A villain is only as good as the hero he hates. True.
Spider-man, and Batman have with out a doubt best super villians in all of comics.
I'd put a close second the Flash(i know some people don't like the Flash's rogues but i do they are unique and they al have a style and sense of community like no other in comics.)
, and in third Superman.
Why do these villains stand out? It's because a villain is defined and best highlighted by how much he hates the hero. There aren't really that many choice super villains who belong to one character. Less so in the Marvel universe.
The MU is very connected so good villains make their rounds from hero to hero. Most of the b-list villains like Boomerang, Absorbing-man, Jack-O-Lantern, Radioactive man, the U-Foes, etc. have their first appearances with certain heroes but end up fighting someone else and someone else and end up getting beaten up by every hero in the marvel universe. The reason these villaIns never find a worthy arch-nemesis is basically cause they're not really well defined characters who have yet to meet the writer that would make them gold. Now why do Spidey and Bats have all the choice villains, one could say they are better characters to play off of(which they are), and they're both mortal so anyone with any type of power can be a threat(which is important). But why the really have the best foes is simply because they have long publication histories and have tried more villains than any one else.
Which brings me back to last post Why does Spiderman need this new villain Mr. Negative?
Would Mr. Negative as a character not be better served if he were put up against a hero with a not so long and established list of hated enemies. Some one like Iron Fist, Ms. Marvel, or Luke Cage?
The same can be said in the DC universe though I feel DC is really actively trying to remedy this as shown on Judd Winick's run on Green Arrow where he tried giving the emerald archer some rivals like Brick, Constantine Drakon, Merlyn, Natas, Onamotapeia, and Deathstroke. Why the lobby for a more diversified form of villainy? To be honest i love b-listers heroes and villains alike and I'd like to see them get a little love in the form of hate.
Heroes that need villains?
- Wonder Woman
- Iron Fist (Brubaker and Fraction seem to be remedying this so hopefully they keep up the goodwork.)
- Booster Gold(also a work in progress)
- Ms. Marvel
- Luke Cage
- Vixen
- Zatanna
Any other heroes in need of some villainy?
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4 comments:
Your blog looks fantastic. I love all the graphics.
You're so right about Wonder Woman in particular needing villains. For a character with as long a history as Superman and Batman, she has quite few, and even fewer of note.
As for the others, I don't think you need personal villains if you don't have your own series, really, but how about shoring up the Atom's and Hawkman's? They seemed to get the short end of the stick in the Silver Age when compared to Flash and Green Lantern.
However, Aquaman's needs are even greater.
I have to say, as of late my favorite Rogue's Gallery has to be Daredevil's. Brubaker's take on the Mr. Fear character consistently creeps me right the hell out.
Actually, I could totally see Mr. Negative making a sweet DD villain as well...
omg mr. negative for daredevil would be hilarious. his whole gimmick would be totally lost on dd.
matt "so you mean he's opposite colors?"
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