# What are some famous arch-rivals? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 28, 2008, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-famous-arch-rivals/443031 "2008-03-28T09:32:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cactus\_waltz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@cactus\_waltz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cactus_waltz)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-famous-arch-rivals/443031/1 "2008-03-28T09:32:14Z")
There are many classic nemesis characters in modern fiction. But I was wondering about classic arch rivals - the kind of character who matches the genius of the antagonist and tries to outdo him at every given opportunity. The antagonist and the arch rival are typically bitter enemies, but secretely respect one another as professionals and sources of inspiration. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-famous-arch-rivals/443031/2 "2008-03-28T09:41:40Z")
Holmes vs. Moriarty springs to mind. ---
**Author:** ![MacSpon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@MacSpon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacSpon)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-famous-arch-rivals/443031/3 "2008-03-28T10:19:08Z")
Hm. Seaton and DuQuesne might fit. But they’re not exactly _modern_. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-famous-arch-rivals/443031/4 "2008-03-28T10:33:14Z")
[Reggie Mantle](http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/4804/001bigoh4.jpg), surely. ---
**Author:** ![cactus\_waltz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@cactus\_waltz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cactus_waltz)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-famous-arch-rivals/443031/5 "2008-03-28T10:35:33Z")
[QUOTE=Tapioca Dextrin] Holmes vs. Moriarty springs to mind. [/QUOTE] Wouldn’t Moriarty rather be a nemesis? I don’t recall Moriarty’s background, but I think of him to be a murderer of some sort. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-famous-arch-rivals/443031/6 "2008-03-28T12:09:53Z")
[QUOTE=cactus waltz] I don’t recall Moriarty’s background [/QUOTE] He wrote both [A Treatise on the Binomial Theorem](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Treatise_on_the_Binomial_Theorem) at the age of 21 and later [The Dynamics of an Asteroid](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dynamics_of_An_Asteroid), so he was a pretty smart cookie. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-famous-arch-rivals/443031/7 "2008-03-28T12:11:46Z")
Tom and Jerry. Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner. And lest you disagree, I think there was lots of respect amongst these antagonists. Why yes, my tastes are quite highbrow…why do you ask? ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-famous-arch-rivals/443031/8 "2008-03-28T14:01:26Z")
[QUOTE=cactus waltz] There are many classic nemesis characters in modern fiction. But I was wondering about classic arch rivals - the kind of character who matches the genius of the antagonist and tries to outdo him at every given opportunity. The antagonist and the arch rival are typically bitter enemies, but secretely respect one another as professionals and sources of inspiration. [/QUOTE] I think I know what you’re getting at: the rivals are both going after the same goal, but each is trying to get there first. It’s more like Holmes vs. Lestrade (though that’s not a perfect example) than like Holmes vs. Moriarty. Unfortunately, I’m not coming up with any really good examples right now. ---
**Author:** ![Ronald\_C.Semone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cc9497/32.png) [@Ronald\_C.Semone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ronald_C.Semone)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-famous-arch-rivals/443031/9 "2008-03-28T14:11:07Z")
[QUOTE=cactus waltz] Wouldn’t Moriarty rather be a nemesis? I don’t recall Moriarty’s background, but I think of him to be a murderer of some sort. [/QUOTE] Holmes was Moriarty’s nemesis, not the other way around. ---
**Author:** ![nivlac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3bc359/32.png) [@nivlac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nivlac)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-famous-arch-rivals/443031/10 "2008-03-28T18:52:54Z")
First to mind, Superman vs. Lex Luthor, then Batman vs. Joker. I guess every superhero has a main villain. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-famous-arch-rivals/443031/11 "2008-03-28T19:06:40Z")
The OP seems to be more about two antagonists trying to out do each other, not do each other in. Not classical, but Professor Farnsworth and Professor Wernstrom on Futurama fit the bill. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-famous-arch-rivals/443031/12 "2008-03-28T19:06:45Z")
Donkey Kong/Bowser and Mario. L and Kira from _Death Note_, although perhaps in this latter case they are more like nemeses. Piccolo and Goku from _Dragon Ball Z_. Dexter and …what’s-his-name, from _Dexter’s Lab_ Gah! There are tons but I’m having trouble thinking of any. Villians or nemeses are much easier to find. ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-famous-arch-rivals/443031/13 "2008-03-28T19:10:44Z")
Edison v. Tesla? [QUOTE=Autolycus] Dexter and ..what’s-his-name, from _Dexter’s Lab_ [/QUOTE] Mandark. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-famous-arch-rivals/443031/14 "2008-03-28T19:35:42Z")
[QUOTE=nivlac] First to mind, Superman vs. Lex Luthor, then Batman vs. Joker. I guess every superhero has a main villain. [/QUOTE] I think the OP means something more like Dr. X versus Magneto. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-famous-arch-rivals/443031/15 "2008-03-28T19:38:27Z")
The Brain and Snowball ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-famous-arch-rivals/443031/16 "2008-03-28T19:42:29Z")
The Great Leslie and Professor Fate. ---
**Author:** ![Sefton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Sefton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sefton)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-famous-arch-rivals/443031/17 "2008-03-28T19:42:29Z")
Darkwing Duck vs. NegaDuck. Man, that was a serious feud. ---
**Author:** ![ArizonaTeach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/45deac/32.png) [@ArizonaTeach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArizonaTeach)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-famous-arch-rivals/443031/18 "2008-03-28T19:46:02Z")
Indiana Jones and Belloq. ---
**Author:** ![Ronald\_C.Semone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cc9497/32.png) [@Ronald\_C.Semone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ronald_C.Semone)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-famous-arch-rivals/443031/19 "2008-03-28T19:53:44Z")
Sherlock Holmes and his brother, Mycroft Cain and his brother, Abel Romulus and his brothr, Remus The two gunfighting brothers in the movie **Cat Ballou** Annie Oakley and her later-to-be husband, Frank Butler (“Anything you can do, I can do better…”) ---
**Author:** ![bafaa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e480ec/32.png) [@bafaa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bafaa)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-famous-arch-rivals/443031/20 "2008-03-28T20:01:33Z")
Reed Richards and Dr Doom [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-famous-arch-rivals/443031.md?page=2)