There exists a very special bond. You know the one. That particular kind of friendship that emerges from men that go through especially trying times together. That point where the only way to get over the next hill is by having that close friend right behind you, pushing all the way. And while this kind of connection is hard to define, we have come up with only one word to explain it in our limited language: The Bromance.
Now in no way is this list complete. I mean I'm no expert or anything. I've never experienced that true connection between Vishous and Butch—I know, I'm a bad person. This is just a short collection of some of my favorite Bros from some of my favorite genres.
First up is the historical. Now the historical seems like an obvious pick. You know, just go for the soldiers. You have a natural evolution of two men who are always looking out for each other, it's only natural that the bromance would eventually emerge, right? But then, I decided to go for something not so easy. Then, I was leaning towards one of my bro-couples, Mercutio and Romeo. In fact, I may have written a paper in my lit class in college about how Romeo was the “female” in the love triangle between him, Mercutio, and Juliet. Because let's face it, the boy was just bossed around ALL the time. But then that is all a bit too ill-fated of a coupling, and here at H&H we love our Happy Ever Afters. This is why I went with the Original Historical Bros, Fitzwilliam Darcy and Charles Bingley.
Now ask yourself, can you possibly imagine Darcy without Bingley? Do you honestly think that either of them would ever make it without the other? As we have pointed out before, opposites tend to attract, and we see that nowhere is that more obvious than here. I mean you have your stoic, serious Darcy and the fun-loving, easy-going Bingley. Without Darcy, poor old Chuck would be giving away his money and dancing the night away, just like without Bingley, Darcy would be a grumpy, irredeemable ass. Yes, they both have met their loves by the end of the book, but really, haven't they already found their soulmates without Lizzie and Jane?
Then there is contemporary. When I get to thinking about contemporary there is no other Bromance that I can think of that is better than the one that exists between Maverick and Iceman of Top Gun. Well, honestly these guys are more… Bronemies? Brenemies? (Bros that happen to also be enemies). They've mastered the whole love/hate thing. One is a by-the-book bad-ass and the other is a free-wheeling rogue that is well…a maverick. In fact, the two are so competitive and repressed that they pursue the same woman. Theirs is a particular volleyball scene that I seem to remember that involved both of them being the only ones shirtless…but then I may just be craaazy. Besides, Maverick can be Iceman's wingman anytime.
This brings me to comics. Now I'm no crazy comic guy, but I do read a few titles, and enjoy them enough on a regular basis. There is no way I can tell you the long and storied history of a particular character; mostly I like characters, world building, and pretty pictures, no matter the medium. This is why I am a particular fan of the most epic of Bronemies, Thor and Loki.
Now, they take the whole Maverick/Iceman motif and crank it on up to 11. Not only do they both covet the same woman, Sif, but when she picks Thor over Loki, Loki sneaks into her room at night and cuts all her hair off, making her a brunette. Not only that, but Loki acts out solely to gain the attention of Thor. Both characters have had multiple occasions to kill one another, and despite being self-proclaimed arch-enemies, they both always back off at the critical moment. This of course spawned a internet meme called “Overly Accepting Thor,” but that's another talk for another day. And for those of you that say that I'm reading too much into things, I just want it known that after the fall of Asgard at Ragnarok and Thor being forced to resurrect all of the Asgardians through the use of the Odin Force (it's comics, remember), a certain trickster god that's certainly not a brother was brought back as a pretty buxom, brunette female. Just throwing that out there.
And finally there is the greatest of bromances. You could say it was the very first one I ever experienced. I'm sure for those out there that know me well enough you know what is coming. Of course the best and most timeless of true bromance is Samwise Gamgee and Frodo Baggins.
These two went through everything together. Sam bled for Frodo. Literally carried the boy on his back at the end. Frodo couldn't have done it without his Sam, believe it. Sam was the constant companion. Suffering the slings and arrows of a tortured friend, patiently dealing with Frodo's outbursts and anger, knowing all along that it was always the ring talking, not his Frodo. I could mention all the times that Frodo is told that Sam wouldn't leave his side, how many times Sam slept curled up next to Frodo like a puppy. I could mention the fact that Sam left his family, wife, and respectable position of Mayor to go and live with Frodo in the Grey Havens. But I truly feel that to define their relationship is to take away from it.
Who are some of your favorites?
Christopher Morgan lives in New York City and works for Criminal Element and Heroes and Heartbreakers.
