History ShadowArchetype / TheDCU

* ''VideoGame/BatmanTheTelltaleSeries'': At his core, [[Characters/BatmanTheTelltaleSeriesJohnDoe John Doe / The Joker]] is a mirror of Bruce and Batman... but with the worst traits overshadowing the good ones. Both he and Bruce have established issues with socializing with people (John's lack of social awareness, and S1 Bruce's struggle to host a fundraiser), they both have romantic tension with dangerous women, need people to help set them on the right path (Bruce's potential support to steer John right and Alfred's disapproval of violent actions and subsequent approval of non-violent actions), they both hide a darker aspect to themselves (John has a growing dark side -- the Joker -- just waiting to get out, while philanthropist Bruce Wayne beats criminals with his bare hands as the Batman). [[spoiler:In the Vigilante Path the Joker becomes a Vigilante after being inspired by Bruce's trust and being enraged at the corruption of the Agency, not unlike how Bruce lost his parents to a corrupt Mayor. This is {{Lampshaded}} by Alfred, who notes the Joker is a mirror of Batman even where Bruce is darkest.]]
* Regime Superman in ''VideoGame/InjusticeGodsAmongUs'' represents what mainstream Superman can become if [[StartOfDarkness a tragic event]] [[BewareTheSuperman caused him to snap]], let his emotions consume him, and lose his moral compass for good. At the end, the main universe Superman even comments that if he were to experience similar conditions after understanding what drove his Regime counterpart to villainy, [[NotSoDifferentRemark he would've done the same things.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'':
** This version of the ClockKing, Temple Fugate, shadows Batman's CrazyPrepared tendencies.
** The rare heroic version in [[BadCopIncompetentCop Harvey Bullock]]. He very much does what Batman does as he bends (read: breaks) the law quite regularly to get results. Also, much like Batman and his seemingly harmless alter-ego Bruce Wayne, Bullock seems inept as all hell but is [[CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass as capable of a fighter as Batman]] when surrounded by bad guys or {{Mooks}}. He also has that "one rule" he'll never, ever, EVER break, for all his flaws, Bullock is one of the few regular Joes in Gotham that will ''never'' take a bribe.
* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond''
** Zander was supposed to be a dark mirror to Terry before he [[spoiler:[[OneWingedAngel turned into a dinosaur man]]]].
** Like Bruce, Ra's al Ghul wants to carry on his goals via a younger successor.

** Red X and [[BigBad Slade]] are both Robin's shadows--X represents what Robin could become if he decided looking out for himself was more important than helping people, while Slade represents what could happen if Robin gave in to evil completely (as Slade is an EvilMentor, he's also a shadow of Robin's actual mentor, Franchise/{{Batman}}).
** Though it isn't really played up, Terra can be seen as Raven's shadow. Both are {{Dark Magical Girl}}s with powers tied to emotions, but Raven practices intense self-discipline to keep herself on the good guys' side, while Terra is an emotional wreck who doesn't really mean evil, but turns out to be very susceptible to serious temptation the first time it comes down the pipe. Raven calls Terra out on how much she has to work to control her powers while Terra won't take that responsibility.
** To a lesser extent, Raven and Jinx. Raven tries to be a hero in spite of being the daughter of an EldritchAbomination (and being one herself when she gets angry enough), while Jinx became a villain solely because she figured [[BadPowersBadPeople her 'bad luck' powers couldn't be used for good]].
%%** Blackfire is in many ways the Shadow of her sister Starfire. They even have [[Creator/HyndenWalch the same voice actress]].