History ShadowArchetype / MarvelUniverse

** ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'': Loki works as a warped mirror to the Avengers more than once. He's an example of different parts of their personalities, like Thor's values about becoming King, the Widow's past murderous life or Tony's Big Ego, gone wrong. In Tony's case, he's able to figure out what Loki's big plan is because it's something ''he'd'' do.

** ''Film/ThorRagnarok'': Hela is this to Thor, showing what Thor might have become if Odin didn't managed to teach him humility: a violent, sadistic BloodKnight who talks about the glory of Asgard, but cares nothing for the people in it, to the point of murdering its army and trying to keep the people in line with murderous undead.

** ''Film/XMenApocalypse'': When Creator/OscarIsaac encapsulates En Sabah Nur's modus operandi in the "Clan of Akkaba: Apocalypse and his Horsemen" documentary on the Blu-Ray, it's ''identical'' to Professor X's. Apocalypse is the warped mirror image of Xavier if the latter loses all self-restraint and fully succumbs to "absolute power corrupts absolutely" -- Charles even gets DrunkOnTheDarkSide for a couple minutes to showcase that he's not immune to its effects. En Sabah Nur governs his ApocalypseCult with the Four Horsemen as his devotees, whereas Professor X can be interpreted as a highly idealized cult leader (if a truly good-hearted one exists, then he'd be it) with the X-Men as his disciples.

** ''Film/{{Logan}}'': X-24 is this to Logan, being a literal clone of him who embodies all the things Logan most hates and fears about himself. While Logan fears that he is nothing more than a monster and a murderer who poses a serious threat to his loved ones when he loses control, X-24 has been bred from birth to be the personification of unstoppable rage. Their OlderHeroVsYoungerVillain dynamic also represents Logan's insecurities about how his body is failing him in his old age.

* ''Series/Daredevil2015'': Frank Castle serves as a direct shadow for Matt Murdock. Both serve as vigilantes fighting crime after a series of traumatic event (The Punisher for Frank; Dardevil for Matt) and both use [[AntiHero violent methods in doing so.]] However, [[ThouShallNotKill Matt refuses to kill anyone during his crusade against crime]], while Frank believes the only way to stop crime permanently is to [[MurderIsTheBestSolution kill the criminals causing it.]] Also, Matt is constantly questioning himself on wether he has crossed the line into becoming an evil, while Frank has fully convinced himself, that he is forever dead and damned.

* From ''ComicBook/XMen'': ComicBook/{{Sabretooth}} is what ComicBook/{{Wolverine}} would be like if he ever fully embraced his berserker side. Cassandra Nova is Prof. X's shadow archetype, being his evil twin that was killed before birth. Everything she has done since finding herself alive is something Xavier himself could have done, and is more than likely tempted do to.
* ComicBook/TheSentry and his nemesis/other-half, the Void are a pretty literal example given the Void's appearance and the nature of their relationship.
* ''ComicBook/IronMan'' #293 positions the Controller as one to Tony and his current status quo: Whereas Tony has been paralyzed and is consciously neglecting his own recovery in order to continue to operate as Iron Man (using a remotely-controlled armor), the Controller has mind-controlled several of Stark's employees in order to force him to help him cure his own broken body.
* Baron Mordo to ComicBook/DoctorStrange, who represents what Strange might have become if he hadn't learned humility, patience, and respect for others. ''Doctor Strange: The Oath'' introduces Nicodemus West, yet another student of the Ancient One, with the added resonance of also being a physician.
* In ''ComicBook/AntMan'', the KillerRobot Ultron's programming was based on his creator Hank Pym's own brain patterns. Pym is understandably very disturbed by what this implies about him. Ultron is essentially a copy of Pym's own mind acting on his subconscious misanthropy. [[spoiler:When they end up in a FusionDance in Rage of Ultron, this is why Pym doesn't fight Ultron's control.]]
* ComicBook/{{Daredevil}}'s classic counterparts are Bullseye and the Kingpin, whose constant evasion of criminal convictions cause Murdock to seriously doubt the law's ability to deal with the most calculating criminals. Creator/MarkWaid's run introduces Ikari, who has all of Daredevil's powers along with ''sight'', which was accomplished by recreating Daredevil's origin. Appropriately enough, his costume resembles Daredevil's original yellow and red.
* There were two early attempts to give Marvel Comics' second ComicBook/{{Captain Marvel|MarvelComics}} an ArchEnemy. Both doubled as shadow archetypes.

* [[ComicBook/AdamLegendOfTheBlueMarvel Blue Marvel]]'s nemesis Anti-Man went through the same experiences as he did, from fighting in the same war, suffering the same restrictions in society and getting their super powers from the same source. They were good friends. Blue Marvel just happened to be lucky enough to maintain his right mind upon being empowered. Anti-Man wasn't (and, it later transpired, [[spoiler:Blue Marvel's attempts to help only made it much, much worse]]). Therefore, while Anti-Man didn't react to their circumstances in the best way going forward, Blue Marvel believed it was not Anti-Man's fault and tried to help him... until Anti-Man accidentally killed Blue Marvel's wife. Even then, Marvel eventually (after being shown [[spoiler:his unwitting role in Anti-Man's insanity]]) finds it in himself to try and reconcile with his insane counterpart.

** Moonstone is also a {{Legacy|Character}}. She has the same values and the same desire [[IJustWantToBeSpecial to be special]], but doesn't hold the same values in equal measures. Moonstone and Captain Marvel both provided a service, but Moonstone values power over service, keeping her from doing her job to its fullest. They both got powers on the job while dealing with criminals. Captain Marvel immediately set out to find a way to put them to good use, Moonstone immediately induldged in criminal activity. Losing their powers was [[PutOnABus almost fatal]] to both. They both ended up as leaders in their new fields, displacing Captain America and his villain, ComicBook/BaronZemo, respecitvely. The one fundamental difference is Moonstone's {{sadis|t}}m, and even that doesn't stop her from being more like Captain Marvel. It's the different lessons they learned from the rich and powerful. Helping people feels as good to Moonstone as hurting them. Her pursuit of hedonism ahead of duty stems from learning to put herself first [[ItsAllAboutMe ahead of all other distractions]].

* ''Franchise/SpiderMan'' has several:
** The classic is [[ComicBook/DoctorOctopus Doc Ock]], whose powers come from the "other" famous eight-legged creature and whose powers also involved an atomic mishap. Like Peter, Otto Octavius was also bullied and also has a gift for science. He is what Spider-Man could have easily become if he let his powers go to his head.
*** And ''ComicBook/SuperiorSpiderMan'' takes ''Ock's'' role as this up to eleven, as he gets to literally become Spider-Man, and when confronted with the same choices as Peter, proceeds to make the opposite and more ethically dodgy decisions. Jeopardizing the public to spend more time with loved ones, winning public support by being unnecessarily brutal with criminals (even terrorizing JJJ for good publicity), forcing the symbiote to stay bonded with him despite its own wishes... it all comes back to bite him, though.
** The Scorpion parallels Spider-Man's arachnid-based powers and costume. Though he is quite different from Spider-Man in personality, being a crazed villain, he still lets one guess what Spider-Man could be like if he cared for number one and didn't consider the consequences of his actions or inaction on others.
** [[ComicBook/NormanOsborn The Green Goblin]] parallels Spider-Man's Halloweenish or creepy style (even going so far as to throw exploding jack-o-lanterns!), has similar strength and agility, and shares Peter's sense of humor and love of adventure. If Parker had more ambition and less sense of responsibility for the well-being of other people, Osborn is what he could be. If Spider-Man allowed himself to have more fun, and care less about doing what is right or beneficial, he'd be like the Goblin.
** ComicBook/{{Venom}} has many of Peter's powers, sense of humor, and represents what he would have become if he hadn't had the will to resist the symbiote. Even after his transition into an AntiHero, Venom is still a SociopathicHero who more or less represents what Spider-Man could have been if he were fully willing to kill.
** ''ComicBook/UltimateSpiderMan'' takes Venom's role as this a step further, as they basically had the same backstory, only Eddie didn't have a loving Aunt and Uncle after his parents died to steer him on the right track.
** During [[ComicBook/JMSSpiderMan JMS's run on Spider-Man]], we met Ezekiel, who had all of Spider-Man's powers but lacked the courage and determination to be a hero (he's also one for Uncle Ben in a way).
** Kaine is Peter's defective clone, who would later take the mantle of the ComicBook/ScarletSpider. While bearing the same power set, Kaine is first an AntiVillain, then a brutal NominalHero, and finally an AntiHero who claims to pride himself on having all of the power but ''none'' of the responsibility that comes with it. Of course, those damned Parker genes won't let him abdicate that responsibility, and [[BecomingTheMask he later claims it outright, telling an insane Ben Reilly that Reilly doesn't deserve to be the Scarlet Spider any more]].
** Both Spider-Man and The Lizard are both people who got their powers by accident because of science, The Lizard show just [[GoneHorriblyWrong how wrong his mutation could have gone.]]
** Mysterio reflects Spider-Man's [[DudeWheresMyRespect desire for respect]] and his temptation to use his powers for his [[ItsAllAboutMe own selfish gains]] instead of helping others.

!!Franchise/MarvelUniverse

!!Franchise/MarvelUniverse

* ComicBook/BlueMarvel's nemesis Anti-Man went through the same experiences as he did, from fighting in the same war, suffering the same restrictions in society and getting their super powers from the same source. They were good friends. Blue Marvel just happened to be lucky enough to maintain his right mind upon being empowered. Anti-Man wasn't (and, it later transpired, [[spoiler:Blue Marvel's attempts to help only made it much, much worse]]). Therefore, while Anti-Man didn't react to their circumstances in the best way going forward, Blue Marvel believed it was not Anti-Man's fault and tried to help him... until Anti-Man accidentally killed Blue Marvel's wife. Even then, Marvel eventually (after being shown [[spoiler:his unwitting role in Anti-Man's insanity]]) finds it in himself to try and reconcile with his insane counterpart.

* There were two early attempts to give Marvel Comics' second [[ComicBook/MonicaRambeau Captain Marvel]] an ArchEnemy. Both doubled as shadow archetypes.

** ComicBook/{{Nebula|MarvelComics}} rose up to captain freight, not unlike Captain Marvel, just in outerpace instead of on the water. She turned her talents to mercenary work, where Captain Marvel went to harbor patrol. Nebula also has the same deepseated desire [[IJustWantToBeSpecial to be special]], but where Captain Marvel's role models were a firefighter and a seemstress, where she was shoehorned into the "Captain Marvel" {{legacy|character}} and reluctantly relinquished it to the man's family, Nebula's role models were Warlod Zorr and mass murderer Thanos Of Titan, legacies she claims ahead of their families despite lacking proof of relations. Captain Marvel got her powers pursuing criminals misuing an extra dimensional power source, Nebula became a pirate misuing similar things. When Captain Marvel got super powers, she joined The Avengers, Nebula used hers to torture the group. Losing her powers wasn't inherently life threatening to Nebula as it was to Captain Marvel, but she still [[LaserGuidedKarma ended up infirmed]] as a [[TheDogBitesBack consequence]] of her choices. Despite it all, Nebula isn't incapble of altruism. She inspired loyal followers from thousands of worlds and willingly joined ComicBook/{{Gamora}}'s Graces to defend The Universe from The Annihilation Wave. She incinerated her followers to save herself and ended up corrupting Graces, but Nebula could have been just like Captain Marvel with more positive influences in her formative years. On the flip, Captain Marvel showed similar vindictiveness toward the Beyond Corporation that [[ComicBook/{{Nextwave}} ensnared]] her as Nebula did to her jailers on Titan. She didn't go out of her way to repay them the way Nebula did, but different circumstances could have made her just like Nebula.

** The Scorpion parallels Spider-Man's arachnid-based powers and costume. Though he is quite different from Spider-Man in personality, being a crazed villain, he still lets one guess what Spider-man could be like if he cared for number one and didn't consider the consequences of his actions or inaction on others.
** [[ComicBook/NormanOsborn The Green Goblin]] parallels Spider-Man's Halloweenish or creepy style (even going so far as to throw exploding jack-o-lanterns!), has similar strength and agility, and shares Peter's sense of humor and love of adventure. If Parker had more ambition and less sense of responsibility for the well being of other people, Osborn is what he could be. If Spider-man allowed himself to have more fun, and care less about doing what is right or beneficial, he'd be like the Goblin.
** ComicBook/{{Venom}} has many of Peter's powers, sense of humor, and represents what he would have become if he hadn't had the will to resist the symbiote. Even after his transition into AntiHero, Venom is still a SociopathicHero who more or less represents what Spider-Man could have been if he were fully willing to kill.

** Both Spiderman and The Lizard are both people who got their powers by accident because of science, The Lizard show just [[GoneHorriblyWrong how wrong his mutation could have gone.]]

** [[ComicBook/NormanOsborn The Green Goblin]] parallels Spider-Man's Halloweenish or creepy style (even going so far as to throw exploding jack-o-lanterns!), has similar strength and agility, and shares Peter's sense of humor and love of adventure. If Parker had more ambition and less sense of responsibility for the well being of other people, Osborn is what he could be. Is Spider-man allowed himself to have more fun, and care less about doing what is right or beneficial, he'd be like the Goblin.

* ComicBook/BlueMarvel's nemesis Anti-Man went through the same experiences as he did, from fighting in the same war, suffering the same restrictions in society and getting their super powers from the same source. They were good friends. Blue Marvel just happened to be lucky enough to maintain his right mind upon being empowered. Anti-Man wasn't (and, it later transpired, [[spoiler: Blue Marvel's attempts to help only made it much, much worse]]). Therefore, while Anti-Man didn't react to their circumstances in the best way going forward, Blue Marvel believed it was not Anti-Man's fault and tried to help him... until Anti-Man accidentally killed Blue Marvel's wife. Even then, Marvel eventually (after being shown [[spoiler: his unwitting role in Anti-Man's insanity]]) finds it in himself to try and reconcile with his insane counterpart.

** And ''ComicBook/SuperiorSpiderMan'' takes ''Ock's'' role as this up to eleven, as he gets to literally become Spider-Man, and when confronted with the same choices as Peter, proceeds to make the opposite and more ethically dodgy decisions. Jeopardizing the public to spend more time with loved ones, winning public support by being unnecessarily brutal with criminals (even terrorizing JJJ for good publicity), forcing the symbiote to stay bonded with him despite its own wishes... it all comes back to bite him, though.

* ComicBook/BlueMarvel's nemesis Anti-Man went through the same experiences as he did, from fighting in the same war, suffering the same restrictions in society and getting their super powers from the same source. They were good friends. Blue Marvel just happened to be lucky enough to maintain his right mind upon being empowered. Anti-Man wasn't (and, it later transpired, [[spoiler: Blue Marvel's attempts to help only made it much, much worse]]). Therefore, while Anti-Man didn't react to their circumstances in the best way going forward, Blue Marvel believed it was not Anti-Man's fault and tried to help him... until Anti-Man accidentally killed Blue Marvel's wife. Even then, Marvel eventually (after being shown [[spoiler: his unwitting role in Anti-Man's insanity]]) finds it in himself to try and reconcile with his insane counterpart.