History Main / BIgBadDuumvirate

* Hank Henshaw and Mongul in ''TheDeathAndLifeOfSuperman''.

* The Leader and MODOK in FallOfTheHulks.

* The teamup of DoctorDoom and [[ResidentEvil AlbertWesker]] in ''MarvelVsCapcom 3''. There's also a SealedEvilInACan that they accidentally released to count.

* Happens between [[EvilSorcerer Belasco]] and [[DemonLordsAndArchdevils Dahun]] in the ''Demonwar Saga'', most recent subseries of TheRiftwarCycle. Each has his own goals and is manipulating the other to accomplish them. [[spoiler: Both fail and are apparently destroyed, though Dahun comes a hair closer to succeeding]].

* [[DarkMagicalGirl The Ilse Witch]] and her [[EvilMentor former mentor]] [[EvilSorceror The Morgawr]] form one in TheVoyageOfTheJerleShannara. They have an interesting dynamic, as she's his former [[TheDragon Dragon]], pupil, and BastardUnderstudy, which causes him to treat her as the junior partner, something she deeply resents. When the inevitable breakdown occurs and they do go head to head, the results aren't very pretty.

* Ever since Sargeras [[OnlyMostlyDead only mostly kicked the bucket,]] Archimonde and Kil'Jaeden have been carrying on his crusade against life together. Until Archimonde bites it, that is.
* BlazBlue features [[spoiler:Relius and Terumi]], two [[CompleteMonster Complete Monsters]] who have been orchestrating just about every bad thing that's happened in the series' storyline from behind the scenes, for well over a hundred years, all in their mission to, essentially, kill God. Making matters worse is that both of them are [[EvilGenius insanely brilliant]], one being an [[MoralEventHorizon amoral]] MadScientist (though a very calm and cultured one), the other being a [[AxCrazy psychopath]] who [[{{Troll}} delights in taunting people and ruining lives]]. Oddly enough, the two get along rather well with each other, and act as RedOniBlueOni to one another.

* AdolfHitler, [[ImperialJapan Emperor Hirohito]] and BenitoMussolini during WorldWarII. Though, it's arguable it was more of a traditional BigBadDuumvirate due to Mussolini being a comparatively HarmlessVillain (stress on the "comparatively").
** Emperor Hirohito also is a weak fit, since the Japanese government was intentionally designed to prevent the Emperor from wielding direct power, with the real power in the government shifting several times during the war. The most well-known is Hideki Tojo.
*** History has changed its opinion of that. The dominant historiography now is that Hirohito really did have a lot of power, and most of his generals would have never disobeyed a direct order from him of any kind, including to end the war, and that he knew about and approved of most of their decisions and war aims. He was not quite the architect of his own EvilEmpire that Hitler was, and he is only about as responsible as his underlings, but he still bears a high degree of responsibility. Tojo was a criminal but he essentially served as the Fall Guy so that the Emperor could keep his throne and the illusion of his honour.
**** Actually, that debate has been ongoing for 60 years. Loyal as they may be, Hirohito's generals certainly weren't above misleading, manipulating, and otherwise pressuring him into accepting their decisions. After being told not to use force, Chief of Staff General Sugiyama went home and wrote of his resolve to "persuade him (Hirohito) to change his mind" and "guide him step by step."
*** Still very different from Hirohito nnot having much power or authority. They acted much like any other monarchy and council, and Hirohito certainly still had a good idea of what was really going on. Trying to convince your Emperor to take the action you desire is not the same as manipulating him, and is much the same as how the Third Reich worked.
**** It is definitely the case that Hirohito didn't try to stop the war until Japan was losing, although he noted many times he disapproved and would rather have peace. It is also fact that his generals gave him detailed tactical and strategic reports. It is not clear, however, that he had any knowledge or ever approved of the many war crimes committed by the Japanese military. It is likely that he did not, and like most of the civilians was convinced by those who were really in charge that America and the West were evil imperialists who wanted to rule Asia and that the Japanese army was liberating China from the wicked Occident.

* Subverted in ''TheLordOfTheRings''. Saruman sees himself as Sauron's ally and has full plans of double-crossing him once he gets his hands on the Ring- but Sauron is both far more powerful and more intelligent, knows full well about Saruman's plans, and considers him varyingly a useful tool and a nuisance, but never an equal of any kind.

* The titular characters in ''[[KnightsOfTheOldRepublic Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords]]'' are often called the Sith Triumvirate, although only two of them ever work together at the same time.
** With a little work, you could say that in the first game, Revan, Malak and Karath (a DragonWithAnAgenda) formed a triumvirate.

* Subverted in ''{{The Lord of the Rings}}''. Saruman ''thinks'' that he and Sauron are this, but Sauron is so much more powerful that he considers Saruman neither a meaningful rival nor an equal partner - just a particularly useful pawn. Gandalf later confirms that unless he actually got his hands on [[ArtifactOfDoom the Ring]], Saruman would never be in Sauron's league.
** On the other hand, Saruman never intended to serve or work with Sauron any longer than it was necessary to get his hands on the Ring, and subjugate the Dark Lord himself with its power. This is much clearer in the book than in the movie, where Saruman seems loyal to Sauron even at the moment of his defeat.
** Though in the movies he was never a real BigBad at all (more like a co-[[TheDragon Dragon]] with the Witch-King), whereas book-Saruman clearly saw himself as a potential EvilOverlord and worked with Sauron to advance this end (and true to trope, planned on ultimately double-crossing him).

* Diablo, Mephisto and Baal, the [[DemonLordsAndArchdevils Three Prime Evils]] in the ''{{Diablo}}'' games. Diablo is the BigBad in the first game and at least the FinalBoss in the second, and Baal is the BigBad in the expansion, while Mephisto is an intermediate boss in ''Diablo II'', but for the plot as a whole ([[WasteOfTimeStory if anyone notices it]]) they are equals. (Can't speak for ''Diablo III'' yet.)

* Miraz, Glozelle, and Sopespian have elements of this in the film of ''[[ChroniclesOfNarnia Prince Caspian]]''- Miraz is dominant, but he is forced to (grudgingly) rely on the other two. [[spoiler: When they've finally had enough of him, they kill him and become a full BigBadDuumvirate for the remainder of the fil]]. The three have elements of this dynamic in the book as well, though the movie gives all three more screen time and therefore emphasizes it more.

** Of course, the [[TheStarscream little dog]] [[TheDogBitesBack bit back]], eventually.
** Warren, Jonathan and Andrew think that they are [[BigBadDuumvirate this]] in season 6 [[spoiler: but Willow ends up being the real [[BigBad Big Bad]].]]
*** Actually, according to WordOfGod, LIFE was the BigBad for Season 6 (makes sense when you think about everything that happened in that season, this IS Whedon after all).
**** As the creator, head writer, and well... [[WordOfGod GOD]]... of the show, does that mean Whedon himself, was the BigBad that season?
* The Syndicate from the XFiles seem to be this, though [[ChrisCarterEffect who can really tell for sure?]]

* [[SuperMarioBros Bowser]] and [[LegendOfZelda Ganondorf]] have this sort of relationship in ''[[SuperSmashBros The Subspace Emissary]]''. As one may expect, Ganondorf gets a little tired of Bowser's company and, well, [[HijackedByGanon you know...]] It becomes a triumvirate if Wario is included, though he rarely bothers to involve himself with his fellow "teammates".

* Darkseid and [[spoiler:Mandrakk]] in ''FinalCrisis.''
** This is actually BigBadEnsemble, since they never actually interact or are even aware of each other (Darkseid at least), nor are their plans compatible (Ruling the universe as opposed to eating it.)

* [[HeroicSociopath The]] [[VillainProtagonist Light]] [[EvilVersusEvil Warriors]] of ''[[EightBitTheater 8-Bit Theater]]'' consist of a BigBad triumvirate [[OddManOut and Fighter]].

* In Naruto, [[spoiler: BigBad Madara Uchiha forms an alliance with DragonAscendant Kabuto.]]

* Clarence Boddicker and [[spoiler:CorruptCorporateExecutive Dick Jones]] in ''RoboCop''.