The Ultimate Heroes and Villains Of Fiction

Batman VS. The Joker

Batman is one of the greatest superheroes of all time. The Joker is one of the greatest super-villains of all time. Together they work as a perfect hero/villain duo who are nearly inseparable from each other. Batman and Joker act as near-perfect foils. One wants set order and to prevent corruption, another wants embrace insanity and live life doing enjoyably awful stuff for hell's sake. Their match-up makes the most iconic of hero/villain pairings. It is no shock that these two are the very first on this list.







"Oh, you. You just couldn't let me go, could you? This is what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object. You truly are incorruptible, aren't you? You won't kill me out of some misplaced sense of self-righteousness. And I won't kill you because you're just too much fun. I think you and I are destined to do this forever."- Joker, The Dark Knight

Optimus Prime VS. Megatron

The two most iconic characters in the entire Transformers series. Whenever you see anything relating to Transformers, they are a large chance you'll see these two battling it out. The messiah-like leader of the Autobots against the purely-evil leader of the Decepticons. Even if you have the vaguest knowledge of Transformers lore, you instantly recognize these characters, their roles, and their basic traits. Just like the long-waged war between the Autobots and the Decepticons, this conflict is never-ending and we like it that way.





"You destroy everything you touch, Megatron!"
"Because everything I touch... is food for my hunger... my hunger for power!"
"No! I'm gonna end your hunger once and for all!"
"Almost, Prime! But almost doesn't get the job done! You can't stop me!"
- Optimus Prime and Megatron having the ultimate Yo Mamma battle, Transformers Cartoon

Superman VS. Lex Luthor

Superman was one of the earliest and greatest superheroes of all time. This true red-and-blue beam of American optimism needed a foil that represented the cynical world of American corruption and corporation. This is where Superman's arch-nemesis, Lex Luthor, comes in. While many see the two as foil between "brawn" and "brain", they are also shown to represent different opposite ideals. Superman believes that people are born good and have the greatest potential to make a difference for the better if they get the chance. Lex Luthor belives people are born bad and the only way to succeed is through manipulation and corruption. While Superman can easily beat many physical threats, Lex Luthor is shown to be the constant threat that Superman can't beat so easily. Lex Luthor doesn't use brute strength to defeat the Man of Steel but uses his success as a corporate mogul and smart scientist to show how Superman is just preventing development from being made instead of helping (and a chunk of kryptonite as well). Lex Luthor is the villain that doesn't (for the most part) challenge Superman physically but provides an intellectual and philosophical threat that Superman tries to beat without punching Lex's head off. While it is interesting to see Superman become a stronger and better human being, it is equally interesting to see Lex Luthor become more successful, maniacal, and become President of the United States.








"You and I... we will both be great men... because of each other. We have a destiny together, Clark... only on different sides."
"And I'll always be there to stop you... always."
"Oh, I'm counting on it."
- Lex Luthor and Clark Kent talking about their eventual eternal conflict, Smallville

Peter Pan VS. Captain Hook

In the place where kids don't grow up, there has to be an eternal conflict around here. Otherwise, things would get boring really fast... that is where Peter Pan and Captain Hook come in. During their defining encounter, Peter Pan cut off Captain Hook's left hand. Ultimately making Captain Hook's name ironically fit even more. Thus, starting the memorable war between the Lost Boys and the Neverland Pirates. In a world filled with mermaids, pirates, and tick-tocking crocodiles, adventure and mayhem will largely ensue.








"Fly! Fly! Fly! You coward!"
"Coward! Me?"
"Ha-ha-ha! You wouldn't dare fight old Hook man-to-man. You'd fly away like a cowardly sparrow!"
"Nobody calls Pan a coward and lives! I'll fight you man-to-man, with one hand behind my back."
"You mean you won't fly?"
"I give my word, Hook."
"Good, then let's have at it!"
- Captain Hook and Peter Pan about to square off, Disney's Peter Pan

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles VS. The Shredder

TMNT is one of the strangest concept for a big franchise that has ever been conceived by humanity. It is such a strange name, so it is appropriate that their arch-nemesis would have an equally strange yet still intimidating name, The Shredder. What does the guy rip your tests or something? It is interesting to see such a personal conflict between four mutated anthropomorphic trained reptiles and a Japanese crime lord who dresses like a metal ninja. It even stranger that this conflict works really well. These radical turtles are capable of fighting off rat kings, humanoid alligators, and evil scientists. However, The Shredder is one foe that gives the turtles the largest trouble. Despite, a giant rat being a much more formidable foe for this fiendish cheese grater. This is a weird freaking franchise?








"You are here because the outside world rejects you. THIS is your family. I am your father. I want you all to become full members of the Foot. There is a new enemy: freaks of nature who interfere with our business. You are my eyes and ears. Find them! Together we will punish these creatures, these... turtles."
- The Shredder convincing the Foot Clan to go after the Turtles, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990 film)

Harry Potter VS. Lord Voldemort

This was a conflict that started since birth (for one of the characters). Harry Potter is one of the greatest fantasy literary series because it really feels like you're going through this magical world filled with great characters. They're really long and take their time but never feels long or boring, instead giving you a feeling like been on an expansive grand journey. Throughout each of the seven books, they has always been the looming threat of the dangerously powerful wizard, He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named (Lord Voldemort). With each book, you feel the danger of Lord Voldemort growing and growing as he resurrects back from the dead, gathers his Death Eaters, and plans genocide of all Muggles and Muggle-lovers. Lord Voldemort was the heartless creature that killed Harry's parents in the beginning, providing Harry Potter with a long vendetta against this villainous wizard. We learn more and more about this villainous tyrant and see him kill many more of Harry's closest allies. It is in the penultimate novel where we learn that Voldemort has been ruining his soul more and more through Horcruxes as he tries to defeat death itself. It all comes together in the final book where we finally see Harry and Voldemort square off in a battle build-up in six novels and seven movies. One of the greatest conflicts in book and movie history portrays one of the greatest battles for life and death.







"Harry Potter, the boy who lived... come to die. Avada Kedavra!"- Lord Voldemort, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

Sherlock Holmes VS. Professor Moriarty

For having one of the most unpredictable, intelligent, and memorable characters in all of fiction, you will need to have a person who is just as unpredictable, intelligent, and memorable to be a worthy and interesting match to this cunning detective... and that is where the classic conflict between Sherlock Holmes and Professor Moriarty come in. While in the original short stories, Professor Moriarty only appeared in only a few stories. His presence became so memorable that he was instantly considered Sherlock's smartest foe and the ultimate arch-nemesis to the calculative crime-solver. Whenever there is a Sherlock Holmes (or some variation) in the media, there is a very strong chance you'll see Professor Moriarty (or some variation) as the antagonist. It is the eternal battle of the brains between the (second) greatest's detective and the Napoleon of crime.








"(VO) His advantage, my injury. My advantage, his rage. Incoming assault feral, but experienced. Use his momentum to counter."
"(VO) Come now, you really think you're the only one who can play this game?"- Sherlock Holmes and Professor Moriarity starting to analyze their fight, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

Professor X VS. Magneto

There are many memorable characters in the X-Men franchise but the two characters that formed a perfect dynamic with each other was the grand hero and the ultimate villain of this massive work, Professor X and Magneto. This is one of the more interesting conflicts because these were two people who were the best of friends. However, it was divided opinion on the "Mutant/Human" conflict that eventually divided them to become mortal enemies. One man believes that mutants and humans could make peace and be equals, while another man believes that mutants are superior to humans and humans should be eliminated from the gene pool Darwin-style. Like Optimus Prime and Megatron, it is the optimistic leader of the X-Men against the pessimistic leader of the Brotherhood of Evil. Now, the very interesting thing about this relationship is that in a way there are still friends. Their different ideals and opposing teams doesn't stop them from having conversations with each other. They are probably the only duo on the very list that are capable of being in the same room, have a conversation, and not try to kill each other. This is the thing that makes this conflict so interesting (having them be cast by Captain Picard and Gandalf doesn't hurt, either).








"Why do you come here, Charles?"
"Why do you ask questions to which you already know the answer?"
"Ah, yes. Your continuing search for hope."
"You know this plastic prison of theirs won't hold me forever. The war is still coming, Charles. And I intend to fight it, by any means necessary."
"And I will always be there, old friend."
-Magneto and Professor X, X-Men