I’m calling it now, for the record—Green Flag heroes, or MMC’s (male main characters) in Romance are the new Alpha Males. Move over, Morally Gray types—the good guys are gaining on you.

NO JUDGEMENT HERE

Let me preface this blog post by saying I am not making a judgement call on what anyone reads. I am a big believer in not yucking someone else’s yum, and having the freedom to read whatever the reader wants to read. What I am commenting on is trends I see based on comments on social media and articles I’ve read, books I’ve read. Trends run in cycles, especially in the publishing world, and I find it interesting.

What is a Green Flag?

The term, “Green Flag” has been used recently in a positive way to describe Male characters in romance novels who are the opposite of a Red Flag. Red Flags usually means a behavior exhibited that indicates a harmful, controlling, or toxic behavior. In fiction, these traits in characters can be stimulating and entertaining, as we can experience the danger of being involved with them without really living through it. But in real life, they’d probably be something we want to avoid in relationships.

In contrast, Green Flag MMC’s (Male Main Characters) may exhibit behaviors that Romance Readers do wish to see in their real life relationships—a man being supportive, caring, emotionally mature and available, and tending to the woman’s needs. Both types of characters have their place in romance novels, but I have a few theories why the latter is gaining in popularity.

Alpha Fatigue

I rarely see the term “Alpha Male” used any longer, but the archetype still exists. At the height of its popularity several years ago, the Apha Male Hero had peaked when they were often called, “Alpha-holes”, indicating some of them had reached the limits of that particular archetype. Some were even labeled as bullies, and a subgenre called “Bully Romance” rose to support it. Again, I’m happy people found what they loved to read, and these types of labeling helped them to find it.

As the use of the term “Alpha” faded, we saw the rise of the Morally Gray Hero.

Romantasy Rules

With the rise in popularity of Fantasy Romance, Romantic Fantasy, and Romantasy books, came the frequently used term, “Morally Gray Heroes”. The type that were scary to everyone, but tender with the FMC (female main character). He would burn the world for her, and destroy anyone who hurt her (“Touch her and die” is a common trope now). With the use of magic at his disposal (in many cases), he was even more formidable, and usually had a good cause or reason behind his Red Flag behavior.

So maybe he’s a Green Flag hidden behind a Red Flag? Because the appeal is not necessarily the “bad” things he does, but the “good” that he does for the FMC. I can see this trend as sort of a transition toward the Green Flag hero, but it still delivers the danger aspect which makes the story exciting.

Outside Trends

There has also been a lot of discourse about women’s rights lately, and how relationships are evolving. Women are talking about their needs, their preferences, and their desires in regard to relationships more openly than ever before. Books and movies featuring male characters with genuine “good guys” are getting more attention than they have in the past, and I’ve been wondering why.

It could simply be a reversal of previous trends, or maybe there is a collective yearning for someone to step forward and counteract some of the negativity that seems to pervade social media and life in general since the days of COVID. I don’t know, but it’s a fascinating trend.

Green Flag Variations

The term, “Cinnamon Roll Hero” or MMC, has been around for at least a few years. The imagery is crusty (or grumpy) on the outside, but soft (for the FMC) on the inside. It is another study in contrast, perhaps a softer version of the Morally Gray Hero. This type would be found mostly in Contemporary Romances or Rom-Coms. He’s a favorite of mine as I’m married to one!

“Golden Retriever Energy” is another term I’ve heard. I haven’t read any books with that type clearly defined, but in my mind, he’s a more gregarious version of the Cinnamon Roll. One character on a television show that always makes me think of this archetype is actor Kenny Johnson’s character Dominique Luca on SWAT. He’s so friendly, caring, and loyal. Always upbeat, and definitely someone you know will have your back when danger strikes.

 If you have any other examples or a book that exemplifies this type, please let me know in the comments.

My Green Flag Guys

When I began publishing, the Alpha Heroes were the most popular character type in Romance. I just couldn’t bring myself to write them, even though I enjoyed reading a few stories featuring them. But those Green Flag guys emerged in my stories, and now that’s all I write.

Are they pushovers, though? NO! They have flaws, they tend to be quite confident, in fact a few are rather arrogant. They enjoy banter, and can be stubborn. But they’re protective of those they love and anyone in need of help. They love animals. They’re strong when they need to be, yet can be vulnerable with the FMC.

I love all the characters I’ve written, but two stand out:

Gibson Colebank, the Love Grows Series (Spicy Contemporary): Gibson has a devastating past to overcome, and is challenged by Sacha when a one-night stand ends badly but with huge consequences. They must work together to form a new life, and he really shows some growth. He also made cameo appearances in the remaining four books of the series, and I did not plan that. He simply showed up with indispensable advice for the main character, then went on his way. I love him for that!

Captain Marcel Artiz, Ruby’s Heart (Fantasy Romance, by my other pen name, Leslie Crowne): In this adult retelling of Red Riding Hood, Marcel has his hands full while escorting Ruby Flores to see her grandmother. She’s a rebellious, sassy noblewoman, and the way they clashed was pure fun. Their attraction grew with each bit of banter, and by the end of the story, Marcel had learned as much from Ruby as she learned from him. Battling an evil being, witches, and fending off a dangerous wolf together really showcased Marcel’s intelligence and toughness. His unwavering support of Ruby, who had a knack for getting in trouble, was admirable. She was smitten and so was I.

Real Life Green Flags?

I really don’t think the Alpha Males or the Morally Gray guys have much to worry about, though. There will always be fans eager to read stories featuring them. But for a little while, let’s let the Green Flag Heroes have their moment in the spotlight. Who knows, maybe it will become a trend in real life, and we’ll see more Green Flag behavior among men in the wild.

We can dream, can’t we?