History Main / ArchEnemy

* In ''[[RatchetAndClank Ratchet & Clank]]'', Captain Qwark and Dr. Nefarious are considered this, although neither seem to consider the other that big of a threat. In ''A Crack in Time'', Nefarious also calls Ratchet and Clank his archnemeses.

** He's well aware he has nemeses, but [[CompleteMonster Xykon]] has [[MoralEventHorizon ruined so many lives]] (and [[FateWorseThanDeath afterlives]])) that he can't be bothered to remember any single one in particular.
** Elan has [[EvilTwin Nale]] and Haley has Crystal (even if she has no idea what an arch-nemesis is) and Sabine
** Belkar ''had'' [=YikYik=] the kobold, who looked like he was going to be this, but considering [[HeroicSociopath Belkar's personality]], YikYik didn't live for long after his introduction. Considering later actions, though, one could argue that [[FantasticRacism Belkar views the whole kobold race]] as his collective ArchEnemy (see his treatment of [=YokYok=] and the Oracle, as well as his whole RunningGag of turning kobold heads into items such as hats). At least [=YokYok=] fit a bit more due to being arguably LawfulGood compared to Belkar's ChaoticEvil.

* Mon*Star to Stargazer, Quicksilver and the ''{{Silverhawks}}''

* In the latest ''{{Gundam 00}}'' Graham Acre considers all Gundams but especially Setsuna F. Seiei and his Gundam Exia his arch nemesis for their crimes (though he calls it a special kind of love...) Also Ali al Sarchez is Setsuna's and Lockon's archnemesis for destroying both their lives.

The ArchEnemy can be the BigBad, TheRival, the WorthyOpponent, the EvilCounterpart, or even a HarmlessVillain. The essential element is that with them, [=~it's personal~=]. Most typically, the ArchEnemy is a {{foil}} of some sort to whomever he is associated with. For example, it's common for archenemies of people who primarily use their strength to rely extensively on their intelligence. Among a SuperHero's RoguesGallery, there will be one opponent that is recognized as their ArchEnemy. The feeling may be [[UnknownRival one-sided]], as well.

* ''AvatarTheLastAirbender'':

** Ron's Arch Foe is Monkey Fist, but that's mostly because Fist is the only one who recognizes Ron's name; that and the "Mystical Monkey Power".

'''The Tick:''' '''Arch enemy'? You must be joking, Charles. I mean, I don't like you and everything but if I ever * do* have an arch enemy it's not going to be some creepy little brat with a glass head.''

* Mon* Star to Stargazer, Quicksilver and the ''{{Silverhawks}}''

* Keith Baker is the archenemy of Rich Burlew, creator of ''OrderOfTheStick'', due to his ''{{Eberron}}'' setting being chosen over Rich's creation as the new campaign setting for DungeonsAndDragons. When Keith wrote an article for Rich's site, it was [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] ''twice'', and there have been numerous jokes at Eberron's expense within the comic.

* Bobby Kennedy and LyndonJohnson hated, ''hated'' each other with a passion. Bobby felt Johnson was a devious coward, Johnson thought Bobby was a foul tempered "little shit". Intensified tenfold after [[JohnFKennedy JFK's]] assassination.

* The U.S. and the Soviet Union during the ColdWar. Became more like [[TheRival rivals]] during [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detente Detente in the late '60s and '70s]], but escalated back into archenemies during the '80s until the Soviet Union's fall in 1991. These days they are on more or less good terms, though Russia has a habit of blowing a lot hot air every now and then, but its treated more like an UnknownRival now.

** Greece and the Ottoman empire. North and South Korea. China and Japan.

* Bobby Kennedy and LyndonBJohnson hated, ''hated'' each other with a passion. Bobby felt Johnson was a devious coward, Johnson thought Bobby was a foul tempered "little shit". Intensified tenfold after [[JohnFKennedy JFK's]] assassination.

** Newton also hated Robert Hook with a passion.

* In ''{{World of Warcraft}}'' Varian Wrynn is technically the archenemy of Thrall, though this is mostly one-sided since it's only really Varian who wants to kill Thrall.

* StrangeBedfellows

* ThePowerpuffGirls' archenemy is Mojo Jojo, a superintelligent monkey mutated in the same accident that created the Girls. He feels that they stole away his father figure Professor Utonium's attention, and he chose to cause misery to the people of Townsville whereas the PPG chose to protect them from harm.

Frequently a {{foil}} for the hero. This may be because the hero could have made the same choices, and the ArchEnemy is showing what he could have become, but not always. Their relationship to the hero, and motives for battling them, are usually in contrast in some key ay wto the rest of the RoguesGallery, if applicable. For example, most of [[FantasticFour Reed Richard's]] enemies have great respect, even rverance, for Reed's intellect ("2nd only to my own"; "the only man smart enough to understand me" etc.); DoctorDoom, however, is the only one who thinks Richards is an idiot. While the others often pick fights with him just because of this respect, Doom is usually out to prove to the world that he is superior and that Richards is 2nd rate at best, an utter fraud at worst.

It's worthy to note that being an archenemy to a hero does not necessarily make that villain the most powerful or dangerous threat to the protagonist. LexLuthor is considered Superman's archenemy but Brainiac is smarter and he and Darkseid and Doomsday are vastly more powerful and dangerous, particularly Darkseid with the [[SlidingScaleOfVillainThreat galactic threat]] he presents. But for Lex (and, possibly to a lesser extent, for Superman) it's ''personal'' between them.

It's worthy to note that being an archenemy to a hero does not necessarily make that villain the most powerful or dangerous threat to the protagonist. Lex Luthor is considered Superman's archenemy but Brainiac is smarter and he and Darkseid and Doomsday are vastly more powerful and dangerous, particularly Darkseid with the galactic threat he presents. But for Lex (and, possibly to a lesser extent, for Superman) it's ''personal'' between them.

*** Darkseid holds a pretty good claim to the title as well seeing as he can match Luthor's brains and Big Blue's brawn.

Frequently a {{foil}} for the hero. This may be because the hero could have made the same choices, and the ArchEnemy is showing what he could have become, but not always. Their relationship to the hero, and motives for battling them, are usually in contrast in some key ay wto the rest of the RoguesGallery, if applicable. For example, most of [[FantasticFour Reed Richard's]] enemies have great respect, even rverance, for Reed's intellect ("2nd only to my own"; "the only man smart enough to understand me" etc.); DoctorDoom, however, is the only one who thinks Richards is an idiot. While the others often pick fights with him just because of this respect, Doom is usually out to prove to the world that he is superior and that Richards is 2nd rate at best, an utter fraud at worst.

Frequently a {{foil}} for the hero. This may be because the hero could have made the same choices, and the ArchEnemy is showing what he could have become, but not always. Their relationship to the hero, and motives for battling them, are usually in contrast in some key ay to the rest of the RoguesGallery, if applicable. For example, most of his enemies have a great respect for [[FantasticFour Reed Richard's]] intellect ("2nd only to my own"; "the only man smart enough to understand me" etc.); DoctorDoom, however, is the only one who thinks Richards is an idiot. While the others often pick fights with him just because of this respect, Doom is usually out to prove to the world that he is superior and that Richards is 2nd rate at best, an utter fraud at worst.

It's worthy to note that being an archenemy to a hero does not necessarily make that villain the most powerful or dangerous threat to the protagonist. Lex Luthor is considered Superman's archenemy but Brainiac is far smarter and he and Darkseid and Doomsday are vastly more powerful and dangerous, particularly Darkseid with the galactic threat he presents. But for Lex (and, possibly to a lesser extent, for Superman) it's ''personal'' between them.

It's worthy to note that being an archenemy to a hero does not necessarily make that villain the most powerful or dangerous threat to the protagonist. Lex Luthor is considered Superman's archenemy but Darkseid and Doomsday are vastly more powerful and dangerous than he is, particularly Darkseid with the galactic threat he presents. But for Lex (and, possibly to a lesser extent, for Superman) it's ''personal'' between them.

**Belkar ''had'' YikYik the kobold, who looked like he was going to be this, but considering [[HeroicSociopath Belkar's personality]], YikYik didn't live for long after his introduction. Considering later actions, though, one could argue that [[FantasticRacism Belkar views the whole kobold race]] as his collective ArchEnemy (see his treatment of YokYok and the Oracle, as well as his whole RunningGag of turning kobold heads into items such as hats).

-->'''Hank''': ''Yeah, I always thought Baron ?derbheit was dad's arch-enemy.''
-->'''The Monarch''': ''(astounded) ?derbheit!?! Why, that dime-store Doctor Doom isn't fit to -- just you wait till your father calls me back!!''

**?derbheit, on the other hand, has made very rare appearances now and again, until LaResistance deposed him of his throne. He hasn't been, and (according to DVDCommentary) probably won't be, heard from again.
**And, as of season three's "Home Is Where The Hate Is", Dr. Venture's new archenemy is now Sergeant Hatred, who was assigned by the [[WeirdTradeUnion Guild of Calamitous Intent]]. His actual goal is to be as ''nice'' to Dr. Venture as possible, so as to annoy the hell out of the Monarch and pay him back for his henchmen robbing him.

**Though Xanatos fits best from a series standpoint, from a ''personaly'' standpoint Demona, the Archmage, and Thailog might also want to claim that spot. From the same series, Tony Dracon is Elisa Maza's ArchEnemy (though he's not much of a threat to the Gargoyles themselves), while the entire line of Hunters consider themselves Demona's collective archenemy.

* In season one of ''AvatarTheLastAirbender'' Zuko was originally Avatar Aang's archenemy because of his obsession of hunting him down until he became good in season 3 and helped the Avatar and Aang's real archenemy would go to Zuko's father Fire Lord Ozai, whom he must defeat to bring balance to the world.
**Zhao was Zuko's arch rival on ''AvatarTheLastAirbender'' in Season 1, competing with him to capture the Avatar, followed by his sister [[RedOniBlueOni Azula]] in Seasons 2-3.