Anime Villains Who Mirror the Hero

Highlights

Villains that mirror heroes in anime, such as Turles in Dragon Ball Z, provide interesting contrasts and parallels that enhance the storyline.
Characters like Blackbeard in One Piece and Gaara in Naruto show how complex villains can have similarities and differences with the heroes.
DIO in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure and Garou in One Punch Man serve as foils to the protagonists, adding depth and complexity to the series.

As someone who has followed the intricacies of the JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure series and One Punch Man, I can’t help but be captivated by the complex relationships between Dio Brando and Jonathan Joestar, on one hand, and Saitama and Garou, on the other.

In the realm of anime, various archetypes exist, and among them is a frequent and intriguing one: the antagonist who shares striking resemblances with our hero. Often, our protagonist encounters adversaries holding contrasting beliefs, but who exhibit unusual similarities – be it in their behavior, appearance, or backstory.

Villains in stories can be quite intriguing, as they often bring out traits in the hero that resonate with the audience. Despite these similarities, some villains manage to carve out their unique identities and become fascinating characters in their own right. Here are a few examples of villains who serve as witty contrasts to the heroes in their respective storylines.

5 Turles

Dragon Ball Z: The Tree of Might

In the films based on “Dragon Ball Z,” many villains emerged as counterparts to those in the main anime series. For instance, Cooler is Frieza’s brother and similar to Frieza in many ways, Janemba resembles Buu, and the Androids 14-15-16 from “Super 13” share some characteristics with the more famous Androids from “Z.” However, among these villains, one stands out as bucking the trend.

If Goku hadn’t suffered the trauma of hitting his head as a child, Tursule would have been his reflection. They share similar backgrounds as low-class Saiyan warriors who defied their people. Yet unlike Goku, who became Earth’s protector, Tursule chose the path of a space pirate bent on its destruction. It’s intriguing that some translations label Tursule as Goku’s brother, despite Raditz, who looks less like him, being Goku’s actual sibling.

Turles aims to harness the power of the Tree of Might to amplify his own strength, disregarding the potential harm it may cause to the Earth. In contrast, Goku manages to eliminate both Turles and the Tree of Might using a Spirit Bomb. In the end, Turles acts as a cautionary tale, suggesting that Goku’s head injury in his youth could be the reason for Earth’s ongoing protection throughout the Dragon Ball series.

4 Blackbeard

One Piece

In One Piece, several major antagonists share characteristics with Monkey D. Luffy. Many of his adversaries are alluring pirate leaders, capable of gathering formidable crews. Notable examples include the unstable Buggy, the disillusioned Crocodile, and the arrogant Doflamingo. However, there is still one villain whom Luffy has yet to confront directly, who appears strikingly similar to him in various aspects.

Marshall D. Teach, commonly referred to as Blackbeard, is frequently speculated to eventually emerge as a significant adversary, presently gathering strength and resources. Similar to Luffy, he has a strong appreciation for food and an impressive knack for surviving perilous situations through a combination of fortune and guile.

Although they share some similarities, Luffy and Blackbeard have notable differences. Luffy is impulsive but deeply caring towards his comrades and allies. In contrast, Blackbeard exhibits caution yet displays a cruel side. Originating from the Whitebeard Pirates, a well-structured crew led by Edward Newgate, who earned the title “Emperor” due to their immense following and connections.

For more than two decades, Teach sailed alongside his comrades as a teacher, but it was all an intricate deceit. One fateful day, Thatch discovered the mythical Yami Yami no Mi, and Teach brutally seized it from him, making it his own. With this newfound power, Teach started recruiting his own crew, the elusive Blackbeard Pirates. He meticulously crafted his image, hiding in the shadows until he deemed the moment ripe for revelation. And when that moment arrived, Blackbeard seized the throne from his former captain, becoming an Emperor himself. Despite their importance to his current position, Teach remains indifferent towards his new crew, viewing them merely as useful pawns.

From a devoted fan’s perspective, I’d rephrase it this way: I’m utterly amazed by the stark difference between Luffy and Blackbeard. Unlike Luffy, who puts his crew above all else and isn’t shy about showing it, Blackbeard seems to have formed an alliance with the government for strategic reasons, ready to betray them when he deems fit. Although they haven’t clashed at their full potential yet, it’s becoming increasingly clear that Blackbeard and his pirate crew are being primed to challenge Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates in the future.

3 Gaara

Naruto

Not every villain who mirrors the hero has to remain a villain. Such is the case with Gaara, who was once an enemy of Naruto Uzumaki. Like his hidden leaf counterpart, Gaara was a Jinchūriki, with the one-tailed beast, Shukaku, sealed inside his body. In both cases, the two young ninja were ostracized by their villages. Naruto took to this by acting like a problem child, with a variety of quirks and eccentricities cultivated for the sake of getting attention. However, even in spite of Naruto’s time in isolation, he steadily gained support from his peers.

Gaara had a solitary upbringing, with his uncle Yashamaru being his sole caretaker. However, this arrangement was not by choice; it was the Kazekage Rasa, Gaara’s father, who gave Yashamaru the order to antagonize Gaara and evaluate his mental resilience. In carrying out these instructions, Yashamaru attempted to harm Gaara and expressed his disdain for him, stating that no one would ever care for him. As a result of this treatment, Gaara transformed into a cruel individual who took out his rage on others and lived solely for himself. It wasn’t until Naruto defeated Gaara that he began to contemplate change.

Gaara underscores the importance of kindness shown to Naruto during his formative years, which may have steered him away from a more ominous trajectory. Yet, he likewise demonstrates that it’s possible to strive for redemption and make amends for past wrongdoings, despite facing adverse circumstances.

2 DIO

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure

In the “JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure” series, Dio Brando plays a pivotal role as an antagonist to the hero in the two parts where he features. In “Phantom Blood,” Dio and his adoptive brother Jonathan Joestar share a tragic early life experience – losing their mothers at a young age. Despite their contrasting backgrounds, with Jonathan born wealthy and Dio growing up poor, Dio eventually acquired wealth after being taken in by Jonathan’s father, George.

Dio’s father, Dario, was notably cruel to his son.

George, influenced by Dio, unintentionally became cruel towards Jonathan, thinking he had unfairly mistreated Dio. Despite their shared hardships, it was their reactions to pain that set them apart most significantly. Dio believed in inflicting suffering on others and sought dominion over the world. In contrast, Jonathan used his strength to protect and save others, even extending kindness towards those who opposed him. This compassionate nature inspired Speedwagon to support him in his battle against Dio.

In “Stardust Crusaders,” when Dio reappears as DIO, the ancient vampire doesn’t mimic Jotaro Kujo in a straightforward manner. Yet, they exhibit surface-level resemblances that make them formidable adversaries for each other during the climactic battle. At this juncture, their power stems from the Joestar lineage. DIO takes control of Jonathan’s corpse instead of his own, which was decimated toward the end of “Phantom Blood.” Jotaro is a great-great grandson of Jonathan.

As someone who has been deeply engrossed in the JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure series, I can’t help but be in awe of the intricately woven tales of power, vengeance, and legacy. The stands, those extraordinary abilities that each character possesses, are at the heart of this captivating saga.

1 Garou

One Punch Man

As a gamer, I can tell you that Garou is one of the rare enemies who managed to withstand a heavy blow from Saitama. He’s almost like an equal opponent for him. We both strive to get stronger every day, but our motivations are different. While I aim to protect and save people as a hero, Garou was influenced by his past experiences of being labeled a villain that drove him towards the same path.

From my perspective as a devoted fan, Saitama’s power seems to have no limits after his rigorous training. In contrast, Garou’s strength keeps escalating, even during fights. He eliminated numerous heroes in his quest for vengeance and engaged in battles against various monsters. Impressively, he managed to defeat both his previous master, Bang, and Bang’s stronger brother, Bomb.

In his strong convictions, Bang mostly avoided taking lives of his adversaries. However, there were exceptions like killing Genos to ignite Saitama’s competitive spirit. Unfortunately, this decision led to his downfall, as well as the subsequent revival of Genos (a consequence of Saitama modifying the timeline). Despite all the destruction he caused, Bang made it a point to rehabilitate Garou after his rampage.

2024-07-21 10:34