Foil / The DCU

• Astro City features The Cape, Samaritan, and his arch-enemy the Infidel. Samaritan comes from the distant future (having come back in time to avert a Bad Future), sees the good in everyone around him. Infidel comes from the distant past, sees everyone as small-minded and ignorant. Samaritan is a strict minimalist in the use of his powers, while Infidel uses them for every single task he's faced with. Both use Appropriated Appellation — Samaritan made his debut saving lives, while Infidel got his name from deliberately breaking every taboo he can think of.
• Interesting example comes from The Authority — while they are a big subversion of common superhero tropes, during Warren Ellis's era all their enemies were very typical and schematical.
• Batman has his own page
• Superman and Brainiac as well. The former is an alien who has allowed himself to become fully human. The latter is the very cold, remote, and incredibly dangerous alien that people like Luthor expect Superman to be.
• DC Rebirth and it's stories have slowly built up a idealistic vs cynical conflict between two of DC's most iconic characters: Superman the alien with godlike powers who embraces humanity, and Doctor Manhattan, a human with godlike powers who has lost his humanity, the focus on this being the 2017 Doomsday Clock event.
• In Hellblazer, John Constantine has his best mate and sidekick Chas Chandler as an example. Both these two are good friends, but often different in many ways. John is cynical, while Chas is an optimist. John is a lazy bum who is addicted to adventure, while Chas is a hardworking taxi driver who wants nothing more than to keep himself in one piece. But these two are inseparable even in the hardest times of their friendship.
• Supergirl and Lobo in the Red Daughter of Krypton storyline. Says writer Tony Bedard: "Lobo is there as a sort of dark reflection of her. They're both super-powerful loners left over from dead planets. Lobo has channeled his power and rage into becoming the most dangerous bounty-hunter/assassin in the galaxy. Supergirl's still trying to figure out what to do with her power and her lot in life. Tangling with Lobo will show her one path she might go down. It's really a cautionary tale for her, and she'll come away knowing that she could easily end up like him if she doesn't get her act together."
• Superman and Lex Luthor. They are the two most influential people in Metropolis by a long shot. Their differing attitudes (and forms of influence) towards their precious city are the reason why It's Personal between them.
• Superman and General Zod as well. Superman is the ultimate immigrant, bringing the best of his homeland to his new world, and standing for the peaceful synthesis of culture through understanding. Zod is the reason why people fled the Old Country in the first place, and when he travels, it's only to head an invasion force.
• Superman and Darkseid. Superman representing the idea that people are basically good, Darkseid believing that people cannot be trusted with their own free will. In short, Hope Bringer versus Hope Crusher.
• For a more allied/friendly flavor, Superman and Batman are often this to each other in terms of Brains and Brawn, respectively.
• In Watchmen, Dr. Manhattan acts as the Foil to both Rorschach and Ozymandias. Watchmen is full of these. Rorschach and Ozymandias are very obviously foils, since their lifestyles, methods and ideologies are the exact opposite (Rorschach is a deontologist while Ozymandias is consequentialist, Rorschach is ugly while Ozymandias is handsome, Rorschach lives in squalor while Ozymandias is rich, Rorschach is Asexual while Ozymandias might be homosexual, etc). Another obvious pair is Nite Owl II and Manhattan, enhanced by Laurie having had a relationship with both of them (Dan is receptive while Jon is distant, Dan is out of shape and middle-aged while Jon is in perfect shape and eternally thirty, etc)
• Wonder Woman has a few herself:
  • Barbara Minerva aka Cheetah. Both are named after Roman deities and both are empowered by gods. But while Diana's powers were a blessing by her gods to serve as their champion on Earth, Minerva's powers were a curse inflicted upon her. While Diana is an ambassador, Barbara has no respect for other cultures and nations and only seeks to add their treasures to her collection.
  • Circe. Where Diana is a truthful, All-Loving Hero who seeks to bring peace and prosperity to the world, Circe is a deceitful, manipulative, misanthropic witch.
  • Artemis. Both are The Champion to their respective Amazon tribes. But where Diana is warm, friendly and kind, Artemis is brash, crude and impulsive.