#2: Lee Everett (The Walking Dead Video Game)
Who else to beat out the badass Clementine but her mentor and the one who started her on the path to fame: Lee Everett. The protagonist of the game that kick-started Telltale’s career in interactive adventures, Lee was everything a player needed: he did exactly what the button prompts commanded, said what you wanted him to say, did what you wanted him to do, and yet he still had an outside side to him that let you get to know him as a character.
A former college professor, Lee starts the game being driven to prison for murdering a state senator that was sleeping with his wife. After the police car he’s in is wrecked by the zombies, he comes across Clementine, a scared little girl with no one left in the world. And what does Lee, a former convict do? He takes the girl under his wing, and strives to ensure she survives the coming horrors that await them. Instantly, you know who this guy is: he’s hardened enough to kill, but gentle and empathetic enough to care for a surrogate daughter. He starts off clumsy and nervous about the upcoming horror, but grows and develops into a capable survivor and mentor. And while every relationship he has is up to the player, he always has the option of being reasonable and kind, showing that the side is strong in him. But above all, his most endearing traits is his determination: he will never give up on protecting Clem or the people he cares about. In many ways, people have compared him favorably to Rick Grimes of the comic and TV show, stating Lee is an even better hero than Rick is.
Ultimately, however, in order to pave the way for Clem to become the hero, Lee was eventually bitten and died. His death has made almost everyone who watched it cry, with myself being no exception. Even Dave Fennoy, his voice actor, cried after completing his lines. And to this day, people still mourn Lee whenever Clementine comes up. His actions continue to influence Clem in her life, and we all remember him.
Thank you, Lee Everett, for being the one that brought Telltale to fame, and for being the one hero that took care of Clem. You will always be loved.