True, Jack Bauer may be more physically violent that Locke, but Locke has the combination of BOTH physical and psychological attacks. Here's a many who has been wronged over and over, and now that he has gained the advantage of his previous physical health, he's not about to give it up. Can we forget the manipulation of Boone? Or using Sawyer's vulnerability to get back at his father? Aw hell no.

Jack Bauer will do anything to save his country. John Locke has no loyalties - with no ties, no liabilities, he doesn't concern himself with the well-being of ANYONE, let alone his mother country. Being concerned with only his own destiny is what drives him, not protecting anyone. Jack Bauer has the burden of putting others before himself, which is a flaw that Locke certainly doesn't share.

Alright, alright, Locke is only not paralyzed because of the Island, but consider this. Locke realizes that he can only reach his full potential ON the Island, so he manipulates everyone that he can in order to save himself. He ripped away freedom from Jack and Juliet, has thwarted all efforts for everyone to leave the Island, and will do absolutely anything to prevent rescue. What could be worse than sacrificing the well-being of your supposed comrades in order to save yourself?

Locke has undergone a greater transformation than Bauer. Bauer went to school for Criminal Justice, took part in the Army, and then got picked up by the CIA. Locke? First he works retail. Then he becomes a home inspector, and then his renowned box company job. As soon as he gets on the Island, he finally gains power and influence. Once he does, he becomes greedy for it.

Locke doesn't need to torture people - he manipulates his fellow castaways to do the dirty work FOR him, so he's left guilt-free.

Also, "you never know when a little C4 may come in handy".

Ah, but Locke has killed in cold blood as well! That isn't just a Jack-ism.

Think of it this way - Jack has had everything handed to him insofar as power, while Locke has been starving for attention and power his whole life. Now that he has a glimpse of both, he'll stop at nothing to claim authority over others.

They're similar in the sense that they both start on their "quest" because of a great loss. Jack lost his wife, which urges him to fight against those who have done it. But Locke? Locke HIMSELF was injured, was thrown from an eight-story height, and was paralyzed. Over time, he grows angrier, more bitter. He isn't fighting for a good cause - he has a vendetta. He has been wronged by the world, and the last thing he ever plans on doing is letting anyone benefit but himself.

All I'm saying is that Jack, at the heart of things, fights for other people and fights for a cause. At the root of it, regardless of the means, he is doing things for the betterment of mankind. Everything that Locke does is only for the betterment of himself. Whether that makes him "cooler" than Jack can be contested (although I think so), but I think it definitely makes him scarier.