History Main / StockShonenRival

An encompassing trope that's usually some combination of AntiHero, ArrogantKungFuGuy, InstantExpert, {{Jerkass}} → JerkWithAHeartOfGold, BloodKnight, HeelFaceRevolvingDoor, InferioritySuperiorityComplex, ReformedButNotTamed, {{Revenge}}, ByronicHero, PerpetualFrowner with the occasionally Smirk, and EvilSoundsDeep. In some cases he may also be a CharClone. He also tends to be a ChickMagnet and MrFanservice, though he will quite often be a CelibateHero; more aware of romance and sex than the typically [[ChasteHero chaste]] StockShonenHero, but too brooding and serious to be romantic. He's almost definitely the protagonist's MirrorCharacter. On this same note, he often forms a BetaCouple with an important, but secondary female member of the gang in a LastMinuteHookup at the end of the series; more recently, it's also become common to pair him with the female ''lead'' if she is not already romantically linked to the main character. Because the hero is usually a PrimaryColorChampion, the rival will usually utilize visual tropes such as a BlueIsHeroic ([[HeelFaceRevolvingDoor Sort of]]), EvilWearsBlack, TallDarkAndHandsome, or RedAndBlackAndEvilAllOver. [[ElementalRivalry He tends to have]] [[AnIcePerson ice]], [[PlayingWithFire fire]], or [[ShockAndAwe lightning]] powers and more often tends to wield a blade of some sort. His [[{{Foil}} dynamic]] with the hero tends to be the [[RedOniBlueOni the blue to the Hero's red]], ShadowArchetype.

* Considering the heavy {{animesque}} nature of the series, [[Characters/AvatarTheLastAirbenderZuko Prince Zuko]] from ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' fits quite a bit. his character arc resembling that of the archetype's (specifically of the PrivilegedRival type) in all but name. Introduced as an older, more aloof, stronger, more pessimistic {{foil}} and antagonist who wants to capture the inexperienced, cheerful protagonist and (somewhat) StockShonenHero Aang. Over the course of the series he learns to become less angry and [[TookALevelInKindness nicer]]. He is a [[PlayingWithFire firebender]] who normally wears red clothes and has black hair, later adding [[BifurcatedWeapon dual swords]] to his arsenal. Zuko is the prince of the Fire Nation and son of the Fire Lord, however he was [[TheExile exiled]] and now desires to capture the Avatar so he can return home with honor. He has a DarkAndTroubledPast due to having an emotionally distant and {{abusive|parents}} dad, a cruel and unloving little sister, his mother [[MissingMom running off]], and being a WhiteSheep in his BigScrewedUpFamily. Despite his angry demeanor and spending most of the series being a PerpetualFrowner, it is really an act that wears off over the series. He becomes TheAtoner after his HeelFaceTurn and joins Aang and his friends.

* [[Characters/AvatarTheLastAirbenderZuko Prince Zuko]] from ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' acts as the rival to the (somewhat) StockShonenHero Aang. Considering the heavy {{animesque}} nature of the series, Zuko fits quite a bit, his character arc resembling the rival's arc in all but name. Introduced as an older, more aloof antagonist who wants to capture Aang, over the course of the series he learns to become less angry and [[TookALevelInKindness nicer]]. He is a [[PlayingWithFire firebender]] who normally wears red clothes and has black hair, later adding [[BifurcatedWeapon dual swords]] to his arsenal. Zuko is the prince of the Fire Nation and son of the Fire Lord, however he was [[TheExile exiled]] and now desires to capture the Avatar so he can return home with honor. He has a DarkAndTroubledPast due to having an emotionally distant and {{abusive|parents}} dad, a cruel and unloving little sister, his mother [[MissingMom running off]], and being a WhiteSheep in his BigScrewedUpFamily. Despite his angry demeanor and spending most of the series being a PerpetualFrowner, it is really an act that wears off over the series. He becomes TheAtoner after his HeelFaceTurn and joins Aang and his friends.

* Jin Kisaragi from ''Franchise/BlazBlue'' is a {{Deconstruct|edTrope}}ion. Jin is [[{{Jerkass}} cold, aloof, and borderline sociopathic]]. He cares little for the feelings of others, and [[VirtueIsWeakness denounces, in his own words, trivialities like camaraderie]], believing that such things are lies that people use to their advantage. He has no compunction with killing anyone who gets in the way of his goal. This, however, is all a façade. The moment he reunites with [[TheRival Ragna]], Jin loses his calm, detached demeanor and reverts to his childhood self. His voice becomes noticeably more ecstatic, and he is now prone to fits of [[LaughingMad maniacal laughter]], mostly due to Yukianesa’s influence (which compels him to kill his brother due to his nature as the Black Beast, as well as the Power of Order, which perceives him as a threat to the stability of the world). Jin's obsession with defeating Ragna also [[IneffectualLoner leads to the absolute exclusion of everyone and everything around him]]. This [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome makes him easily manipulated]] by the likes of [[SmugSnake Hazama]][=/=][[BigBad Yuuki Terumi]], who uses him as an obstacle to keep Ragna at bay. Hakumen even calls him out on this in the former's True Ending path in Continuum Shift.

* Shadow from ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' is one of the most well-known cases of this (and is likely some level of a ShoutOut to Vegeta), to the degree where he's heavily mocked for how much DarkerAndEdgier he is compared to other ''Sonic'' characters. Shadow is an AntiHero (though originally treated as an EvilCounterpart to Sonic) and an AntiAntiChrist created to destroy Earth. His mostly black-and-red color scheme contrasts with Sonic's blue. Shadow is [[TheAce one of the strongest characters]] in the franchise and can easily turn into a PersonOfMassDestruction if given enough Chaos Emeralds. While he doesn't have a traditional family due to being an {{Artificial H|uman}}edgehog raised by humans, the closest thing he had to family were murdered in front of him which resulted in his DarkAndTroubledPast and bitter personality. Even when he's happy, he still maintains some level of grumpiness and he's very serious (CharacterizationMarchesOn aside). Despite his stoic behavior, however, he is a JerkWithAHeartOfGold who cares about his friends.

There's a great chance that the Hero will triumph over the Rival in ideals if not in power. In keeping with the {{shonen}} ComingOfAgeStory about making friends and [[TheDeterminator overcoming obstacles through sheer willpower]], the Rival represents something contrary to these messages that the Hero must overcome for the story to hit home, and thus often serves [[RivalFinalBoss as the Hero's final opponent]]. By the end most learn the [[DefeatMeansFriendship value of friendship,]] or at least [[WorthyOpponent begrudging respect.]]

An encompassing trope that's usually some combination of AntiHero, ArrogantKungFuGuy, InstantExpert, {{Jerkass}} --> JerkWithAHeartOfGold, BloodKnight, HeelFaceRevolvingDoor, InferioritySuperiorityComplex, ReformedButNotTamed, {{Revenge}}, ByronicHero, PerpetualFrowner with the occasionally Smirk, and EvilSoundsDeep. In some cases he may also be a CharClone. He also tends to be a ChickMagnet and MrFanservice, though he will quite often be a CelibateHero; more aware of romance and sex than the typically [[ChasteHero chaste]] StockShonenHero, but too brooding and serious to be romantic. He's almost definitely the protagonist's MirrorCharacter. On this same note, he often forms a BetaCouple with an important, but secondary female member of the gang in a LastMinuteHookup at the end of the series; more recently, it's also become common to pair him with the female ''lead'' if she is not already romantically linked to the main character. Because the hero is usually a PrimaryColorChampion, the rival will usually utilize visual tropes such as a BlueIsHeroic ([[HeelFaceRevolvingDoor Sort of]]), EvilWearsBlack, TallDarkAndHandsome, or RedAndBlackAndEvilAllOver. [[ElementalRivalry He tends to have]] [[AnIcePerson ice]], [[PlayingWithFire fire]], or [[ShockAndAwe lightning]] powers and more often tends to wield a blade of some sort. His [[{{Foil}} dynamic]] with the hero tends to be the [[RedOniBlueOni the blue to the Hero's red]], ShadowArchetype.

** Gladion from ''VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon'' is one of the two rivals in the game. He contrasts with happy {{keet}} Hau by being a dark, gloomy character. He wears mainly black clothes and is a loner. Gladion has a DarkAndTroubledPast where he [[TheRunaway ran away from home]] due to [[spoiler:his mother turning abusive and evil. His [[DisappearedDad father also disappeared]] years prior.]] Eventually, Gladion mellows down to a degree as the story progresses.

[[folder: Web Animation]]
* Zetto in WebAnimation/{{TOME}}, especially in the original TTA incarnation. [[spoiler: The reboot plays with this trope by making Zetto the alter-ego of TheLancer Kirbopher, while the VideoGame makes him outright the BigBad.]]

* Jin Kisaragi from ''VideoGame/BlazBlue'' is a {{Deconstruct|edTrope}}ion. Jin is [[{{Jerkass}} cold, aloof, and borderline sociopathic]]. He cares little for the feelings of others, and [[VirtueIsWeakness denounces, in his own words, trivialities like camaraderie]], believing that such things are lies that people use to their advantage. He has no compunction with killing anyone who gets in the way of his goal. This, however, is all a façade. The moment he reunites with [[TheRival Ragna]], Jin loses his calm, detached demeanor and reverts to his childhood self. His voice becomes noticeably more ecstatic, and he is now prone to fits of [[LaughingMad maniacal laughter]], mostly due to Yukianesa’s influence (which compels him to kill his brother due to his nature as the Black Beast, as well as the Power of Order, which perceives him as a threat to the stability of the world). Jin's obsession with defeating Ragna also [[IneffectualLoner leads to the absolute exclusion of everyone and everything around him]]. This [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome makes him easily manipulated]] by the likes of [[SmugSnake Hazama]][=/=][[BigBad Yuuki Terumi]], who uses him as an obstacle to keep Ragna at bay. Hakumen even calls him out on this in the former's True Ending path in Continuum Shift.