What is your favorite hero and villain rivalry?

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  • #98926
    Kathleen
    @kathleenramm
      • Rank: Knight in Shining Armor
      • Total Posts: 635

      What is your favorite hero and villain rivalry? Why?

      Okay so I tried racking my brain for as many villain hero rivalries as I could, but I couldn’t think of one I liked better than Zuko and Azula’s rivalry. (People say I use too many ATLA examples but it’s just the first thing that comes to my head). XD

      I love how Azula (the villain) had everything that Zuko (the hero) dreamed of. From when they were kids to young adults, Zuko was looked down on by his father and the kingdom and Azula was praised all her life. And as much as Azula teased him and he was jealous of her, they still cared for each other a little bit.

      Zuko throughout the whole series was conflicted on whether he should capture the Avatar to get back his honor, or to follow his uncle’s wisdom and live a peaceful life. Azula was the constant temptation to go further down his dark path.

      She wasn’t just fighting him directly, but she also made him fight against himself.

      So what is your personal favorite hero and villain rivalry and why?

      #98927
      Linyang Zhang
      @devastate-lasting
        • Rank: Eccentric Mentor
        • Total Posts: 1700

        @kathleenramm Based off of memes I wanna say Dr. Doofenshmirtz and Perry the Platypus. But I haven’t watched Phineas and Ferb, so…

        I really enjoyed the Batman and Joker’s dynamic in The Dark Knight. How Joker is everything Batman is not. Towards the end of the film there is one iconic quote, when Batman is dangling him from a building:

        “Oh, you. You just couldn’t let me go, could you? This is what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object. You are truly incorruptible, aren’t you? Huh? 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.”

        Honestly, this film is one of my favorites.

        But if you’re asking for the more “rivalry” type of rivalry, Atsushi and Akutagawa from Bungou Stray Dogs have an excellent dynamic going on. Akutagawa is furious that Atsushi wins Dazai’s approval when he has been working for so long and so hard to do so. Furthermore, Akutagawa constantly being a bringer of death and Atsushi looking for a reason to live is even more significant to me.

        Also, from the same franchise, Dazai and Chuuya. Their rivalry basically consists of Dazai bullying Chuuya…but it can get quite fun at times.

        Lately, it's been on my brain
        Would you mind letting me know
        If hours don't turn into days

        #98930
        Anonymous
          • Rank: Eccentric Mentor
          • Total Posts: 1379

          @kathleenramm

          Okay, I’m not sure this counts as a “rivalry” rivalry, but y’all new I was gonna bring up Les Misérables at some point. I’m pretty sure everyone around here knows I’m ALWAYS using that book to answer these questions… but it is my favorite book, and it’s amazing! XD So I shall continue with no shame. And I’ve got two hero/villain relationships in Les Mis that I love. I couldn’t decide between them, so why not both?

          The first one is Jean Valjean and Javert. Their entire relationship is ironic, tragic, and awesome rolled into one. It’s ironic because Valjean, the ex-con, is the one who truly dedicates himself to God and turns his life around. While Javert, Inspector of Police, thinks he is doing “God’s work” in hunting Valjean and ruthlessly punishing “criminals,” and even when he realizes that he wasted his life, he decides to just end it all instead of turning it around like Valjean. It’s tragic because Javert comes to an awful end after Valjean spares his life – despite the decades-long abuse. And even after having his life spared, Javert doesn’t end things because of any regret or depth of feeling – simply because he can’t stand the thought of owing life to an ex-con.

          My other favorite hero/villain relationship from Les Mis is that of Valjean and Thenardier. Some of my favorite scenes in the book are the ones with Valjean bringing money to the impoverished Thenardiers, who are posing under the name Jondrette. Thenardier takes Valjean hostage and shows him a red-hot chisel being heated in the fireplace, purposing to torture Valjean with it if instructions are not followed. Those instructions are for Valjean to write down his address, which he does, but it turns out to be a fake address. Valjean has cut himself free and sets out to prove to Thenardier that no one can make him do anything he doesn’t wish to do. He does this by taking that burning, smoking chisel from the fire and applying it to his own bare flesh, all while not even wincing. He’s able to escape from Thenardier and suffers from fever for over a month due to the burn from the chisel. I love those scenes because it shows Valjean’s amazing strength of character and his refusal to stoop to the actions of his enemies.

          This was a really long answer! 😂

          #98933
          GodlyFantasy12
          @godlyfantasy12
            • Rank: Chosen One
            • Total Posts: 6647

            Thor and Loki are great and Joker and Batman are just….UGH INCREDIBLE. Like I love the joker Batman dynamic, in the cartoons, some of the movies, etc.

             

            Im trying to think about in books and not movies but it’s a bit hard honestly….

            So story thieves villain/hero dynamic is fairly cool.

            Owen (hero) is kinda that kid who wants to be the hero but most wouldn’t consider the hero type, more of the funny sidekick, and Nobody (the villain) is a fictional character who wanted to change. Honestly his plan makes u think because it’s all revolved around setting fictional characters free by getting rid of the writers and imagination from our world (plus u don’t know he’s the villain till a later book lol)

             

            Ik it hasn’t been published or anything but I’m hoping my villain and hero has a dynamic that people can get behind and enjoy.

            you e got Arabella and Corvina, both forced into a destiny neither of them desire.

            Ara is to bring peace to the world, Corvina is to kill Ara. Difference is their lives and pasts.

            Arabella has grown up in this beautiful loving home but is haunted by one mistake she made as a child, and struggled with anxiety and such.

            whereas corvina has lived a horrid, almost abusive life with her wicked mother and her Master, Eder. She has grown from an innocent child into a cocky, sassy and almost eccentric young girl, but inside she’s truly broken.

            while Ara grows in strength corvina begins to break. I’m really hoping the dynamic is gonna work, and I’m excited about it.

            #IfMarcelDiesIRiot
            #ProtectMarcel
            #ProtectSeb

            #99059
            Lydia S.
            @lydia-s
              • Rank: Knight in Shining Armor
              • Total Posts: 399

              @kathleenramm

              Hmm… Tough question… For some reason, I can’t think of many villain/hero rivalries…

              Okay, so my favorite might actually be from my own series (Does that count?). It’s between two brothers, the older brother being the villain and the younger the hero. The older brother, Welfick, is the spoiled favorite of both his parents and pretty much everyone else in his village, and he always gets his way, sometimes through manipulation. The only person he can’t trick or cow is his brother, Relbert, so he hates him and makes his life miserable. Relbert is either always forgotten about or ignored. In order to compensate for the verbal (and sometimes physical) assaults he receives from Welfick, he has become the village bully.

              I love Relbert. He’s a tragic hero; what more can I say? 😉

              #99126
              Elizabeth
              @lewilliams
                • Rank: Loyal Sidekick
                • Total Posts: 252

                @devastate-lasting Lin I am BEGGING you to watch Phineas and Ferb–the memes don’t even touch how hilarious that show is. (Seriously, every episode is solid gold.) All that to say, I fully endorse your choice:P


                @kathleenramm
                Oh man, Zuko and Azula’s rivalry is just… *chef’s kiss* I’m rewatching Book Three right now, and just keep appreciating how well-written they are.

                I did enjoy the Thor v. Loki rivalry (though not so much post-Thor: Ragnarok) for reasons very similar to why I like Zuko and Azula. I suppose that living in your sibling’s shadow is just such excellent fuel for angst, no?:P

                “Seven seconds till the end. Time enough for you. Perhaps. But what will you do with it?”

                #99138
                Linyang Zhang
                @devastate-lasting
                  • Rank: Eccentric Mentor
                  • Total Posts: 1700

                  @lewilliams Well, now that you’ve so implored me to watch this show, I’m definitely going to put this on my to-watch list.

                  Lately, it's been on my brain
                  Would you mind letting me know
                  If hours don't turn into days

                  #99186
                  Elizabeth
                  @lewilliams
                    • Rank: Loyal Sidekick
                    • Total Posts: 252

                    @devastate-lasting *wicked grin* Excellent, excellent–it’s quite a lovely watch in my own humble opinion, so you’re in for a treat.:D

                    “Seven seconds till the end. Time enough for you. Perhaps. But what will you do with it?”

                    #99229
                    Kathleen
                    @kathleenramm
                      • Rank: Knight in Shining Armor
                      • Total Posts: 635

                      @devastate-lasting

                      Since you haven’t watched Phineas and Ferb, I can testify that Dr. Doofenshmirtz and Perry the Platypus is a fantastic choice.

                      And Batman and Joker… They diffidently deserve their place as one of the most iconic Villain Hero rivalries of all time. That’s quote you shared is amazing, man, hats off to however wrote that.

                      Also, a lot of the Manga you mention sounds really interesting. I’ve been wanting to read some for a while now, and my sister has a couple but they are in Japanese, so… only she is able read them. XD Do you have any recommendations? I don’t really care about genre, just if there are some good characters.

                      @joy-caroline

                      Les Misérables has been on my ‘To Read’ list for awhile now, but you may have just convinced me to pick it up from the library as soon as I finish what I’m reading now! I really love strong characters who don’t back down.


                      @godlyfantasy12

                      Is that a story your working on now or have you finished it? The premise is so interesting, and the character dynamics also sound so interesting and complex.


                      @lydia-s

                      Ooo! I love your rivalry between the two brothers I mean, it’s heartbreaking, but I love how it sets your hero apart from everyone who bend to the villain, while also showing how their relationship is crumbling because of the Relbert’s strength. It’s so tragic, but so interesting too.


                      @lewilliams

                      It’s so good right? Although I watch ATLA almost every time I babysit my nephews I’m still not tired of it. It really makes me want to write a sibling relationship inspired by Zuko and Azula.

                      And yeah, living-in-your-sibling’s-shadow type of relationship has so much angst and I love it. XD

                      I’m a little curious, which book is your favorite?

                      #99235
                      Linyang Zhang
                      @devastate-lasting
                        • Rank: Eccentric Mentor
                        • Total Posts: 1700

                        @kathleenramm Good characters! Hmm… Fullmetal Alchemist is definitely there at the top, or Silver Spoon, if you prefer school life over action/fantasy. A Silent Voice has a really nice MC and storyline for him. Spy x Family is extremely fun. 20th Century Boys by Naoki Urasawa, which I’m currently reading, is also phenomenal, though I’d have to say that’s in the 16+ genre. The other works by the same author (Pluto, Monster) also have extremely well-done characters. So I’d say these would be my recommendations.

                        Lately, it's been on my brain
                        Would you mind letting me know
                        If hours don't turn into days

                        #99237
                        Anonymous
                          • Rank: Eccentric Mentor
                          • Total Posts: 1379

                          @kathleenramm

                          Yay! You should totally read it – you’ll love it!!!

                          #99238
                          GodlyFantasy12
                          @godlyfantasy12
                            • Rank: Chosen One
                            • Total Posts: 6647

                            @kathleenramm

                             

                            its for my current series

                            #IfMarcelDiesIRiot
                            #ProtectMarcel
                            #ProtectSeb

                            #99295
                            Lydia S.
                            @lydia-s
                              • Rank: Knight in Shining Armor
                              • Total Posts: 399

                              @kathleenramm

                              Aww, thanks! I can’t wait to work with them. Unfortunately, Welfick doesn’t become more than a supporting character and Relbert doesn’t even appear until book two…and I’m still working through book one. *sigh* 😛

                              #99296
                              Kathleen
                              @kathleenramm
                                • Rank: Knight in Shining Armor
                                • Total Posts: 635

                                @devastate-lasting

                                Thanks for the recommendations! I love trying out different types of stories than I’m used to. You sometimes get tired of the same old stories you know?


                                @lydia-s

                                Haha, I get it. Writing a full length novel is a slow, arduous (but fun) process. My siblings and I are still working on the first installment of our serial novel. :p

                                #99297
                                Linyang Zhang
                                @devastate-lasting
                                  • Rank: Eccentric Mentor
                                  • Total Posts: 1700

                                  @kathleenramm Of course! I totally get that. I feel like that while there’s clichés in manga, there is also a much different set of stories to explore than the ones we usually see.

                                  Lately, it's been on my brain
                                  Would you mind letting me know
                                  If hours don't turn into days

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