History VillainousValour / ComicBooks

* Admit it, it takes balls to go up against the [[MemeticMutation Goddamn]] Franchise/{{Batman}} when your motif is [[ComicBook/ThePenguin penguins]] because you have the ''physique of one.''

* Marvel villain Whiplash/Blacklash must have solid steel cajones, given that he repeatedly goes up against Iron Man armed with... a titanium whip and nothing else. No power armour, no magic, no lasers, no nothing.
** Similarly, the audience is almost always rooting for Ghost to come out of the story okay despite the fact that he's a supervillain. His odd code of honor, cleverness, and sheer bravery in taking on a guy decked out in power armor means that it's next-to-impossible to not like the guy.

* ComicBook/UltimateMarvel

* In the ''ComicBook/XMen'' graphic novel ''ComicBook/GodLovesManKills'', Anne is one of the chief "Purifiers" (elite paramilitary soldiers) for the story's BigBad, Reverend William Stryker. She's shown to be cool and ruthless in her attacks on mutants, who (as per Stryker's preaching), she genuinely believes to be evil. There's a scene in which she and other Purifiers are in an elevator, taking captives to a basement level of their base, when Magneto ''yanks the elevator out of the building and through the air'' (they don't call him the Master of Magnetism for nothing, baby!) and his erstwhile allies, the X-Men, enter the little chamber, recover the captives, and take the Purifiers prisoner. All, that is, except Anne, who escapes by prying the door open, leaping out of the elevator, and (barely) catching herself on the edge of the base's roof. Wow. The lady may be whack, but she is brave, determined, and impressive. It's hard not to feel at least a little sympathy for her later, when [[spoiler:she discovers she's a mutant herself, and Stryker, her revered mentor, casts her away because of it]].
** William Stryker himself is a brave and competent man, though elderly and so less of a fighter, but as a highly decorated combat veteran [[KnightTemplar with God on his side]], he is not afraid to stare down a mutant ''Übermensch'' himself, though he is an ordinary man without any sort of superpowers.

* ''ComicBook/{{Cossacks}}'': The protagonist's main nemesis, the ruthless BloodKnight Polish hussar Sigismond, is NotAfraidToDie in battle against the Sipahi at the end of the album, and he fights with all the rage and bravery of a [[TheBerserker berserker]]. Karlis (the protagonist) recognizes both this and the fact that it allowed some of the hussars to survive the battle.

* Pictured is Darth Vader in ''ComicBook/StarWarsVaderDown'', where he is hunted by a sizable amount of imperials, and he ''takes them all on''. He even turns off his [[VaderBreath respirator]] to be stealthier. Mind you, Vader ''requested'' this hunt to begin with.
** Hell, ''[[ANaziByAnyOtherName Tarkin]]'' is this in the comic! He [[HuntingTheMostDangerousGame hunts]] ''[[TheDreaded the]]'' Dark Lord of The [[DarkSide Sith]], [[TheDragon second only to the Emperor]], [[spoiler: and defeats him head-on]]. [[spoiler: But Vader being Vader, [[PsychicStrangle chokes]] him just before [[TakingYouWithMe fainting]]]].

%% This page has been alphabetized. Please add new examples in the correct order.

* Given that Franchise/{{Superman}} is practically the poster boy for the InvincibleHero (at least according to some) and [[ComicBook/LexLuthor his arch-nemesis]] is [[BadassNormal an unpowered human]], it would be a shock if this never happened in his stories. Creator/GrantMorrison has commented on this and considers it a vital part of Lex's character; you have to, on some tiny level, root for Lex to at least come out of the story ok for the simple fact that he's a normal man trying to battle a demigod, typically armed only with his wits and whatever finances/tools he can get his hands on.

* In the ''ComicBook/XMen'' graphic novel ''ComicBook/GodLovesManKills'', Anne is one of the chief "Purifiers" (elite paramilitary soldiers) for the story's BigBad, Reverend William Stryker. She's shown to be cool and ruthless in her attacks on mutants, who (as per Stryker's preaching), she genuinely believes to be evil. There's a scene in which she and other Purifiers are in an elevator, taking captives to a basement level of their base, when Magneto ''yanks the elevator out of the building and through the air'' (they don't call him the Master of Magnetism for nothing, baby!) and his erstwhile allies, the X-Men, enter the little chamber, recover the captives, and take the Purifiers prisoner. All, that is, except Anne, who escapes by prying the door open, leaping out of the elevator, and (barely) catching herself on the edge of the base's roof. Wow. The lady may be whack, but she is brave, determined, and impressive. It's hard not to feel at least a little sympathy for her later, when [[spoiler:she discovers she's a mutant herself, and Stryker, her revered mentor, casts her away because of it]].
** William Stryker himself is a brave and competent man, though elderly and so less of a fighter, but as a highly decorated combat veteran [[KnightTemplar with God on his side]], he is not afraid to stare down a mutant ''Übermensch'' himself, though he is an ordinary man without any sort of superpowers.
* Although his role as a villain is [[NobleDemon questionable]], ComicBook/SecretSix's [[AntiHero Catman]] has gone toe-to-toe with the big black [[Franchise/{{Batman}} Bat]] every so often, and the fights usually end in a draw. Which may make Catman the poster boy for this, considering [[BadassNormal this]] [[CrazyPrepared is]] [[TheAce Batman]] we're talking about.
* ComicBook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths: It's an EvilVersusEvil scenario, but you've got to give Superman's pre-Crisis EvilCounterpart, Ultraman credit, flying into the [[OmnicidalManiac Anti-Monitor's]] antimatter wave in a last attempt to save Earth-3 from destruction. When Power Ring demands to know what he's doing he gives a classic Superman smile and replies "What I have done all my life. I fight to the very end."
* Skurge the Executioner in "The Death and Life of Skurge the Executioner", a ''[[ComicBook/TheMightyThor Thor]]'' graphic novel. Single-handed, he held off an army of the dead. "He had a grin and a gun and the grit to do it."
-->''And when a new arrival asks about the one to whom even Hela bows her head, the answer is always the same: he stood alone at Gjallerbru, and that answer is enough.''
* Marvel villain Whiplash/Blacklash must have solid steel cojones, given that he repeatedly goes up against Iron Man armed with... a titanium whip and nothing else. No power armour, no magic, no lasers, no nothing.

* In ''ComicBook/GodzillaRulersOfEarth'', you might just, to your own surprise, find yourself rooting for Zilla when he goes up against the original Godzilla in Issue #2, pitting his tunneling skills and strategic thinking against the King of the Monsters' NighInvulnerability, atomic BreathWeapon, and superior size. Despite these odds Zilla--both the antagonist ''and'' TheScrappy in the eyes of most--acquits himself well, outstrategizing Godzilla for most of the fight and eventually escaping.

* The final Creator/BrianMichaelBendis ''[[ComicBook/TheAvengers Avengers]]'' story (for now) has the classic original four Avengers (if Hulk was there it'd be everyone) Thor, Giant Man, Iron Man, and Captain America head to the 'Microverse' to rescue the presumed-dead last classic Avenger, Janet Van Dye. They find her involved in battle with a villain named Lord Gouzer, and assist her in his defeat. They return to the normal world, only to find Lord Gouzer taking advantage of their process to follow them for revenge...and due to plot circumstances, finds himself confronted by both then-current Avengers teams, who had gathered to provide backup if needed. So what does Gouzer do when confronted with 20+ superheroes, seven or eight them VERY heavy hitters? HE CHARGES AND IMMEDIATELY ATTACKS THEM. True, he had no idea who they were, and the assembled Avengers (heh) stomp him into the ground in about ten seconds, but still...points for effort and balls.
* Baron Zemo, archenemy of Captain America and the Avengers, frequently has moments like this. Despite being a normal human being who's only real physical advantage is good combat training, he's always taking on enemies that should be ''way'' beyond his abilities. Captain America is a SuperSoldier who's famous for being the ultimate badass, and yet Zemo never hesitates to grab a blade and leap into battle with Cap. This is a guy who once took on ''[[PhysicalGod Captain Universe]]'' in a one-on-one fight and '''won''', using nothing but his own wits and manipulation skills to briefly get himself imbued with reality warping powers.
* ''ComicBook/BuckGodotZapGunForHire'': Even though you know that [[spoiler:the Pogs are the bad guys]] at that point, it's hard to not get a bit misty-eyed when a single rifle platoon gets sent out to fight [[KillerRobot J-bots]] and [[RealityWarper Uligb mercenaries]]. The platoon leader's response says it all:
-->"Awright, you heard the impossible order! FIGHT!"

* ''ComicBook/{{Copperhead}}'' has a couple in the second arc.
** Brexinfoyle is an unrepentant criminal who resents Budroxifinicus for [[CategoryTraitor working with the enemy]], [[IShallTauntYou baiting Brex into a fight]], and [[LivingCrashpad using Brex as a landing cushion]]. He refuses to take any of it personally and offers Boo a quick death when ordered to execute him.
** Zolo fearlessly faces down the posse sent to kill him knowing he'll only get one shot off. [[spoiler:He spends it on his brother, sparing the latter from the consequences of the justice system.]]

* ''ComicBook/PaperinikNewAdventures'' examples:
** The reason the TimePolice had so much trouble catching the Raider was that he [[KnowWhenToFoldEm knows when to run or surrender]], but whenever he has reason to fight on anyway he will provide ample evidence of just why he was the one enemy Paperinik could ''never'' defeat in combat. His most valorous moment is when he was staring right in the face of a forming space-time anomaly that would erase all of history and he simply ''jumped in to try and prevent it from forming''.
** Evronian generals may have a leg up due their species' trouble feeling emotions, but they're invariably good fighters, willing to take on ridiculous odds to complete their mission. Their crowning moment is when the rogue general Trauma, who is openly stated to ''not'' be emotionally crippled, had to face [[spoiler:Moldrock]] knowing that his psychic powers to make people relive their worst fears were the only thing that could possibly stop him but that for it to work he had to come close to the PhysicalGod... And, with some cunning, he ''brought a god to kneel before him''.
** Moldrock, the GalacticConqueror, proved his mettle when he was subjected to [[spoiler:Trauma's powers]] while being especially vulnerable to them, and, after being brought to his knees for a second, he ''rose up and punched out [[spoiler:Trauma]]''.
* Pictured is Darth Vader in ''ComicBook/StarWarsVaderDown'', where he is hunted by a sizable amount of imperials, and he ''takes them all on''. He even turns off his [[VaderBreath respirator]] to be stealthier. Mind you, Vader ''requested'' this hunt to begin with.
** Hell, ''[[ANaziByAnyOtherName Tarkin]]'' is this in the comic! He [[HuntingTheMostDangerousGame hunts]] ''[[TheDreaded the]]'' Dark Lord of The [[DarkSide Sith]], [[TheDragon second only to the Emperor]], [[spoiler: and defeats him head-on]]. [[spoiler: But Vader being Vader, [[PsychicStrangle chokes]] him just before [[TakingYouWithMe fainting]]]].

* ComicBook/DoctorDoom may be a ruthless would-be conqueror with a senseless vendetta against [[ComicBook/FantasticFour Reed Richards]], but he also is a ferocious force to be reckoned with when the people of Latveria are oppressed by others, as the insane Prince Zorba found out.

* ComicBook/DoctorDoom may be a ruthless would-be conqueror with a senseless vendetta against [[ComicBook/FantasticFour Reed Richards]], but he also is a ferocious force to be reckoned with when the people of Latveria are oppressed by others, as the insane Prince Zorba found out. Or as shown in the page-image above, any time he's faced with a fight.

* Given that Franchise/{{Superman}} is practically the poster boy for the InvincibleHero (at least according to some) and [[ComicBook/LexLuthor his arch-nemesis]] is [[BadassNormal an unpowered human]], it would be a shock if this never happened in his stories. Grant Morrison has commented on this and considers it a vital part of Lex's character; you have to, on some tiny level, root for Lex to at least come out of the story ok for the simple fact that he's a normal man trying to battle a demigod, typically armed only with his wits and whatever finances/tools he can get his hands on.

** The Scarecrow's own phobia is the constant fear of Batman himself. That's right: the one and only thing in the world he himself fears is the thing he is most constantly willfully opposing, and someone whom he frequently seeks out and starts the fight with of his own accord. Although it may not so much be valor as a sort of emotional masochism... He ''craves'' fear.

** Hell, ''[[ANaziByAnyOtherName Tarkin]]'' is this in the comic! He [[HuntingTheMostDangerousGame hunts]] ''[[TheDreaded the]]'' Dark Lord of The [[DarkSide Sith]], [[TheDragon second only to the Emperor]], [[spoiler: and defeats him head-on]]. [[spoiler: But Vader being Vader, [[PsychicStrangle chokes]] him just before [[TakingYouWithMe fainting]].

* ''ComicBook/UltimateSpiderMan'': We have to give it to the thief that killed Ben: he got over the initial shock to see a man with superhuman strength who sticks to walls, and tried to counter attack. He was dispatched easily, but still...