My Top 10 Arch Enemies In Comic Book History JPFOLA26 Part 1
"Oh, you. You just couldn't let me go, could you? This is what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object. You truly are incorruptible, aren't you? You won't kill me out of some misplaced sense of self-righteousness. And I won't kill you because you're just too much fun. I think you and I are destined to do this forever. "
The Joker The Dark Knight
10) Professor X And Magneto
What makes this a classic rivalry:
This is one of those great stories of eternal friendship, marred by unwavering resolve in ones beliefs. It´s often said that Professor X is the Martin Luther King Of the X-Men Universe to Magneto´s Malcolm X. This is one of those rare times when the analogy made by comic fans is exactly right. They are essentially both fighting for the same thing. The rights of mutants. But their position on how that can be achieved could not be more different. Both can see and respect each others passion, yet Magneto can´t help see Professor X as a idealistic fool, and, Professor X see Magneto, as a dangerous demagogue and victim of a tragic past. There is something so deeply psychological about each of their moral quests, and the personal history that´s shaped each individuals world view. Destined to be the best friends, and, therefore the most lethal of enemies.
Why Not Number 9:
Cause why can´t those guys just make up and be friends? Its so sad. If only Professor X would just grow up, stop being an Idealist and listen to the wisdom of his old friend. Oh the humanity! Oh the beautiful tragedy of it all! I feel a tear coming on.
9) Captain America And Red Skull
What makes this is such a classic rivalry?
Well first of the bat, it´s good old fashioned democratic values vs the bloody Nazis. But it´s an interesting one this. I think the thing about this one is, as soon as you see Captain America and you think well what would his arch nemsis be, then you see the Red Skull and your immediately like, totally that´s the guy. He´s the clean cut, all American hero, started off as a wimp, but turned into the number one soldier by a super serum. He on the other hand is a demonic occult member Nazi, with a red skull. Actually a tragic victim as a boy of the very people he´s fighting for, Red Skull, was kidnapped, his family murdered by the Nazi´s, before they began eugenics tests on him to make a Super Soldier. He did get peak human abilities, but the experiment went wrong, changing his face to the Red Skulls. This is the irony of the scenario, while the Nazi´s were attempting to make their Aryan Superman, it´s actually the American´s with their blonde haired, blue eyed perfect man who achieve it. However you want to read that.
A note I was so disappointed with what they did with Red Skull in the latest film. When I heard the casting and saw how he looked, I sat down in the cinema thinking, oh yeah, now shits going to go down. Some bitch is getting Red skulled up in here, only to be thoroughly let down. I sat there thinking as bad as the original Captain America was, even the Red Skull in that version was cooler.
Why Not Number 8:
Red Skull must be fuming. Of all the archenemies he could get, it had to Mr. Least Cool Man On The Planet. A boy-scout of such immeasurable proportions he makes Superman, look like he´s fricking The Fonze, in comparison. When your hero is so gooey, and soft in the middle, make me want to throw up, full of goodness, you find yourself rooting for the Nazi´s to win, that’s when you know you have to worry. Captain America is obviously great in his own way, but his main villain, is like 50 billion times cooler than he is.
8) Mr Fantastic Reed Richards And Dr. Doom
What Makes This A Classic Rivalry?
I have to be honest. Dr. Doom does. I guess, what´s great about this, is the masochistic Road Runner Coyote dilemma. You keep watching, hoping Coyote finally going to catch and kill that pesky Road Runner, only to see his plans always thwarted, but you can´t help coming back for more. Dr. Doom is just our kind of people, plans for world domination, his own made up kingdom, and delusions of grandeur aside, dudes got a macking suit if I´ve ever seen one.
Why Not Number 7:
This is another example of the villain just outclassing the hero in every way. He´s just too cool. Ok Mr. Fantastic can stretch, and has a genius intellect. Great; but apart from that he´s a characterless little wimp, no wonder Dr. Doom hates him; if I met him, I´d probably hate him too. Dr. Doom is pure mind over muscle, and is one of the greatest villains of all time. And he´s done well considering he has such a silly name.
7) Superman And Braniac
What Makes This A Classic Rivalry:
This is one of the great matchups in comic book history; Braniac is a villain that presents a threat to every aspect of Superman. He´s an intellectual threat, psychological threat and physical threat. How many characters in the comic universe could put that on their C.V. Dude´s got it all. Plus my man always has a back up plan. Superman breaks him straight up in half, blows his ship up, and strands him in space with only his disembodied head with his spine hanging out of it, and my man still has the gall to say: “You´ve only presented me with a minor set back Kalél”, before realizing in fact that that was just one of Braniac´s drones ship, and Braniac´s been 10 steps ahead of Superman from the very beginning.
Another element that makes this such a compelling feud, is just how malleable these characters are. Props has to go to the creator of Superman for this. What a story is Superman´s? No matter what you say about him, his story is classic, the definition of simplicity. So much so it´s been compared to classical mythology. It means that mere simple strokes and you can deliver so many versions of the same character, without corrupting the original idea. As such Braniac can fit into a world, where Superman was found by the Nazis, or on The Martian Manhunters planet, by Jónn Jonnz, or by the Joker or in the 1800s. All that little rocket ship has to do is land somewhere else, and boom, all of Superman´s characters are revitalized and refreshed. That´s why Superman is the man.
Why Not Number 6:
Because Superman is on here twice, with yet another classic rivalry. Braniac is fantastic, but even he doesn´t have the pure huspa of Superman´s next rival.
6) Wonder Woman And Ares
What Makes This Such A Classic Rivalry
She´s a really hot tempered sexy (esp when she´s angry) super powered warrior chic, who knows how to accessorize, he´s a militant God, who doesn´t even want to take over the world, just plunge it into eternal war. The guy is a true psychopathic bastard. People tend to think Cheetah is Wonder Woman's greatest villain for some reason, but once you see the nasty piece of work that is Ares in action, you realise quick just how wrong you are.
Whats great about this match up, as well is, for such a powerful Superhero, Ares is perfectly suited for a story with her, because his power levels are dependent on how much hatred, famine, war and discord he can spread through the world. As such he is both weaker and stronger than WW, at any given time.
He is the kind of guy who matches the pure destructive evilness of The Joker, with the charisma and intellectual prowess of a Bond Villain, and the powers of well, a God! He not only possess strength, speed, and, durability of God like level, the guy can also control all known weapons to man, and raise the spirits of the dead. Pretty cool power set if you ask me.
Wonder Woman isn´t without her charisma, The Princess of an island of emancipated female slaves now dedicated to peace, nothing gets on Wonder Woman´s nerves more than the victimization of the innocent and vulnerable by the strong. She will kick all types of ass if you cross that line on her watch, you´ll be lucky to make it out alive. Plus she looks really really good while she´s doing it.
This is one where at their best, both hero and villain exude a charisma where every time their on screen or panel your rooting for them, but then you realize, actually you have to pick one. In the end I come down on the side of Wonder Woman. No Ares. Actually definitely Wonder Woman. But Ares, is really cool, ahhhh I can´t decide. ;)
Why Not Number 5:
To be honest, in the history of the comics not much has been made of the rivalry. Every time these two find each other, it´s pure magic. But alas, it hasn´t happened enough.
By the way guys, I´ve written a Wonder Woman Fan Made Trailer Script, that even has a sound track you can listen to while you read. It takes a Batman Begins, Man of Steel approach to the character. The link is here hope you enjoy.
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