Archenemy

An archenemy, archfoe, archvillain or archnemesis (sometimes spelled arch-enemy, arch-foe, arch-villain or arch-nemesis) is the principal enemy of a character in a work of fiction, often described as the hero's worst enemy (compare ).cite web|url=http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/archenemy|title=archenemy - Definition from the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary|publisher=Merriam-Webster|accessdate=2008-06-26] cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/radio/specials/1837_aae/page23.shtml|title=BBC World Service | Learning English | Ask about English|last=Wicaksono|first=Rachel|publisher=BBC|accessdate=2008-06-26] cite web|url=http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/archenemy|title=archenemy definition|Dictionary.com|work=Dictionary|publisher=Dictionary.com|accessdate=2008-09-07] The reason why the particular villain stands out more than the rest of the protagonist's rogues gallery varies; they may be the hero's strongest enemy (Doctor Doom/Mister Fantastic), have strong connections with the hero's past (the Master/the Doctor), caused the hero a great deal of personal pain (the Joker/Batman), suffering or anguish (Green Goblin/Spider-Man), has the most personal grudge against the hero (Lex Luthor/Superman), or may be the most recurring enemy (Bowser/Mario). In certain cases, it is possible for a hero to possess more than one archenemy, as in the case of Spider-Man with the Green Goblin, Doctor Octopus, and Venom where all three villains have established themselves as the most recurring and the most iconic of Spider-Man's Rogues Gallery.

Etymology

The word "archenemy" or "arch-enemy" originated around the mid-16^th century, from the words "arch-" and "enemy".

Examples

Comic book archenemies

* Abomination and the Leader - archenemies of the Hulk.cite web|url=http://www.marvel.com/news/moviestories.1059.Tim_Roth_in_~apos~08_Hulk_Film|title=Tim Roth in '08 Hulk Film|date=2007-05-11|publisher=Marvel Entertainment, Inc.|accessdate=2008-06-25]
* Captain Cold - archenemy of the Flash.
* Cheetah - archenemy of Wonder Woman
* Deacon Frost, archenemy of Blade.cite web|url=http://www.salon.com/ent/movies/reviews/1998/08/20review.html|title=Salon Entertainment|I'm gonna git you, suckhead|last=Taylor|first=Charles|date=1998-08-20|publisher=Salon.com|accessdate=2008-06-25]
* Deathstroke the Terminator (also known as Slade), archenemy of the Teen Titans,cite web|url=http://comicbooks.about.com/od/characters/tp/archenemies.htm|title=Top Ten Comic Book Archenemies - Superhero and Villain Arch-rivals|last=Albert|first=Aaron|publisher=About.com|accessdate=2008-06-25]
* Doctor Doom, archenemy of Mister Fantastic.cite web|url=http://www.moviecitynews.com/arrays/2005/ff_whois.html|title=MCN: Who ARE the Fantastic Four?|publisher=Movie City News|accessdate=2008-06-25]
* Doctor Sivana, archenemy of DC Comics's Captain Marvel.cite web|url=http://www.marvelfamily.com/WhosWho/whoswho.asp?castid=11|title=The Marvel Family Web » Who's Who » Dr. Sivana|last=Grogan|first=Walt|publisher=The Marvel Family Web - The unofficial home of the original Captan Marvel|accessdate=2008-06-25]
* Cobra Commander, and by extension the Cobra Organization, is the archenemy of G.I. Joe.cite web|url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/78174|title=Forty-Year-Old Virgins|last=Dokoupil|first=Tony|date=2007-12-24|publisher=Newsweek|accessdate=2008-06-26]
*Green Goblin ,archenemy of Spider-Man.
** Scream (comics), archenemy of Venom.
* The Joker, archenemy of Batman.cite web|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2008/01/25/1201157635626.html|title=Ledger death leaves studio with balancing act|date=2008-01-25|publisher=The Age|accessdate=2008-06-25] cite web|url=http://comicbooks.about.com/od/batman/p/jokerbio.htm|title=The Joker Profile|last=Albert|first=Aaron|publisher=About.com|accessdate=2008-06-25]
** Catwoman is the archenemy of Batgirl
** and Tony Zucco is the archnenemy of Robin / Dick Grayson
* Judge Death, archenemy of Judge Dredd.cite web|url=http://uk.movies.ign.com/articles/510/510402p1.html|title=The Return of "Judge Dredd"|last=Stax|date=2004-04-30|publisher=IGN|accessdate=2008-06-25]
* Kingpin, archenemy of Daredevil.cite web|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20030214/ai_n12675309|title=Film: Also Showing | Independent, The (London) | Find Articles at BNET|last=O'Sullivan|first=Charlotte|date=2003-02-14|publisher=BNET|accessdate=2008-06-26]
* Lex Luthor, archenemy of Superman.
* The Mandarin is the archenemy of Iron Man.
* Magneto, archenemy of Professor X.
** Sabretooth, archenemy of the X-Men's Wolverine.
* Ming the Merciless, archenemy of Flash Gordon. [ [http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/film-and-tv/features/superheroes-the-power-list-404909.html] ]
* Red Skull, archenemy of Captain America.
* Sinestro, archnemesis of Green Lantern Hal Jordan and the whole Green Lantern Corps .
* The Shredder, archenemy of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/movies/movie/34733/moviemain.jhtml|title=Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze | MTV Movies|publisher=MTV|accessdate=2008-06-26]

Literary archenemies

* The Auditors of Reality are the archenemy of Death and Susan in Terry Pratchett's "Discworld" novels.
* Carl Peterson is the archenemy of Bulldog Drummond.
* Captain Hook is the arch-nemesis of Peter Pan. [ [http://disney.go.com/vault/archives/villains/hook/hook.html] ] [ [http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/features/cappies/story.html?id=c2e5b980-049b-46b3-a4e8-2996dcd089b2] ]
* Count Olaf is the archenemy of the orphans in A Series of Unfortunate Events.
* The Crimson King (and his various incarnations) is the archenemy of Stephen King's multiverse "(see The Dark Tower)".
* Derek Leech is the archenemy of Sally Rhodes (and to an extent Richard Jeperson) in Kim Newman's works.
* Lord Foul, is the immediate archenemy of Thomas Covenant and the longterm archenemy of his brother, The Creator, in "The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant".
* Fu Manchu is the archenemy of Commission Denys Nayland Smith.
* Greb Strakhov, is the archenemy of Mack Bolan, hero of the Executioner novels.
* Jack is the archenemy of Ralph in "Lord of the Flies".
* Jadis the White Witch is the archenemy of Aslan the Lion in The Chronicles of Narnia book series.
* Inspector Javert is the archenemy of Jean Valjean in the classic French novel, "Les Misérables".
* Professor James Moriarty is the archenemy of Detective Sherlock Holmes.cite web|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CEEDC103BF936A35756C0A967958260|title=Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Alpine Publicity Stunt - New York Times|last=Reuters|date=1991-05-05|publisher=The New York Times|accessdate=2008-06-26]
* Saruman is the archenemy of Gandalf. Although Sauron is the main villain, Saruman takes a more direct approach, becoming an arch-enemy as opposed to a Big Bad. In the Simarillion, the text which explains most of the mythology behind "The Lord of the Rings", the archenemy is Morgoth, who is supposedly even more powerful and evil than Sauron.
* Lord Voldemort and Draco Malfoy are the archenemies of Harry Potter.cite web|url=http://www.metamercury.net/Mythological%20Studies/quoted/The%20Dallas%20Morning%20News%20Entertainment_files/Harry%20Potter%20-%20Lord%20of%20the%20Rings%20-%20The%20Dallas%20Morning%20News%20Entertainment.htm|title=The Dallas Morning News: Entertainment|last=Brumley|first=Al|date=2001-11-11|publisher=The Dallas Morning News|accessdate=2008-06-26]

Film archenemies

"Austin Powers" film series
* Dr. Evil - the archenemy of Austin Powers"Godzilla"
* King Ghidorah and Mechagodzilla - the archenemies of Godzilla"Heathers"
* Heather Chandler - the snobbish rival of Veronica Sawyer"James Bond" film series
* Ernst Stavro Blofeld - the arch-enemy of James Bondcite web|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/actor-who-played-blofeld-dies-at-71-724074.html|title=Actor who played Blofeld dies at 71 - This Britain, UK - The Independent|last=Moyes|first=Jojo|date=2000-03-09|publisher=The Independent|accessdate=2008-06-26] "The Matrix" film series
* Agent Smith - the archenemy of Neo"Indiana Jones"
* Rene Belloq - the archenemy of Indiana Jones in "Raiders of the Lost Ark"
** They are archenemies even in the prequel materials from the franchise.cite web|url=http://www.hasbro.com/indianajones/default.cfm?page=News/Item&newsid=4E1683A2-D56F-E112-4A0033DD7FEAF193|title=Indiana Jones News - Unlocking the Deluxe World of Indiana Jones with 3 ¾ ″ Deluxe Action Figures|date=2008-04-14|publisher=Hasbro|accessdate=2008-06-26] "Star Wars" film series
* Darth Vader - the archenemy of Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi
* Boba Fett - the archenemy of Han Solo

Television archenemies

* The Master and Davros are the archenemies of the Doctor, in the "Doctor Who" television series. [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/radio/specials/1837_aae/page23.shtml] ]
** And Davros's "children", the Daleks, serve as the Doctor's most recurring enemy.
* Newman is the archenemy of Jerry Seinfeld in the TV show "Seinfeld".
* Paul Millander, a serial killer with an expert knowledge of forensic pathology, is the archenemy of forensic investigator Gil Grissom, in the television series "CSI".
* Dale "The Whale" Biederbeck is the arch-nemesis of Adrian Monk in the TV series "Monk".
* The Janitor is the archenemy of J.D. in the TV series Scrubs.
* Over the course of the science fiction series "Stargate SG-1", the SG-1 team as a whole develop several archenemies in the form of recurring or seasonal villains. However these villains are usually also a personal archenemy of one particular member of the team. Examples include Apophis, the archenemy of Teal'c; Ba'al, the archenemy of General Jack O'Neill; Anubis, the archenemy of Daniel Jackson; the Replicator clone of Samantha Carter, the archenemy of the real Lt. Colonel Sam Carter; and Adria the Orici, the archenemy and daughter of Vala Mal Doran.
* Sylar is the archenemy and half-brother of Peter Petrelli in the television series "Heroes".
** Adam Monroe is the archenemy of Hiro Nakamura in the television series "Heroes".
** Maury Parkman is the Archenemy of Matt Parkman on Heroes.
** Daniel Linderman is the Archenemy of Niki and D.L. Sanders on Heroes.
* Ben Linus, John Locke, and Jack Shephard are each each others archnemesis' in "Lost", since they have each tried to kill each other to achieve their goals.
* The omnipotent Q, from "", is considered the archenemy of Captain Jean-Luc Picard.
** Also, Lore from "" is the evil twin and archenemy of his brother, Data.
* Callisto (Xena) is the archenemy of Xena on the television series "".
* Stone Cold Steve Austin is the rival of WWE owner Vince McMahon and The Rock.

Cartoon archenemies

"6teen"
* Ron the Rent-a-cop - the archenemy of Caitlin Cooke, Jen Masterson, Nikki Wong, Jonesy Garcia, Wyatt Williams, and Jude Lizowski
* Tricia - the snobbish rival of Caitlin Cooke
* Darth and Wayne - the rivals of Jonesy Garcia
* Mike Dent - the rival of Jude Lizowski""
* The Dark Dragon and the Huntsclan - the archenemies of Jake Long"Atomic Betty"
* Maximus I.Q. - the archenemy of Atomic Betty
* Pontifidora the Conquistadora - the archenemy and ex-girlfriend of Admiral DeGill
* Penelope Lang - the snobbish rival of Betty, Noah Parker, Paloma, Reegina Peterson, and Charles "Chaz" Lang
* Koreena - the snobbish martial arts school rival of Betty""
* Azula & Fire Lord Ozai - the archenemies of Aang and Prince Zuko"Beast Wars"
* Megatron - archenemy of Optimus Primal
* Rampage - archenemy of Depth Charge"Ben 10" and ""
* Vilgax, Dr. Animo and Zs'Skayr/Ghostfreak - the archenemies of Ben Tennyson
* Charmcaster - the archenemy of Gwen Tennyson
* DNAliens - the archenemies of Ben, Gwen and Kevin
* JT and Cash - the school rivals of Ben Tennyson"Chop Socky Chooks"
* Dr. Wasabi - the archenemy of Chuckie Chan, KO Joe, and Chickadee Pao/Chick P"Chowder"
* Gorgonzola - the archenemy of Chowder
* Edive - the archenemy of Mung Daal""
* - the archenemy of Nigel Uno/Numbuh One
* - the archenemy of Monty Uno/Numbuh Zero"Count Duckula"
* Doctor Von Goosewing - the archenemy of Count Duckula"Courage The Cowardly Dog"
* Katz - the archenemy of Courage"Danny Phantom"
* Vlad Plasmius, Freakshow and Skulker - archenemies of Danny Phantom"Dexter's Laboratory"
* Mandark - the archenemy of Dexter"Dragonball Z"
* No. 17 and No. 18 - the archenemies of Future Trunks
* Cell - the archenemy of Son Gohan
* Vegeta- the archenemy of Son Goku.""
* Sartana of the Dead, El Oso, Black Cuervo, Dr. Chipoltle Jr and Senior Sinestro - the archenemies of El Tigre/Manny Rivera"The Fairly OddParents"
* Mr. Crocker and Vicky - the archenemies of Timmy Turner
* Bronze Kneecap and the Nega Chin - the archenemies of Crimson Chin"Futurama"
* Dr. Ogden Wernstrom - the archenemy of Professor Hubert J. Farnsworth
* Mom (Futurama) - the archenemy of Fry and Bender"InuYasha"
* Naraku is the archenemy of InuYasha"Invader Zim"
*Invader Zim - the Irken archenemy of the Human Dib "The Life and Times of Juniper Lee"
* Melissa O'Malley - the snobbish rival of Juniper Lee"Looney Tunes"
* Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd, Yosemite Sam and the Tasmanian Devil - the archenemies of Bugs Bunny
* Sylvester the Cat - the archenemy of Tweety Bird and Speedy Gonzales
* Wile E. Coyote - the archenemy of Road Runner"Masters of the Universe"
* Skeletor - the archenemy of He-Man"Mobile Suit Gundam"
* Char Aznable - the archenemy of Amuro Ray"Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny"
* Kira Yamato - the archenemy of Shinn Asuka"My Gym Partner's a Monkey"
* Virgil Bull Sharkowski - the archenemy of Adam Lyon"Naruto"
* Itachi Uchiha - the archenemy of Sasuke Uchiha
* Orochimaru - the archenemy of Naruto"Phineas and Ferb"
* Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz - the archenemy of Perry the Platypus"Pound Puppies"
* Katrina Stoneheart, Brattina and Catgut - the archenemies of Cooler, Whooper, Nose Marie, Bright Eyes, Howler and Holly"Red vs. Blue"
* & rvbchar|Wyoming - the archenemies of Freelancer Tex & Private Church
* - the archenemy of rvbchar|Washington|Agent Washington

"Samurai Jack"
* Aku - the archenemy of Samurai Jack"Science Ninja Team Gatchaman"
* Sosai X and his subordinates (most notably Berge Katse of Galactor) - the archenemies of the Science Ninja Team Gatchaman"The Simpsons"
* Sideshow Bob is the archenemy of Bart Simpsoncite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/simpsons/episodeguide/season1/page12.shtml|title=BBC - Cult - The Simpsons: Season One Episode Guide - Krusty Gets Busted|last=Kogen|first=Jay|coauthors=Wallace Wolodarsky|work=The Simpsons episode guide|publisher=BBC|accessdate=2008-06-26] "South Park"
* Shelly Marsh - the archenemy and sister of Stan Marsh
* Eric Cartman - the archenemy of Kyle Broflovski"SpongeBob SquarePants"
* Plankton - the archenemy of Spongebob and Mr. Krabs"Squirrel Boy"
* Kyle and Salty Mike - the archenemies of Rodney J. Squirrel"Thundercats"
* Mumm-Ra the Ever-Living - the archenemy of The Thundercats"Time Squad"
* Sister Thornley - the archenemy of Otto Osworth"Tom and Jerry"
* Tom - the archenemy of Jerry"Total Drama Island"
* Heather - the snobbish rival of Gwen and Leshawna
* Duncan - the rival of Harold
* Noah - the rival of Cody"Totally Spies!"
* Terence Lewis - the archenemy of Sam, Clover, and Alex
** In season 4, Terence leads a villainous team called LAMOS (League Aiming to Menace and Overthrow the Spies).
* Mandy Luxe - the snobbish rival of Sam, Clover, and Alex"Transformers Universe"
* Megatron - the archenemy of Optimus Prime"Urban Vermin"
* Ken, No-Neck and Zitzy - the archenemies of Abe, Madman, Nigel and Coco"Venture Bros."
* The Monarch - the archenemy of Dr. Venture
** Incidentally, this cartoon contains the first popular use of the term "arching" for the act of being an archenemy."Woody Woodpecker"
* Buzz Buzzard, Ms. Meany and Wally Walrus - the archenemies of Woody Woodpecker.cite web|url=http://ps2.gamezone.com/gamesell/p18862.htm|title=Woody Woodpecker: Escape from Buzz Buzzard Park for PS2 at GameZone.com|last=Lafferty|first=Michael|date=2002-06-11|publisher=GameZone|accessdate=2008-06-26] "Xiaolin Showdown"
* Jack Spicer, Wuya, Chase Young, and Hannibal Roy Bean - the archenemies of Omi, Kimiko, Raimundo, and Clay"Yin-Yang-Yo!"
* The Night Master and Carl the Evil Cockroach Wizard - the archenemies of Yin, Yang and Master Yo

Video game archenemies

"Banjo-Kazooie" series
* Gruntilda Winkybunion - the archenemy of Banjo and Kazooie"Castlevania" series
*Count Dracula - the archnemesis of The Belmont clan"Command & Conquer" series
* The Brotherhood of Nod and their leader Kane - the archenemies of the Global Defense InitiativeCompilation of "Final Fantasy VII"
* Sephiroth - the archenemy of Cloud Strife"Crash Bandicoot" series
* Doctor Neo Cortex - the archenemy of Crash Bandicoot' and '
* - the archenemy of "Half-Life" Series
* Nihilanth and Wallace Breen are the Archenemies of Gordon Freeman.
** The G-Man is the Archenemy of the Vortigaunts."Halo" series
* The Covenant - the archenemies of the Master Chief"Kirby" series
* Meta Knight and King Dedede - the archenemies of Kirby"The Legend of Zelda" series
* Ganondorf - the archenemy of Link"Mario" series
* Bowser - the archenemy of Mario and all of his friendscite web|url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/super-mario-64/adblurbs|title=Ad-Blurbs for Super Mario 64|date=2005|publisher=MobyGames|accessdate=2008-06-26] cite web|url=http://supersmashbros.ign.com/wiki/Bowser|title=Bowser - IGN Super Smash Wiki|publisher=IGN|accessdate=2008-06-26] "Metal Gear" and "Metal Gear Solid" series
* Big Boss and Liquid Snake - archenemies of Solid Snake"Metroid" series
* Ridley - the archenemy of Samus Aran"Sly Cooper" series
* Clockwerk - the archenemy of Sly Cooper in Sly Cooper series"Sonic the Hedgehog" series
* Doctor Eggman (a.k.a. Doctor Robotnik) - the archenemy of Sonic the Hedgehog and all of his friends
* Black Doom and Mephiles the Dark - the archenemies of Shadow the Hedgehog"Street Fighter" series
* Akuma - an arch-nemesis of Ryu

ee also

* Supervillain
* Rogues gallery

Notes