Inglorious Glory

"Mooks" are a class of plentiful, expendable, villainous cannon-fodder. Few appreciate them. Some dismiss them entirely. As for myself, I am an avid connoisseur of this lowly archetype.

The skeleton warrior, battle droid, Imperial Stormtrooper, Delmo and Silent Hill Nurse are among popular culture's favorite mooks. What is their appeal? The skeleton is eerie, the battle droid is funny, the Stormtrooper is sleek and the Delmo and Nurse are sexy. Yes, even the expendable cannon-fodder can be interesting... if there is something interesting about them.

I am a writer of action-adventure fiction. My mooks are my favorite characters. I make them interesting. How? I am mindful of what makes popular fiction's mooks interesting.

*A MOOK NEEDS A PROPER NAME: No name, no identity, collective or otherwise. A mook cannot make a name for itself unless it has one.  (The Imperial Stormtrooper is a character of many that rivals the characters of one... because he has a distinct identity.)  TAKE HEED: the largest Star Wars fan club is dedicated to the Imperial Stormtrooper specifically!

*A MOOK NEEDS AN ADMIRABLE TRAIT: No one can care about a person or thing devoid of merit. A mook without a likable quality is "lackluster" by definition. (The Imperial Stormtrooper is loyal, relentless and obedient. He never fails for lack of trying.)

*A MOOK NEEDS A SIMPLE YET INTERESTING LOOK: Groups look best in streamlined uniformity because it gives their collective aspect a singular aspect. Complexity among its individuals blurs the collective aspect  into an obscurity of clutter.  (Ranks of Stormtroopers standing at attention in the docking bay of the Death Star is a favored scene.)

*A MOOK NEEDS A MOTIVE FOR SERVICE: A character is not a character at all unless motivated by thoughts and feelings. Even a selfless, loyal and obedient mook should have a personal reason for being so.  (The Delmos of the anime Agent Aika are henchwomen who follow their leader believing he shall save the environment by cleansing the Earth of corrupt human civilization.)

*A MOOK MUST PROVE USELESS AGAINST HEROES: Villainous masterminds and elites are exceptional, hence, they should be the exception, not the standard. Mooks are distinct in that they set the standard of villainy. Heroes are exceptional, thus, they are beyond the standard in prowess. A protagonist even remotely on par with mooks is not a hero in the classical sense.  (The Imperial Stormtrooper is popular culture's greatest mook because he is everything a good mook should be: has a proper name, an admirable trait, a simple yet interesting look, an established motive for service, an origin story... and is fatally useless against heroes.)

The best mooks are the pure and complete mooks, because they are the only characters than can fill their fun, exciting, inglorious niche. Those who rightfully love them love them for what they are: villainous, expendable and useless. Enjoy their many misadventures!