Comic Villains as Foil to the Heroes

The metropolis comics are primarily pivoted on the battle between good and evil. In the comic
world these two pillars are represented by the heroes and the villains whose tussle brings out
the drama and thrill of the action. Besides, a villain is also instrumental in bringing out the
heroic virtues and deeds of the comic protagonist. Both the protagonists and antagonists
bespeak the tenor of the age. For instance the foes of Superman, the pioneer metro hero
exhibit the belligerent spirit of the times. Their crusade mainly revolves round the motive of
obtaining power and because of the prevailing World War mood the disposition and weapons
of these antagonists are shown as meteoric, volatile and charged with the battery of explosive
arsenals.
The names of these villains are also potent with the symbolism of nuclear war like Atlas who
holds a crystal which can challenge the kryptonite power of Superman. The name Atlas
symbolizes the Globe which falls a prey to the power lust of this blasphemous character.
Atomic Skull is yet another antihero who gains phenomenal power due to a feral exposure to a
gene bomb and who found Superman to be his worthy adversary. Other rivals of Superman
including Bizarro, Conduit, Brainiac and Darkseid also eventually meet their nemesis in
Superman.
Batmans gallery of enemies is equally divergent and psychologically grotesque beings. It is
noteworthy that neither Batman nor his enemies possess any superpowers in their armory.
Both of these poles engage in a psychological confrontation and fight with the help of their
brain and brawn rather than mystical powers. Joker, Poison Ivy, Cat Woman, Mad Hatter, Two
Face, Scare Crow and the likes spice up the challenge which draws Batman in to this vortex to
bring about an amicable resolution. These characters are presented as the byproducts of
inimical situations, victim of senility or some social evils and therefore the evildoers are not
punished by Batman rather they are deposited at Arkham Asylum for treatment. This
exemplary human approach for establishing poetic justice is a recurring theme in comic book
since its inception.