For every great hero there is an equally powerful arch-enemy. Two characters locked in an endless battle. The classic good versus evil.
Red Skull, Lex Luthor, Dr. Doom, Magneto, the Joker, the Kingpin, and Loki are just a few characters whose fame is coupled with that of their heroic counterparts. The more powerful and terrible the villain, the greater our hero must be. So if you are one of the many who intends to become a super-hero, you will need to find your nemesis. Here are the five best ways to do that.
1) Your Arch-Enemy May Be Your Best Friend
It is often the people closest to you than can do the most damage; super-heroes are no exception. Superman and Lex Luthor were childhood bff's, but their boyhood comradery could only last so long. It's the sad tale repeated throughout the world of comics, and remains a great source for finding your arch-enemy.
2) Your Arch-Enemy May Be Related to You
He's my son...he's my arch-enemy...my son, my arch-enemy, he's my son AND my arch-enemy! Darth Vader is the most obvious of the relative-gone-bad, but the list doesn't stop there. The Red Skull in Ultimate Marvel is the Cap's son, Sabretooth and Wolverine have appeared as brothers, and of course Loki and Thor are always battling for pop's attention. If you want an arch-enemy, you may have to look no further than across the kitchen table.
3) Your Arch-Enemy May Be Someone You Have Wronged
No one is perfect, and occasionally even heroes step out of line. For some reason super-heroes' bad karma returns with more unfortunate results than most, and an arch-enemy is often born. Peter Parker wrongs Eddie Brock? Welcome Venom, many reader's all-time-favorite villain. Point being, with more power comes more responsibility, messing things up might be the best way to find your arch-enemy.
4) Your Arch-Enemy May Be Just Like You
It often comes down to the very simple distinction between good and evil, often most aspects of an ultimate nemesis are parallel to that of the hero. Sinestro and Green Lantern, the Flash and Professor Zoom, Abomination and Hulk, and often Wolverine and Sabretooth just to name a few who have nearly identical powers and sometimes origins. If you're at the beginning of your super-hero career, watch out for the ones who are most similar to you. They may just be your own personal villain.
5) Your Arch-Enemy May Be The Reason You Exist
Many heroes are created through a traumatic instance in their lives, and often the villain responsible becomes their arch-enemy. They may have killed your parents, or your girlfriend, or even destroyed your home-world. Sometimes your arch-enemy chooses you, and the reasons for it don't even matter. The only good that can come from them is the hero they create in the wake of their destruction. You may not need to go rushing off to find your arch-enemy, he may already be on his way to find you.
Good luck future heroes. Choose your nemesis wisely, he will always play a big role in the telling of your story.
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