SolVanderlyn
Thanos acquires the fully powered Infinity Gauntlet in The Avengers: Infinity War, but loses when all the superheroes team up together to stop him.
Don't list names or only post a picture. Give some reasoning to your choice and please consider the questions at the end of this post when giving your answers.
I love this trope, if you want to call it that, because when it's done well, it creates such an effective means for character growth. A character that is similar in skill to the protagonist, often with a slight edge and a cooler aesthetic, is the perfect milestone for the main character to surpass in his hero's journey. It can be a bit cheesy, but even when it's not pulled off perfectly, it's a very enjoyable (if not a bit overused) narrative mechanic. Just off the top of my head, some really great examples of the rival character:
Bass, Mega Man: Similar skillset to Mega Man, created by Dr. Wily as opposed to Dr. Light, black and bulky instead of bright and sleek, arrogant and confrontational as opposed to peace loving and selfless... he's the perfect antithesis to Mega Man.
Melfice, Grandia 2: Ryudo's
brother and a major impetus behind his journey, Melfice uses the same sword style as Ryudo in a much more brutal manner. Ryudo is a loner and a cynic, whereas Melfice holds a position of power and glory. He's also several steps beyond cynical; he's savage and sadistic. It's easy to hate him, but nobody can deny how cool he is.
Liquid Snake, Metal Gear Solid: He's Snake, but blonde, British, and evil. Instead of a sneaking suit, he has a trenchcoat. Cliche? Sure. Awesome? You bet. A brilliant and memorable villain despite his relatively unimaginative concept.
But my vote goes to...
Blue, from the original set of Pokemon games.
Blue is everything you're not. You're a nobody from the house next door; Blue is the professor's grandson. You pick your Pokemon first, so Blue picks the one strong against your type. You're a plain looking, taciturn guy; Blue has cool hair and charisma. But what makes him such an effective rival is his persistence in the story. He's there to challenge you every step of the way, and you can lose to him and still advance in the game. He's a constant benchmark for you, the player, and you watch him raise his team of Pokemon alongside you. He takes it a step further and has his name engraved on the plaques in front of every gym; he's always one step ahead of you. Everything you do, he does before you. He even takes the title of world champ just before you do, setting up the ultimate showdown between rivals as the endgame. Becoming champ wasn't even enough, no - he got a cool new wardrobe to go along with it.
For all his strengths and advantages, however, Blue does not have something that you, Red, do... love for your Pokemon. Through Blue's draconian methods, his strengths become naught, and you teach him the true meaning of what it means to be a Pokemon master... and a human being. And, lo and behold, he returns three years later as a reformed man and gym leader, learning from his defeat at the hands of the seemingly inferior Red.
So I ask you - why do you like or dislike rival characters? Who is your favorite? Do you find the concept overused? What's an example of a poorly done rival? Give us your thoughts.
Addendum:
Great thread on Vergil's effectiveness as a rival
I love this trope, if you want to call it that, because when it's done well, it creates such an effective means for character growth. A character that is similar in skill to the protagonist, often with a slight edge and a cooler aesthetic, is the perfect milestone for the main character to surpass in his hero's journey. It can be a bit cheesy, but even when it's not pulled off perfectly, it's a very enjoyable (if not a bit overused) narrative mechanic. Just off the top of my head, some really great examples of the rival character:
Bass, Mega Man: Similar skillset to Mega Man, created by Dr. Wily as opposed to Dr. Light, black and bulky instead of bright and sleek, arrogant and confrontational as opposed to peace loving and selfless... he's the perfect antithesis to Mega Man.
Melfice, Grandia 2: Ryudo's
possessed
Liquid Snake, Metal Gear Solid: He's Snake, but blonde, British, and evil. Instead of a sneaking suit, he has a trenchcoat. Cliche? Sure. Awesome? You bet. A brilliant and memorable villain despite his relatively unimaginative concept.
But my vote goes to...
Blue, from the original set of Pokemon games.
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Blue is everything you're not. You're a nobody from the house next door; Blue is the professor's grandson. You pick your Pokemon first, so Blue picks the one strong against your type. You're a plain looking, taciturn guy; Blue has cool hair and charisma. But what makes him such an effective rival is his persistence in the story. He's there to challenge you every step of the way, and you can lose to him and still advance in the game. He's a constant benchmark for you, the player, and you watch him raise his team of Pokemon alongside you. He takes it a step further and has his name engraved on the plaques in front of every gym; he's always one step ahead of you. Everything you do, he does before you. He even takes the title of world champ just before you do, setting up the ultimate showdown between rivals as the endgame. Becoming champ wasn't even enough, no - he got a cool new wardrobe to go along with it.
For all his strengths and advantages, however, Blue does not have something that you, Red, do... love for your Pokemon. Through Blue's draconian methods, his strengths become naught, and you teach him the true meaning of what it means to be a Pokemon master... and a human being. And, lo and behold, he returns three years later as a reformed man and gym leader, learning from his defeat at the hands of the seemingly inferior Red.
So I ask you - why do you like or dislike rival characters? Who is your favorite? Do you find the concept overused? What's an example of a poorly done rival? Give us your thoughts.
Addendum:
Great thread on Vergil's effectiveness as a rival
...
