History FriendlyEnemy / ComicBooks

** ''ComicBook/DisneyDucksComicUniverse'': Scrooge [=McDuck=] usually has a surprisingly good relationship with his RoguesGallery - especially the Beagle Boys and to a lesser degree Magica [=DeSpell=]. They seem to respect and care for each other on several occassions and [[EnemyMine team-up against greater threats]]. It doesn't stop with Scrooge: Donald and other relatives seem to get along with them pretty well too.

** ''ComicBook/MickeyMouseComicUniverse'': Mickey and Pete have a rather good relationship with each other. They even watch TV together on occassions.

** ''ComicBook/DisneyDucksComicUniveerse'': Scrooge [=McDuck=] usually has a surprisingly good relationship with his RoguesGallery - especially the Beagle Boys and to a lesser degree Magica [=DeSpell=]. They seem to respect and care for each other on several occassions and [[EnemyMine team-up against greater threats]]. It doesn't stop with Scrooge: Donald and other relatives seem to get along with them pretty well too.

* [[ComicBook/DisneyDucksComicUniverse Donald Duck as Paperinik]] (both in the classic stories and in ''ComicBook/PaperinikNewAdventures'') has developed this kind of relationship with the lesser criminals of Duckburg, with the typical scene being of Paperinik catching them in the act and say hello, having a little chat, and the thieves then picking up everything and going to the closest police station to let themselves be arrested. The really interesting part is ''how'' it developed: [[TheDreaded the criminals are utterly terrified of Paperinik due the sadistic beatings he inflicts on everyone who tries and resists]], but as he's also polite and nice when they're not committing crimes or resisting they started giving up as soon as he shows up, resulting in this strange friendship. He'll also defend them when some newcomer butts in and hurts the criminals unnecessarily.
** In PKNA he and the Raider who rarely ever gets into direct conflict with Donald. In fact, he's more like a criminal that Donald has to ally himself with from time to time than an outright enemy.

* [[ComicBook/DisneyDucksComicUniverse Donald Duck as Paperinik]] (both in the classic stories and in ''ComicBook/PaperinikNewAdventures'') has developed this kind of relationship with the lesser criminals of Duckburg, with the typical scene being of Paperinik catching them in the act and say hello, having a little chat, and the thieves then picking up everything and going to the closest police station to let themselves be arrested. The really interesting part is ''how'' it developed: [[TheDreaded the criminals are utterly terrified of Paperinik due the sadistic beatings he inflicts on everyone who tries and resists]], but as he's also polite and nice when they're not committing crimes or resisting they started giving up as soon as he shows up, resulting in this strange friendship. He'll also defend them when some newcomer butts in and hurts the criminals unnecessarily.

** [[ComicBook/SonicX The Sonic X comic book]] portrays Sonic's and Eggman's relationship as exactly this. When Eggman's not launching an EvilPlan, the two are practically ''friends.'' They have civilized conversations, face off in (mostly) friendly competitions...Sonic even [[MoralDissonance helps Dr. Eggman get his secret lair back in control so he can get back to launching his evil plans again]]. When Eggman shows up for a party, no one bats an eye, either. Eggman's just the friendly neighborhood supervillain.

* In the [[ComicBook/TheTransformers Transformers Generation 1]] comic books, Optimus Prime and Scorponok (who was the Decepticon leader for most of the second half of the book's run) become this through a series of {{Enemy Mine}}s.

--->'''Optimus:''' Or -- or the siege of Massungrad, when you-\\

!!DC Comics
* ''ComicBook/FiftyTwo'' reveals that Will Magnus, creator of the ComicBook/MetalMen, is friends with the villainous T.O. Morrow, creator of ComicBook/RedTornado, since they're both the fathers of artificial intelligence and both have problems with mental disorders. Will visits Morrow in jail and brings him news of the outside world and Morrow appreciates it.
* Franchise/{{Batman}} has a hostile friendly rivalry with both ComicBook/RasAlGhul and ComicBook/TheJoker (usually, in both cases, with the friendly part strictly one-sided on the villain's part). Neither will stop trying to kill Batman, though their attempts are worthy of him and their history.
** Half the time, Ra's al-Ghul doesn't want Batman dead; he wants him to marry his daughter and become his heir.
** ComicBook/TheJoker is an interesting inversion because, from his point of view, this ''is'' their friendship. He commits all sorts of horrific and violent acts not because he's trying to cross the MoralEventHorizon but because he views this almost as a game he and Batman play, and it's sometimes portrayed as the only thing he lives for.
** ''ComicBook/TheKillingJoke'' is the defining example: after the Joker commits probably his most evil act in a long career full of them, the graphic novel ends with [[spoiler: the Joker finishing a joke [[ActuallyPrettyFunny that makes Batman laugh]], and the two of them laughing together as the police sirens draw closer]].
** "A Black and White World", in the anthology series ''ComicBook/BatmanBlackAndWhite'', had ComicBook/TheJoker and Franchise/{{Batman}} as arch enemies...[[PunchclockHero but only because]] [[PunchclockVillain it's their job to be so]]; after the climactic comic book scene (which is treated as [[AnimatedActors a movie-style shoot]]), they're completely cool with [[GoKartingWithBowser stopping by the commissary to pick up lunch]]. In fact they even ''talk about their family lives!''
--->''In a Menacing Face-off style Pose, staring each other down:''\\
'''Batman:''' How are the kids?\\
'''Joker:''' Just fine, yours?
** A non-Batman (the person) example: in one issue of ''ComicBook/{{Robin|Series}}'', the Joker claims that he took a liking to Jason Todd's rougher, more streetwise style...which was why the latter had to die.
** One ComicBook/TwoFace story ended with Two-Face ''waiting'' for Batman to come take him away after committing a murder. Harvey Dent is one of Bruce's close friends, and one of the few relationships where the Bruce-centric version of their relationship seems more important than the Batman-centric version of the relationship to him.
*** In another story that tracks a day in the life of Gotham City, Batman stops outside the window of Two-Face's cell at Arkham Asylum to continue a one-move-a-night chess game they're playing.
** Batman's [[DatingCatwoman relationship]] with ComicBook/{{Catwoman}} has always been inherently less hostile than with the other villains, primarily because she makes him [[FoeYay hot under the cowl]], and it's more justifiable here as her crimes are usually simple, for-profit theft (often stolen from {{jerkass}}es to boot) and very rarely involve directly hurting people.
** There's also ComicBook/TheRiddler, who considers his rivalry with Batman a game and who, like Catwoman, is generally not harmful enough to warrant being treated as a serious villain. He eventually takes this to its logical conclusion, by going straight and becoming a detective competing with Batman rather than against him - he still gets the buzz of the rivalry, but Batman isn't allowed to punch him anymore.
** ComicBook/ThePenguin can also be considered this, since he's one of the few sane villains Batman comes across. When he's not committing some sort of crime, he runs a semi-innocent nightclub in Gotham. Batman will occasionally turn to him for information such as rumors flying about the criminal underworld (while in turn begrudgingly allowing the Penguin's operations to continue), and The Penguin will usually treat them as a business deal.
** When it comes to the Justice League, Batman is usually the person who interacts with ComicBook/AmandaWaller. Waller is often cast in villainous roles (she's an AntiHero at her best), but the two have a genuine respect for one another, especially because they're equally intelligent and realize that they're both [[IDidWhatIHadToDo doing what they sincerely believe is best for the world.]] It also helps that Waller is [[IAmAMonster aware of her own terrible flaws]], while Batman also knows that [[GoodIsNotNice he's not exactly a saint, either.]]
* Franchise/TheFlash's RoguesGallery can be like this, especially during the Wally West era (though, Jay Garrick and his rogues all became friends after their mutual retirements), with such gems as Wally going to a party the Rogues threw for Captain Cold when the latter was released on parole. He crashed at Cold's house once, and one of his best buddies, the Pied Piper, was still kind of playing the Rogue, if for a good cause. The first Icicle (Joar Mahkent) liked Jay Garrick and Barry Allen enough (and disliked his relatives enough) that he left half of his fortune to [[LegacyCharacter whoever was the Flash at the time]], and when Clifford [=DeVoe=], the Thinker, was about to die, Jay spent the day racing around the world looking for a cure.
* In ''ComicBook/{{Gothtopia}}'', Batgirl's best friend and ally, Daybreak, is actually her archnemesis, Knightfall. They have no memories of their previous confrontations and think they've first met rescuing a couple.
* In ''ComicBook/RedHoodAndTheOutlaws'', there is a friendship between sidekick Arsenal (Roy Harper) and criminal Killer Croc (Waylon Jones) after the former hit RockBottom and tried to commit [[DeathSeeker suicide]] while fighting Killer Croc. Luckily Killer Croc wisened up to the scheme and [[WhatTheHellHero called]] him out on it. In issue #4 Roy mentions Waylon sponsoring him in the Alcoholic Anonymous program.
* ''ComicBook/{{Starman}}'': The ComicBook/{{Shade}} and Jack Knight started out like this; Shade made a full HeelFaceTurn later.
* ''ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}'': In ''ComicBook/SupergirlCosmicAdventuresInThe8thGrade'', Supergirl's SecretIdentity is Linda Lee. Linda's best friend is Lena Thorul... or better said Lena Luthor, ComicBook/LexLuthor's little sister. Lena switches between loving Linda and trying to kill her.
* ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'':
** In ''ComicBook/AllStarSuperman'', Luthor spends half an interview complimenting Clark Kent -- saying he writes like a poet, for instance. Some of it is backhanded, of course, and he derides Superman in the same sentence. It largely amounts to, "Clark, you're a good guy. Kind, strong, and intelligent, and you might amount to something if Superman wasn't making you look bad."
** A lot of lower-level criminals (including ComicBook/{{Hitman|1993}}) have this sort of relationship with Superman; it's been repeatedly noted that since Superman is so damn friendly and nice to everyone as long as they don't try to hurt or kill other people, very few non-super criminals dislike him. In one annual collection of short stories, it's made into a gag where a member of a gang of bank robbers' [[TitleDrop opening question]] "Why Metropolis?" (of all cities to rob a bank in), is answered, after a long discussion about those assholes in [[ComicBook/GreenArrow Star City]], [[Franchise/TheFlash Keystone City]], and [[Franchise/{{Batman}} Gotham]], when Superman catches them and politely hands them over to the police while recommending the Metropolis reform program to get their lives back together: "Because when ''he'' catches you, he's not a jerk about it."
** Pre-ComicBook/{{Crisis|on Infinite Earths}} Superman had this relationship with Bizarro and ComicBook/AmbushBug (Bizarro was more an AntiVillain, and Ambush Bug later became even more annoying to Supes by ''going straight.)'' In the ComicBook/PostCrisis days, Mr. Mxyzptlk is his main "friendly enemy."
* In ''[[ComicBook/TeenTitans New Teen Titans]]'', ComicBook/{{Deathstroke}} the Terminator and Changeling (now Beast Boy) developed a relationship like this in the '80s. Changeling was about to fight him to the death when [[spoiler: [[https://scans-daily.dreamwidth.org/6393690.html Deathstroke appealed to his humanity by showing up without his mask, stating that it was the faceless mask that he wanted to kill, not the person behind it. They later talked things over in a diner]]]].
* [[spoiler: The Comedian and Moloch]] of ''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}''. He specifically comments that [[spoiler: Moloch]] is the closest thing he has to a friend. He's known him for decades. He then immediately comments on how sad and pathetic that is. It's not a one-sided friendship either. [[spoiler:Moloch is one of the only people who visits the Comedian's grave.]]
* ''Franchise/WonderWoman'':
** In general Wondy has a habit of befriending her less monstrous foes, even those who have not turned from their villainous ways. This leads to such sights as Wondy [[ComicBook/WonderWoman2006 teaming up with Giganta to put the Gargareans in their place]] after having a chat with the villain about relationships even though Giganta has no reason to care about the Gargareans, or [[ComicBook/WonderWomanRebirth picking up Mayfly when her prison sentence is complete]].
** Paula and Diana's relationship had Paula talking to Diana like a friend, and eventually led to Paula's HeelFaceTurn.
** ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1987'':
*** Circe has a plan that involves mind wiping herself and planting herself in Diana's civilian life that works a bit too well as she becomes close friends with Diana before her memories and powers return and she can never quite get over it afterwards, as those memories of their friendship are some of the best from her very long life. In ''ComicBook/WonderWoman2006'' her "help" when Diana tries to retire as Wonder Woman is a good reflection of this, though Circe's reaction about a year after regaining her memories was a violent backlash against the humanity she'd temporarily gained.
*** Diana saves ComicBook/{{Cheetah}}'s life and that, combined with her growing respect for the Amazon, causes Barbara to trust her and go out of her way to keep others from killing her to pay her back.
*** Angelo Bend (Angle Man) is rather fond of [[ComicBook/WonderGirl Donna]], and trusts her enough that when he's badly injured by Barbara he goes to her for help, then comes to help when Donna is fighting Doctor Psycho without being asked or invited. He is also careful to drop Donna in places she can easily escape from unharmed when moving her out of his way during heists with his reality folding abilities.

!!Marvel Comics
* ComicBook/AntMan and the supervillain Grizzly have formed an odd friendship; Grizzly attacked Scott because he mistook Scott for someone else, took him out to lunch to apologize, and from there the two hit it off. It helps that Grizzly is a professional and general NiceGuy rather than a lunatic/idiot/jerk like many supervillains.
* While ComicBook/{{Bullseye|MarvelComics}} has nothing but hatred for his usual punching partner ComicBook/{{Daredevil}}, he's formed a strange friendship with ComicBook/{{Deadpool}}. Deadpool is fully aware that Bullseye is a scumbag, but the two find each other to be oddly relateable thanks to their shared difficulties interacting with others. Even when they're trying to murder each other it comes off more like friendly ribbing than a serious situation. Bullseye has said that Deadpool is the only person he actually likes in any way and when Wade was believed to be dying, Bullseye ''cried''.
* ComicBook/CaptainAmerica has Batroc the Leaper. They both enjoy squaring off and are generally on good terms. He has even teamed up with Cap to defeat another villain on a number of occasions.
* Played with in ''ComicBook/DamageControl''. In the first issue, John Porter helps the villain Thunderball cut through Damage Control's Lost & Found department. Later, when several employees are trapped with the Wrecking Crew, Thunderball recognizes John among them; he instructs the Wrecking Crew to leave them alone and [[EngineeredHeroics claims that John has superpowers.]]
* ''ComicBook/FantasticFour'': ComicBook/DoctorDoom and Reed Richards vary between this and blind, relentless hatred, depending on the day of the week. Another example is Reed Richards and Namor the ComicBook/SubMariner, mostly because Reed's wife is the love of both of their lives. In the 2008 ''ComicBook/WhatIf'' one-shot "What if ''this'' was the Fantastic Four?", the Fantastic Four had been killed (or possibly disappeared) and the unlikely foursome of Franchise/SpiderMan, [[ComicBook/IncredibleHulk Hulk]], Franchise/{{Wolverine}}, and ComicBook/GhostRider took over the title to uphold the legacy (as they had briefly done in the nineties). They fight a massively powerful enemy who nearly kills them all, when...Doctor Doom steps in to take out the enemy, proclaiming that "None may kill the Fantastic Four... save Doom." That's right, he'll save their bacon simply because they're upholding his enemies' name; because he won't let that name be tarnished by being defeated by an unworthy opponent (that is, anyone but Doom). On a less serious note, Doom has no problem with ComicBook/SquirrelGirl entering his sanctum and doing whatever she pleases. Either he respects her, or he's just afraid she'll beat him up again if he protests.
* Bodega Bandit, a joke villain ComicBook/GhostSpider arrests on a regular basis, is shown to have developed this type of relationship with her in ''ComicBook/GhostSpider2019''. When he gets shot while legally purchasing sunflower seeds for his hamster, Gwen is deeply concerned for him and even refers to him as her "friend" while visiting him in the hospital.
-->'''Gwen:''' ''[to cashier]'' '''Call the police!''' Call the police right now!\\
'''Bodega Bandit:''' ''[lying shot on ground]'' I thought we weren't friends.\\
'''Gwen:''' We're not.\\
'''Bandit:''' So I'm your nemesis?\\
'''Gwen:''' Sure. If that's what you want. You can be my nemesis.\\
'''Bandit:''' ''[smiles]'' ...Cool.
* [[ComicBook/IronMan Blizzard]] is good friends with ComicBook/SheHulk, after the two bonded over a glass of beer during a period where Jen was disbarred.
* When Eric Masterson served as replacement [[ComicBook/TheMightyThor Thor]] for a while, he developed a friendship/rivalry with the villain, the Absorbing Man. [[AntagonistInMourning When Masterson died, Absorbing Man visited his grave and openly admitted to Thor that they were friends.]]
* The Sandman has a less [[{{Pun}} venomous]] relationship with Franchise/SpiderMan than the wallcrawler's other adversaries, even when he's not [[HeelFaceTurn playing the good guy]]. Spidey has also formed an uneasy alliance with the first ComicBook/{{Venom}} occasionally and he really does pity Brock, but said alliances almost always end in betrayal due to Venom's ever-deteriorating mental health.
** Sandman also has a rather cordial relationship with Ben Grimm despite his past as a member of the Frightful Four. The two have been drinking buddies in the past and have even worked together on rare occasions.
** The 2019 ''Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man'' series shows Spidey apprehending a thief he apparently webs up often, to the point that he knows him by name and promises not shoot webs at his spine next time. The thug also requests for his shoes to be webbed up as well, since the last time Spider-Man left him hanging some kids stole them. Spider-Man obliges.
* ComicBook/{{Taskmaster}} is a True Neutral at heart, so while he'll happily gun for anyone he's hired to kill, it's never personal. Like Bullseye, he actually became really good friends with Deadpool despite frequently being hired to kill him (in fact, when Deadpool hits a low, Tasky gracefully accepts losing to him and gives him a YouAreBetterThanYouThinkYouAre speech), and after being forced to join the Secret Avengers, he actually took a liking to Mockingbird, despite being just as willing to kill her when his memory problems lead him into thinking he's loyal to AIM. His kindness to her is rewarded, as while brainwashed and ordered to kill him, Bobbi deliberately aims for a part of the brain [[BadassBookworm she knows will survive a gunshot wound without causing permanent brain damage]].
* Despite both being heroes, [[ComicBook/SubMariner Namor]] and ComicBook/BlackPanther have frequently been this. Both are kings of sovereign land (Atlantis and Wakanda, respectively), and due to diplomatic connections have on many occasions come close to war with one-another. However, they both share many allies and serve many of the same teams, so they're also just as likely to be on the same side. It was particularly prominent during the Incursions storyline, but even as far back as the 90s they were shown engaging in diplomatic squabbles and dealings.
** Similarly, and in a straighter example, both maintained this dynamic with ComicBook/DoctorDoom and Magneto, when the latter pair were heads of state themselves (Latveria and Genosha, respectively). They openly noted the latter as enemies of their allied heroes, but had no problem inviting one-another for dinner and diplomatic discussions.
* ComicBook/ProfessorX and ComicBook/{{Magneto}} from ''ComicBook/XMen''. It's rare when either actively seeks to harm the other, and when they do it's a ''really'' big deal. They've been compared to Malcolm X (Magneto) and Dr. King (Xavier) because they both want what's best for mutants as a whole, but disagree on what this is and the methods for getting there. Another RealLife analogy for these two would be Eric Raymond (Xavier) and Richard Stallman (Magneto), the two ideological leaders of the Free/Open Source Software movement; in terms of Raymond seeking reconciliation with the corporate world, and Stallman insisting that compromise is impossible. ''Film/XMen1'' shows them playing chess. However there are exceptions to this.
** Their ComicBook/{{Ultimate|XMen}} incarnations, where, for the first few issues, Magneto is willing to kill Xavier if he could get the chance. Xavier is opposed to [[ThouShaltNotKill killing in general]] - not to killing Magneto ''per se''. Their ''relationship'' ended in ComicBook/{{Ultimatum}}... where [[spoiler: Magneto broke the Professor's neck with his bare hand]].
** Professor X drops the trope by name in ''ComicBook/AstonishingXMen'', when [[spoiler: Danger, the robotic form of the sentient Danger Room]], comes to attack him on Genosha. Since [[spoiler: Danger]] can [[{{Technopath}} control machines]], Professor X specifically says that he had "a friend" send out an electromagnetic pulse to deactivate all of the technology on the island to make the fight fair. The only "friend" who could possibly do that is Magneto. In a much later storyline that directly resulted from the ''Astonishing'' series (namely, [[spoiler: Kitty Pryde pulling a HeroicSacrifice by permanently fusing with a giant bullet that was aimed directly at the Earth, allowing it to phase through the planet harmlessly]], Magneto rescues [[spoiler: her]] with his powers as a genuine favor not just to Professor X, but the rest of the X-Men as well.

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

* ''Comicbook/{{Supergirl}}'': In ''ComicBook/SupergirlCosmicAdventuresInThe8thGrade'', Supergirl's SecretIdentity is Linda Lee. Linda's best friend is Lena Thorul... or better said Lena Luthor, Comicbook/LexLuthor's little sister. Lena switches between loving Linda and trying to kill her.

** A lot of lower-level criminals (including ComicBook/{{Hitman|1993}}) have this sort of relationship with Superman; it's been repeatedly noted that since Superman is so damn friendly and nice to everyone as long as they don't try to hurt or kill other people, very few non-super criminals dislike him. In one annual collection of short stories, it's made into a gag where a member of a gang of bank robbers' [[TitleDrop opening question]] "Why Metropolis?" (of all cities to rob a bank in), is answered, after a long discussion about those assholes in [[Comicbook/GreenArrow Star City]], [[Franchise/TheFlash Keystone City]], and [[Franchise/{{Batman}} Gotham]], when Superman catches them and politely hands them over to the police while recommending the Metropolis reform program to get their lives back together: "Because when ''he'' catches you, he's not a jerk about it."

* While ComicBook/{{Bullseye|MarvelComics}} has nothing but hatred for his usual punching partner {{ComicBook/Daredevil}}, he's formed a strange friendship with ComicBook/{{Deadpool}}. Deadpool is fully aware that Bullseye is a scumbag, but the two find each other to be oddly relateable thanks to their shared difficulties interacting with others. Even when they're trying to murder each other it comes off more like friendly ribbing than a serious situation. Bullseye has said that Deadpool is the only person he actually likes in any way and when Wade was believed to be dying, Bullseye ''cried''.
* Comicbook/CaptainAmerica has Batroc the Leaper. They both enjoy squaring off and are generally on good terms. He has even teamed up with Cap to defeat another villain on a number of occasions.

* ''Comicbook/FantasticFour'': ComicBook/DoctorDoom and Reed Richards vary between this and blind, relentless hatred, depending on the day of the week. Another example is Reed Richards and Namor the Comicbook/SubMariner, mostly because Reed's wife is the love of both of their lives. In the 2008 ''ComicBook/WhatIf'' one-shot "What if ''this'' was the Fantastic Four?", the Fantastic Four had been killed (or possibly disappeared) and the unlikely foursome of Franchise/SpiderMan, [[Comicbook/IncredibleHulk Hulk]], Franchise/{{Wolverine}}, and Comicbook/GhostRider took over the title to uphold the legacy (as they had briefly done in the nineties). They fight a massively powerful enemy who nearly kills them all, when...Doctor Doom steps in to take out the enemy, proclaiming that "None may kill the Fantastic Four... save Doom." That's right, he'll save their bacon simply because they're upholding his enemies' name; because he won't let that name be tarnished by being defeated by an unworthy opponent (that is, anyone but Doom). On a less serious note, Doom has no problem with Comicbook/SquirrelGirl entering his sanctum and doing whatever she pleases. Either he respects her, or he's just afraid she'll beat him up again if he protests.

-->'''Gwen:''' ''(to cashier)'' '''Call the police!''' Call the police right now!\\
'''Bodega Bandit:''' ''(lying shot on ground)'' I thought we weren't friends.\\

'''Bandit:''' ''(smiles)'' ...Cool.

* ComicBook/ProfessorX and ComicBook/{{Magneto}} from ''Comicbook/XMen''. It's rare when either actively seeks to harm the other, and when they do it's a ''really'' big deal. They've been compared to Malcolm X (Magneto) and Dr. King (Xavier) because they both want what's best for mutants as a whole, but disagree on what this is and the methods for getting there. Another RealLife analogy for these two would be Eric Raymond (Xavier) and Richard Stallman (Magneto), the two ideological leaders of the Free/Open Source Software movement; in terms of Raymond seeking reconciliation with the corporate world, and Stallman insisting that compromise is impossible. ''Film/XMen1'' shows them playing chess. However there are exceptions to this.
** Their Comicbook/{{Ultimate|XMen}} incarnations, where, for the first few issues, Magneto is willing to kill Xavier if he could get the chance. Xavier is opposed to [[ThouShaltNotKill killing in general]] - not to killing Magneto ''per se''. Their ''relationship'' ended in ComicBook/{{Ultimatum}}... where [[spoiler: Magneto broke the Professor's neck with his bare hand]].

** ''ComicBook/ArchieComicsSonicTheHedgehog'': While in the games, Sonic and Knuckles have been [[FriendlyRival friendly rivals]] ever since ''[[VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles Sonic & Knuckles]]'', these comics typically presented Knuckles as "Sonic's friendly nemesis" instead due to their relationship being more antagonistic than in the games. Eventually, Knuckles got enough character development for the "Enemy" part to be dropped.

** ComicBook/ThePenguin can also be considered this, since he's one of the few sane villains Batman comes across. When he's not committing some sort of crime, he runs a semi-innocent nightclub in Gotham. Batman will occasionally turn to him for information such as rumors flying about the criminal underworld, and The Penguin will usually treat them as a business deal.

** In general Wondy has a habit of befriending her less monstrous foes, even those who have not turned from their villainous ways. This leads to such sights as Wondy [[ComicBook/WonderWoman2006 teaming up with Giganta to put the Gargareans in their place]] after having a chat with the villain about relationships even though Giganta has not reason to care about the Gargareans, or [[ComicBook/WonderWomanRebirth picking up her Mayfly when her prison sentence is complete]].

* While ComicBook/{{Bullseye|MarvelComics}} has nothing but hatred for his usual punching partner {{ComicBook/Daredevil}}, he's formed a strange friendship with {{SelfDemonstrating/Deadpool}}. Deadpool is fully aware that Bullseye is a scumbag, but the two find each other to be oddly relateable thanks to their shared difficulties interacting with others. Even when they're trying to murder each other it comes off more like friendly ribbing than a serious situation. Bullseye has said that Deadpool is the only person he actually likes in any way and when Wade was believed to be dying, Bullseye ''cried''.

* Franchise/TheFlash's RoguesGallery can be like this, especially during the Wally West era (though, Jay Garrick and his rogues all became friends after their mutual retirements), with such gems as Wally going to a party the Rogues threw for Captain Cold when the latter was released on parole. He crashed at Cold's house once, and one of his best buddies, the Pied Piper, was still kind of playing the Rogue, if for a good cause. The first Icicle (Joar Mahkent) liked Jay Garrick and Barry Allen enough (and disliked his relatives enough) that he left half of his fortune to [[LegacyCharacter whoever was the Flash at the time]], and when Clifford [=DeVoe=], the Thinker, was about to die, Jay spent the day racing around the world looking for a cure.
* In ''ComicBook/RedHoodAndTheOutlaws'', there is a friendship between sidekick Arsenal (Roy Harper) and criminal Killer Croc (Waylon Jones) after the former hit RockBottom and tried to commit [[DeathSeeker suicide]] while fighting Killer Croc. Luckily Killer Croc wisened up to the scheme and [[WhatTheHellHero called]] him out on it. In issue #4 Roy mentions Waylon sponsoring him in the Alcoholic Anonymous program.
* ''ComicBook/{{Starman}}'': The ComicBook/{{Shade}} and Jack Knight started out like this; Shade made a full HeelFaceTurn later.
* In ''ComicBook/{{Gothtopia}}'', Batgirl's best friend and ally, Daybreak, is actually her archnemesis, Knightfall. They have no memories of their previous confrontations and think they've first met rescuing a couple.

* ComicBook/ProfessorX and ComicBook/{{Magneto}} from ''Comicbook/XMen''. It's rare when either actively seeks to harm the other, and when they do it's a ''really'' big deal. They've been compared to Malcolm X (Magneto) and Dr. King (Xavier) because they both want what's best for mutants as a whole, but disagree on what this is and the methods for getting there. Another RealLife analogy for these two would be Eric Raymond (Xavier) and Richard Stallman (Magneto), the two ideological leaders of the Free/Open Source Software movement; in terms of Raymond seeking reconciliation with the corporate world, and Stallman insisting that compromise is impossible. ''Film/XMen1'' shows them playing chess. However there are exceptions to this.
** Their Comicbook/{{Ultimate|XMen}} incarnations, where, for the first few issues, Magneto is willing to kill Xavier if he could get the chance. Xavier is opposed to [[ThouShaltNotKill killing in general]] - not to killing Magneto ''per se''. Their ''relationship'' ended in ComicBook/{{Ultimatum}}... where [[spoiler: Magneto broke the Professor's neck with his bare hand]].

* The Sandman has a less [[{{Pun}} venomous]] relationship with Franchise/SpiderMan than the wallcrawler's other adversaries, even when he's not [[HeelFaceTurn playing the good guy]]. Spidey has also formed an uneasy alliance with the first ComicBook/{{Venom}} occasionally and he really does pity Brock, but said alliances almost always end in betrayal due to Venom's ever-deteriorating mental health.
** Sandman also has a rather cordial relationship with Ben Grimm despite his past as a member of the Frightful Four. The two have been drinking buddies in the past and have even worked together on rare occasions.
** The 2019 ''Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man'' series shows Spidey apprehending a thief he apparently webs up often, to the point that he knows him by name and promises not shoot webs at his spine next time. The thug also requests for his shoes to be webbed up as well, since the last time Spider-Man left him hanging some kids stole them. Spider-Man obliges.

* Comicbook/CaptainAmerica has Batroc the Leaper. They both enjoy squaring off and are generally on good terms. He has even teamed up with Cap to defeat another villain on a number of occasions.
* Played with in ''ComicBook/DamageControl''. In the first issue, John Porter helps the villain Thunderball cut through Damage Control's Lost & Found department. Later, when several employees are trapped with the Wrecking Crew, Thunderball recognizes John among them; he instructs the Wrecking Crew to leave them alone and [[EngineeredHeroics claims that John has superpowers.]]
* While ComicBook/{{Bullseye|MarvelComics}} has nothing but hatred for his usual punching partner {{ComicBook/Daredevil}}, he's formed a strange friendship with {{SelfDemonstrating/Deadpool}}. Deadpool is fully aware that Bullseye is a scumbag, but the two find each other to be oddly relateable thanks to their shared difficulties interacting with others. Even when they're trying to murder each other it comes off more like friendly ribbing than a serious situation. Bullseye has said that Deadpool is the only person he actually likes in any way and when Wade was believed to be dying, Bullseye ''cried''.
* [[ComicBook/IronMan Blizzard]] is good friends with ComicBook/SheHulk, after the two bonded over a glass of beer during a period where Jen was disbarred.
* ComicBook/AntMan and the supervillain Grizzly have formed an odd friendship; Grizzly attacked Scott because he mistook Scott for someone else, took him out to lunch to apologize, and from there the two hit it off. It helps that Grizzly is a professional and general NiceGuy rather than a lunatic/idiot/jerk like many supervillains.

--->'''Optimus:''' Or - or the siege of Massungrad, when you-\\

* [[ComicBook/DisneyDucksComicUniverse Donald Duck as Paperinik]] (both in the classic stories and in ''ComicBook/PaperinikNewAdventures'') has developed this kind of relationship with the lesser criminals of Duckburg, with the typical scene being of Paperinik catching them in the act and say hello, having a little chat, and the thieves then picking up everything and going to the closest police station to let themselves be arrested. The really interesting part is ''how'' it developed: [[TheDreaded the criminals are utterly terrified of Paperinik due the sadistic beatings he inflicts on everyone who tries and resists]], but as he's also polite and nice when they're not committing crimes or resisting they started giving up as soon as he shows up, resulting in this strange friendship. He'll also defend them when some newcomer butts in and hurts the criminals unnecessarily.
** In PKNA he and the Raider who rarely ever gets into direct conflict with Donald. In fact, he's more like a criminal that Donald has to ally himself with from time to time than an outright enemy.
* ''ComicBook/{{Asterix}}'' features the eponymous hero and Julius Caesar. Though the two of them are enemies--Asterix wants to keep the UndefeatableLittleVillage free of Roman rule and Caesar would like nothing better than to finally crush them and get that thorn out of his side--they have had several encounters where the two are functionally friendly to each other. Asterix treats Caesar with irreverent cordiality, which annoys Caesar to no end... yet privately Caesar still often finds himself admitting [[TakeThat it's still better than dealing with the Senate]].
** The latter partly explains the Friendly Enemy relationship. Caesar may be the BigBad, but he's surrounded by [[TheRival political rivals]] and [[TheStarscream ambitious underlings]] [[ChronicBackstabbingDisorder eager to take his throne]], who are just as ambitious as Caesar while being nowhere near as skilled or as noble. Therefore, none of the Gauls really want him replaced, which leads to frequent EnemyMine situations. Many stories are resolved either by the Gauls defeating one of Caesar's enemies, or by Caesar showing up and putting a stop to one of his underlings' plans against them.
* ComicBook/BuckDanny has a relationship like this with [[spoiler:a defecting Soviet pilot, who later turns out to be a false plant still operating under Soviet orders]]. During their last dogfight, he salutes Danny as a WorthyOpponent, while Danny, after shooting him down, mentally acknowledges that the man gave his life for his country and deserves nothing but respect for it.
* ComicBook/CortoMaltese and Rasputin have this exact relationship. "I'll kill you one day, Corto. (...) You're missing out on a lot by not being my friend".

'''Bodega Bandit:''' I thought we weren't friends.\\

[[FriendlyEnemy Friendly Enemies]] in comic books.
----

* ComicBook/ProfessorX and ComicBook/{{Magneto}} from ''Comicbook/XMen''. It's rare when either actively seeks to harm the other, and when they do it's a ''really'' big deal. They've been compared to Malcolm X (Magneto) and Dr. King (Xavier) because they both want what's best for mutants as a whole, but disagree on what this is and the methods for getting there. Another RealLife analogy for these two would be Eric Raymond (Xavier) and Richard Stallman (Magneto), the two ideological leaders of the Free/Open Source Software movement; in terms of Raymond seeking reconciliation with the corporate world, and Stallman insisting that compromise is impossible. ''Film/XMen1'' shows them playing chess. However there are exceptions to this.
** Their Comicbook/{{Ultimate|XMen}} incarnations, where, for the first few issues, Magneto is willing to kill Xavier if he could get the chance. Xavier is opposed to [[ThouShaltNotKill killing in general]] - not to killing Magneto ''per se''. Their ''relationship'' ended in ComicBook/{{Ultimatum}}... where [[spoiler: Magneto broke the Professor's neck with his bare hand]].
* ''Comicbook/FantasticFour'': ComicBook/DoctorDoom and Reed Richards vary between this and blind, relentless hatred, depending on the day of the week. Another example is Reed Richards and Namor the Comicbook/SubMariner, mostly because Reed's wife is the love of both of their lives. In the 2008 ''ComicBook/WhatIf'' one-shot "What if ''this'' was the Fantastic Four?", the Fantastic Four had been killed (or possibly disappeared) and the unlikely foursome of Franchise/SpiderMan, [[Comicbook/IncredibleHulk Hulk]], Franchise/{{Wolverine}}, and Comicbook/GhostRider took over the title to uphold the legacy (as they had briefly done in the nineties). They fight a massively powerful enemy who nearly kills them all, when...Doctor Doom steps in to take out the enemy, proclaiming that "None may kill the Fantastic Four... save Doom." That's right, he'll save their bacon simply because they're upholding his enemies' name; because he won't let that name be tarnished by being defeated by an unworthy opponent (that is, anyone but Doom). On a less serious note, Doom has no problem with Comicbook/SquirrelGirl entering his sanctum and doing whatever she pleases. Either he respects her, or he's just afraid she'll beat him up again if he protests.

* The Sandman has a less [[{{Pun}} venomous]] relationship with Franchise/SpiderMan than the wallcrawler's other adversaries, even when he's not [[HeelFaceTurn playing the good guy]]. Spidey has also formed an uneasy alliance with the first ComicBook/{{Venom}} occasionally and he really does pity Brock, but said alliances almost always end in betrayal due to Venom's ever-deteriorating mental health.
** Sandman also has a rather cordial relationship with Ben Grimm despite his past as a member of the Frightful Four. The two have been drinking buddies in the past and have even worked together on rare occasions.
* ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'':
** [[ComicBook/SonicX The Sonic X comic book]] portrays Sonic's and Eggman's relationship as exactly this. When Eggman's not launching an EvilPlan, the two are practically ''friends.'' They have civilized conversations, face off in (mostly) friendly competitions...Sonic even [[MoralDissonance helps Dr. Eggman get his secret lair back in control so he can get back to launching his evil plans again]]. When Eggman shows up for a party, no one bats an eye, either. Eggman's just the friendly neighborhood supervillain.
** ''ComicBook/ArchieComicsSonicTheHedgehog'': While in the games, Sonic and Knuckles have been [[FriendlyRival friendly rivals]] ever since ''[[VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles Sonic & Knuckles]]'', these comics typically presented Knuckles as "Sonic's friendly nemesis" instead due to their relationship being more antagonistic than in the games. Eventually, Knuckles got enough character development for the "Enemy" part to be dropped.

* When Eric Masterson served as replacement [[ComicBook/TheMightyThor Thor]] for a while, he developed a friendship/rivalry with the villain, the Absorbing Man. [[AntagonistInMourning When Masterson died, Absorbing Man visited his grave and openly admitted to Thor that they were friends.]]
* Comicbook/CaptainAmerica has Batroc the Leaper. They both enjoy squaring off and are generally on good terms. He has even teamed up with Cap to defeat another villain on a number of occasions.
* Played with in ''ComicBook/DamageControl''. In the first issue, John Porter helps the villain Thunderball cut through Damage Control's Lost & Found department. Later, when several employees are trapped with the Wrecking Crew, Thunderball recognizes John among them; he instructs the Wrecking Crew to leave them alone and [[EngineeredHeroics claims that John has superpowers.]]
* In the [[ComicBook/TheTransformers Transformers Generation 1]] comic books, Optimus Prime and Scorponok (who was the Decepticon leader for most of the second half of the book's run) become this through a series of {{Enemy Mine}}s.
* In ''ComicBook/TheTransformersIDW'', Optimus's relationship with Megatron is...complicated. At one point, when Megatron has surrendered as part of a plot, they start swapping old war stories about the times they had attempted to kill each other, trading jokes about the assorted injuries.
--->'''Optimus:''' Or - or the siege of Massungrad, when you-\\
'''Megatron:''' When I trapped you in the antimatter chamber...\\
'''Optimus:''' They practically had to stitch me back together from the blast patterns on the walls!\\
...\\
'''Megatron:''' And what about Rada Mor, home to those sentient explosives you were so desperate to protect? I was reduced to ''cinders!'' They had to ''shovel'' me into the CR chamber!\\
...\\
'''Optimus:''' Heh.\\
'''Megatron:''' Heh.

* ComicBook/CortoMaltese and Rasputin have this exact relationship. "I'll kill you one day, Corto. (...) You're missing out on a lot by not being my friend".
* Entombed from a Polish series ComicBook/WilqSuperbohater (Wilq the Superhero) is categorized as a villain. However, he is also the protagonist's best buddy and most stories involve both of them solving the problem at hand as a team. The same applies to Alc-Man, who shares a similar relationship with Wilq and is also technically a villain. [[ThePiratesWhoDontDoAnything Neither of these two villains do much villainy]], in contrast to Wilq's real enemies.

* It's surprisingly common in the Franchise/MarvelUniverse for supervillains to form friendships with superheroes that they don't typically fight:
** While ComicBook/{{Bullseye|MarvelComics}} has nothing but hatred for his usual punching partner {{ComicBook/Daredevil}}, he's formed a strange friendship with {{SelfDemonstrating/Deadpool}}. Deadpool is fully aware that Bullseye is a scumbag, but the two find each other to be oddly relateable thanks to their shared difficulties interacting with others. Even when they're trying to murder each other it comes off more like friendly ribbing than a serious situation. Bullseye has said that Deadpool is the only person he actually likes in any way and when Wade was believed to be dying, Bullseye ''cried''.
** [[ComicBook/IronMan Blizzard]] is good friends with ComicBook/SheHulk, after the two bonded over a glass of beer during a period where Jen was disbarred.
** ComicBook/AntMan and the supervillain Grizzly have formed an odd friendship; Grizzly attacked Scott because he mistook Scott for someone else, took him out to lunch to apologize, and from there the two hit it off. It helps that Grizzly is a professional and general NiceGuy rather than a lunatic/idiot/jerk like many supervillains.
** ComicBook/{{Taskmaster}} is a True Neutral at heart, so while he'll happily gun for anyone he's hired to kill, it's never personal. Like Bullseye, he actually became really good friends with Deadpool despite frequently being hired to kill him (in fact, when Deadpool hits a low, Tasky gracefully accepts losing to him and gives him a YouAreBetterThanYouThinkYouAre speech), and after being forced to join the Secret Avengers, he actually took a liking to Mockingbird, despite being just as willing to kill her when his memory problems lead him into thinking he's loyal to AIM. His kindness to her is rewarded, as while brainwashed and ordered to kill him, Bobbi deliberately aims for a part of the brain [[BadassBookworm she knows will survive a gunshot wound without causing permanent brain damage]].
* [[ComicBook/DisneyDucksComicUniverse Donald Duck as Paperinik]] (both in the classic stories and in ''ComicBook/PaperinikNewAdventures'') has developed this kind of relationship with the lesser criminals of Duckburg, with the typical scene being of Paperinik catching them in the act and say hello, having a little chat, and the thieves then picking up everything and going to the closest police station to let themselves be arrested. The really interesting part is ''how'' it developed: [[TheDreaded the criminals are utterly terrified of Paperinik due the sadistic beatings he inflicts on everyone who tries and resists]], but as he's also polite and nice when they're not committing crimes or resisting they started giving up as soon as he shows up, resulting in this strange friendship. He'll also defend them when some newcomer butts in and hurts the criminals unnecessarily.
** In PKNA he and the Raider who rarely ever gets into direct conflict with Donald. In fact, he's more like a criminal that Donald has to ally himself with from time to time than an outright enemy.
* ''ComicBook/{{Asterix}}'' features the eponymous hero and Julius Caesar. Though the two of them are enemies--Asterix wants to keep the UndefeatableLittleVillage free of Roman rule and Caesar would like nothing better than to finally crush them and get that thorn out of his side--they have had several encounters where the two are functionally friendly to each other. Asterix treats Caesar with irreverent cordiality, which annoys Caesar to no end... yet privately Caesar still often finds himself admitting [[TakeThat it's still better than dealing with the Senate]].
** The latter partly explains the Friendly Enemy relationship. Caesar may be the BigBad, but he's surrounded by [[TheRival political rivals]] and [[TheStarscream ambitious underlings]] [[ChronicBackstabbingDisorder eager to take his throne]], who are just as ambitious as Caesar while being nowhere near as skilled or as noble. Therefore, none of the Gauls really want him replaced, which leads to frequent EnemyMine situations. Many stories are resolved either by the Gauls defeating one of Caesar's enemies, or by Caesar showing up and putting a stop to one of his underlings' plans against them.
* ComicBook/BuckDanny has a relationship like this with [[spoiler:a defecting Soviet pilot, who later turns out to be a false plant still operating under Soviet orders]]. During their last dogfight, he salutes Danny as a WorthyOpponent, while Danny, after shooting him down, mentally acknowledges that the man gave his life for his country and deserves nothing but respect for it.

* ''Franchise/WonderWoman'':
** In general Wondy has a habit of befriending her less monstrous foes, even those who have not turned from their villainous ways. This leads to such sights as Wondy [[ComicBook/WonderWoman2006 teaming up with Giganta to put the Gargareans in their place]] after having a chat with the villain about relationships even though Giganta has not reason to care about the Gargareans, or [[ComicBook/WonderWomanRebirth picking up her Mayfly when her prison sentence is complete]].
** Paula and Diana's relationship had Paula talking to Diana like a friend, and eventually led to Paula's HeelFaceTurn.
** ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1987'':
*** Circe has a plan that involves mind wiping herself and planting herself in Diana's civilian life that works a bit too well as she becomes close friends with Diana before her memories and powers return and she can never quite get over it afterwards, as those memories of their friendship are some of the best from her very long life. In ''ComicBook/WonderWoman2006'' her "help" when Diana tries to retire as Wonder Woman is a good reflection of this, though Circe's reaction about a year after regaining her memories was a violent backlash against the humanity she'd temporarily gained.
*** Diana saves ComicBook/{{Cheetah}}'s life and that, combined with her growing respect for the Amazon, causes Barbara to trust her and go out of her way to keep others from killing her to pay her back.
*** Angelo Bend (Angle Man) is rather fond of [[ComicBook/WonderGirl Donna]], and trusts her enough that when he's badly injured by Barbara he goes to her for help, then comes to help when Donna is fighting Doctor Psycho without being asked or invited. He is also careful to drop Donna in places she can easily escape from unharmed when moving her out of his way during heists with his reality folding abilities.

*** Angelo Bend (Angle Man) is rather fond of Donna, and trusts her enough that when he's badly injured by Barbara he goes to her for help, then comes to help when Donna is fighting Doctor Psycho without being asked or invited. He is also careful to drop Donna in places she can easily escape from unharmed when moving her out of his way during heists with his reality folding abilities.

** One interesting ''Batman: Black and White'' (the first volume) story had ComicBook/TheJoker and Franchise/{{Batman}} as arch enemies...[[PunchclockHero but only because]] [[PunchclockVillain it's their job to be so]]; after the climactic comic book scene (which is treated as a movie-style shoot), they're completely cool with [[GoKartingWithBowser stopping by the local cafe to pick up lunch]]. In fact they even ''[[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments talk about their family lives!]]''
---> In a Menacing Face-off style Pose, staring each other down:\\

* ''ComicBook/{{Starman}}'': The Shade and Jack Knight started out like this; Shade made a full HeelFaceTurn later.

* ''ComicBook/FiftyTwo'' reveals that Will Magnus, creator of the ComicBook/MetalMen, is friends with the villainous T.O. Morrow, creator of ComicBook/RedTornado, since they're both the fathers of artificial intelligence and both have problems with mental disorders. Will visits Morrow in jail and brings him news of the outside world and Morrow appreciates it.

** ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1987'': Circe has a plan that involves mind wiping herself and planting herself in Diana's civilian life that works a bit too well as she becomes close friends with Diana before her memories and powers return and she can never quite get over it afterwards, as those memories of their friendship are some of the best from her very long life.
** ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1987'': Diana saves ComicBook/{{Cheetah}}'s life and that, combined with her growing respect for the Amazon, causes Barbara to trust her and go out of her way to keep others from killing her to pay her back.

* [[ComicBook/SonicX The Sonic X comic book]] portrays Sonic's and Eggman's relationship as exactly this. When Eggman's not launching an EvilPlan, the two are practically ''friends.'' They have civilized conversations, face off in (mostly) friendly competitions...Sonic even [[MoralDissonance helps Dr. Eggman get his secret lair back in control so he can get back to launching his evil plans again]]. When Eggman shows up for a party, no one bats an eye, either. Eggman's just the friendly neighborhood supervillain.
* ''ComicBook/ArchieComicsSonicTheHedgehog'': While in the games, Sonic and Knuckles have been [[FriendlyRival friendly rivals]] ever since ''[[VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles Sonic & Knuckles]]'', these comics typically presented Knuckles as "Sonic's friendly nemesis" instead due to their relationship being more antagonistic than in the games. Eventually, Knuckles got enough character development for the "Enemy" part to be dropped.

** In the ''WebAnimation/HowItShouldHaveEnded'' episode for ''Film/XMenFirstClass'', Franchise/{{Batman}} calls them "mortal frenemies" after Xavier says he and Magneto are old friends who are also occasionally mortal enemies. The short ends with Xavier expressing exasperation and disbelief that he and Magneto have been having the same argument for ''fifty years''.