Writings from a Natural Outlaw) both by Robert Anton Wilson.
Captain Raymond A secondary character, and anarchistic leader of a band of thieves in Things as They Are; or, The Adventures of Caleb Williams, by William Godwin.
Clay A main character encountered by the protagonists of The Oregon Experiment, by Keith Scribner. The character was based on anarchists the author met.
Professor Bernardo de la Paz An intellectual subversive, who self-identifies as a "Rational Anarchist", in The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress (1966), by Robert A. Heinlein
Edward Tolby An agent of the Anarchist League, in The Last of the Masters (1954), by Philip K. Dick. Edward Tolby is among a trio of anarchists tasked with investigating rumors of a government in hiding near a remote mountain valley. His daughter and comrade, Silvia Tolby, is kidnapped by a military scouts. After infiltrating the state, Edward assassinates the head of state, the last "government robot", and rescues his daughter.Edward Tolby, Silvia Tolby, and Robert Penn self-identify, and are identified by other characters, as anarchists repeatedly. Anarchism is also the explicit theme of the story.
Corky Laputa An avowed anarchist who sows chaos in various ways in The Face by Dean Koontz.
Freddie "Stubby" Lynch A poor paperboy, in The Anarchist: His Dog (1912), by Susan Glaspell.The character, Stubby, self-identifies as an anarchist within the text of the story, The Anarchist: His Dog, by Susan Glaspell. The e-text of Lifted Masks: Stories is made available online by Project Gutenberg. Gutenberg.org. Accessed 22 February 2007.
Valentin Michael Karstev A Russian revolutionary, terrorist, and author of an anarchist treatise, The Laws of Human History, in Protect and Defend (1999), by Eric L. Harry. Karstev is clearly identified as an anarchist in the novel, and leads a successful anarchist revolution in Russia and subsequent terrorist campaigns internationally. He writes an anarchist treatise, The Laws of Human History.
Hagbard Celine A discordian genius, computer engineer, and captain of a submarine, in The Illuminatus! Trilogy (1969), by Robert Shea and Robert Anton Wilson.
Kaw-Djer A mysterious man who believes in anarchic individualism, in The Survivors of the 'Jonathan' (1897), by Jules Verne. Possibly based on Peter Kropotkin. Anarchism and science fiction
Leo Gold A pessimistic, aging author and former labor organizer, in At the Anarchists' Convention (1979), by John Sayles.The narrator, Leo Gold, identifies himself and others as anarchists at a fictional anarchist convention within the text of the story, part of The Anarchists Convention (1979) short story anthology.
Lucian Gregory A militant terrorist who promotes chaos as the epitome of beauty and anarchy, in The Man Who Was Thursday (1908), by G. K. Chesterton. He is an allegorical figure, representing Lucifer.
Mafile A murderous terrorist, in An Anarchist (1905), by Joseph Conrad. The unnamed mechanic, referred to as "Crocodile" and "Anarchisto de Barcelona" denies being an anarchist, but is labeled one by the narrator at the end of the story. However, two other characters, Simon and Mafile, are more clearly identified as anarchists within the text. The e-text of A Set of Six is available online through Project Gutenberg. Gutenberg.org. 22 February 2007
Marguerite Allard A French-Canadian anarchist in Foxhunt (2022) by Luke Francis Beirne. Foxhunt follows a group of ex-pat writers in London in the early years of the Cold War. Allard, a central character, explicitly identifies as an anarchist. She writes for and edits a London-based magazine after leaving Montreal, where she operated a radical print-shop.
The Mechanic (a.k.a. Crocodile & Anarchisto de Barcelona) An anonymous escaped convict, driven mad by his association with anarchists, and who never reveals his true name, in An Anarchist (1905), by Joseph Conrad. He denies being an anarchist, but is still labeled one by the narrator at the end of the story.
Paula Mendoza An anarchist who uses unconventional methods as a diplomat to maintain peace between antagonistic political factions, in Floating Worlds 1975, by Cecelia Holland.
Merlyn (as portrayed by the author) The Arthurian wizard, portrayed as an anarchist, anti-communist, anti-fascist, and antimilitarist, in The Book of Merlyn 1941, by T. H. White. Merlyn self-identifies as an anarchist with the line "I am an anarchist, like any other sensible person." The character further elaborates upon his philosophy, railing against collectivist ideologies such as communism and fascism. The character also rebukes the notion that a communist state can "wither away" to lead to a condition of anarchy, and takes a firm antimiliterist stance. The Book of Merlyn is the final part of The Once and Future King series.
Michaelis An underground terrorist, in The Secret Agent (1907), by Joseph Conrad.
Ossipon An underground terrorist, in The Secret Agent (1907), by Joseph Conrad.
Robert Penn An agent of the Anarchist League, in The Last of the Masters (1954), by Philip K. Dick. Robert Penn is among a trio of anarchists tasked with investigating rumors of a government in hiding near a remote mountain valley. En route his group is intercepted by spies of the state, who are ordered to kill the agents. Of the three, Penn does not survive, though the spies die with him.
Shevek An experimental physicist and theoretician, attempting to develop a General Temporal Theory, in The Dispossessed (1974), by Ursula K. Le Guin.
Simon A murderous terrorist, in An Anarchist (1905), by Joseph Conrad.