<span class="SFPTagline"> From SCIFIPEDIA </span>

An arch nemesis is a villain that is most associated with a hero, and is considered the one with the greatest personal animosity (and the most history) between them. Sometimes they are referred to as an arch enemy or an arch villain.

Sinestro is Green Lantern's "arch enemy".

Arch enemies are sometimes the first enemy the hero goes up against; often have something to do with their origin. Other times, they are the villain that has done them the most personal harm. Conversely, sometimes the hero has something to do with the villain's creation or origin story, giving the villain a strong motive to hate the hero. They may also be the hero’s most powerful or deadliest enemy, but not always. In some cases, the arch nemesis is the villain they fight the most often, though in other cases, their appearance is rare for dramatic effect, often a surprise in the last panel with a “To Be Continued” immediately following the moment of revelation.

Occasionally, over the long course of a hero career, the arch nemesis of a hero can change. An example of this is Spider-man. Doctor Octopus was Spider-man’s original arch nemesis in the Silver Age of Comics, though later his position was supplanted by the Green Goblin. It’s debatable now whether Venom has supplanted the Green Goblin for this position. You will notice that these are the three villains featured in the three Spider-man movies.

Usually, you can tell an arch nemesis by who is featured in a hero’s first movie adaptation.

Another popular motif is having the arch nemesis die at the end of a story, and then have him return in another story again somehow. The Joker was presumed dead at the end of his first appearance, and repeated this motif on several occasions since. This brings a sense of closure to the first story, while allowing the villain the freedom to return again at any time. In this case, there is almost always a point in the story where the hero asks, "Why are you alive? How did you survive?". The nemesis then gets to tell his survival story.

Sometime an arch nemesis can be a hero’s opposite number, kind of an evil version of the hero.

Batman faces the Joker, his arch nemesis.

Doctor Doom, the arch nemesis of the Fantastic Four.

Hero-Arch Nemesis List

Hero: Batman
Arch Nemesis: Joker

Hero: Sherlock Holmes
Arch Nemesis: Professor Moriarty

Primary Character: Aquaman
Sidekick: Ocean Master

Primary Character: Captain America
Sidekick: The Red Skull

Hero: The Shadow
Arch Nemesis: Shiwan Khan

Hero: Professor X
Arch Nemesis: Magneto

Hero: Dennis Nayland Smith
Arch Nemesis: Fu Manchu

Hero: Superman
Arch Nemesis: Lex Luthor

Hero: Golden Age Green Lantern
Arch Nemesis: Solomon Grundy

Hero: Doc Savage
Arch Nemesis: John Sunlight

Hero: Silver Age Green Lantern
Arch Nemesis: Sinestro

Hero: The Hulk
Arch Nemesis: The Leader

Hero: Iron Man (Marvel Comics)
Arch Nemesis: The Mandarin

Hero: Mister Fantastic of The Fantastic Four
Arch Nemesis: Doctor Doom

Hero: James Bond
Arch Nemesis: Blofeld

Origin of the Term

Arch in this case means the highest or above all others. The arch villain is the most significant villian. Nemesis (Greek Myth) comes from the Greek god. Originally simply a distributor of what is due, it came to be associated with retribution. A hero's nemesis is the one that could destroy that hero.

Doctor Octopus was Spider-Man's original arch nemesis. An arch nemesis will often return from the dead, more powerful than ever.