Every superhero has villains connected to them. While some villains face off with multiple heroes, it often makes for a better story when they stick with one specific rival and save all their hate for that one individual. What makes rivalries between good guys and bad guys even better is when the two are also friends deep down.
Ever since the start of Marvel Comics, there have been heroes and villains connected by friendship or respect, and that makes their battles fierce and unpredictable. There are also moments where a hero doesn’t know their friend is their villain, and that makes things devastating when they unveil the truth.
Spider-Man & Harry Osborn
One of the most famous superhero and villain pairings that involve two friends at war is Peter Parker and Harry Osborn. Spider-Man was in a war with his most dangerous villain, Norman Osborn’s Green Goblin, while Peter and Harry were best friends.
After Norman’s death, Harry blamed Spider-Man. When he learned Peter was under the mask, it set them against each other. When Harry died, he and Peter made up. Harry ended up coming back to life after “One More Day,” but it seems he is an enemy of Spider-Man again as Kindred.
The Thing & Pulverizer
Ben Grimm doesn’t get along with many villains. The Fantastic Four’s bruiser, The Thing often has a short temper and little regard for bad guys. There have been some in the past that he got along with, like Sandman, but mostly The Thing is just in the mood to butt heads with anyone he can.
In Fantastic Four Wedding Special #1, the story “Father Figure” by Dan Slott and Mark Buckingham saw Ben Grimm head to the Raft to ask Puppet Master for Alicia’s hand in marriage. He passed the cell with Pulverizer and asked if he had gotten his G.E.D. The two proved to be friends, but Pulverizer had to pretend to hate him in front of the rest of the prisoners for his own safety.
Spider-Man & Ned Leeds
Peter Parker and Ned Leeds didn’t start off on a pleasant note. Peter was dating Betty Brant, but she grew tired of him disappearing all the time when he switched to his Spider-Man role. She moved on and quickly began dating reporter Leeds. However, Peter and Ned ended up close friends, and Peter was the best man at their wedding.
What Peter never knew was that Ned was also the Hobgoblin, Spider-Man’s toughest enemy for many years. It turned out the real Hobgoblin brainwashed Ned, forcing him to pose as the villain. Ned died on a trip to Berlin with Peter, his reputation shattered.
Professor X & Magneto
Professor Charles Xavier and Magneto are two of the earliest enemies who were also close friends. The two mutants had a complicated history, where their friendship eroded when Magneto became a terrorist and Xavier formed the X-Men.
Through the years, they became friends again, with Xavier handing Magneto the leadership of the X-Men. They became enemies again later, with Xavier shutting down Magneto’s mind and accidentally creating Onslaught. Currently, they are friends again as the two helped create a society on the island of Krakoa.
Doctor Doom & Reed Richards
Doctor Doom and Reed Richards hate each other more than almost anyone in the Marvel Universe. The two have constantly battled and insulted each other since the start of Marvel Comics. However, there is also something else there, deep beneath the surface. The two men might not be true friends, but Reed might be the closest thing Doctor Doom has to a friend that he feels is on his level.
Their relationship is so complicated that they just had a duel where the loser had to do something for the winner. Reed was fighting to force Doom out of his life forever. Doom won and asked Reed to be his best man at his upcoming wedding.
Spider-Man & Boomerang
Over the last year, one of the best odd couple relationships in comics took place. Former Spider-Man villain Boomerang received a pardon for all his crimes after the events of Secret Empire. He then came to Spider-Man for help when he tried to find the pieces of the Lifeline Tablet, to keep them away from Kingpin.
He also became roommates with Peter Parker. The two were incredible together, and even after Boomerang betrayed Spider-Man, it is clear he felt bad about it.
Spider-Man & Sandman
There is no Spider-Man villain who had it worse in recent years than Sandman. After a lifetime of crime, Sandman tried to go good but that is when the troubles started. Sandman lost control of his ability to keep his form, and the sand began rejecting his body.
Spider-Man sought Sandman out and wanted to help him. However, when Sandman died, Spider-Man took him somewhere that he could drift away in peace. A future immortal version of Sandman returned, taking over what remained of Sandman’s body, but the original’s mind was still there and he helped Spider-Man, the two connecting once again.
Deadpool & The Zapata Brothers
The Zapata Brothers are mercenaries who dress up like luchadores. They are not very smart but are fiercely loyal to each other. The Zapata Brothers also have a strong moral code and if they learn their employers are hurting kids or something similar, they will do the right thing in the end.
They most recently fought Spider-Man, but their best moment came when they faced Deadpool, and they professed to be his biggest fans. When the brothers got involved in a battle with the X-Men, they went to Deadpool for help in escaping.
Thor & Loki
Thor and Loki are brothers, but they have been enemies since their first appearances in Marvel Comics. Loki has done everything he can to bring his brother down, and Thor has fought back throughout history. However, there has always been a respect and kinship between the two men.
While not blood-related, Thor has always looked at Loki like a brother and takes up for him constantly. In the movies, Loki and Thor made peace in the end, and in the comics, while the friendship is still uneasy, Loki is more often than not an ally.
Black Cat & Spider-Man
Black Cat was a villain in Marvel Comics when she first appeared, a cat burglar with the superpower of giving those around her bad luck. Things changed when she got to know Spider-Man and developed romantic feelings for him.
While Felicia is still a thief and pulls off illegal heists all the time, she is also someone who has always been there for Spider-Man and helps him any chance she gets. While she doesn’t care much for other heroes, she always tries to do right by Spider-Man.
