While some villains simply exist to move the plot along, other comic books villains embody everything their heroic counterparts stand against.

Every hero needs a good villain. In fact, most heroes need several. Supervillains are the backbone of superhero media: without them, the adventures of heroes would feature far more attempts to rescue cats from trees than earth-shattering cataclysms. Still, some supervillains rise beyond mere trouble-causers, engaging both the hero and the reader in a larger dialogue.

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Most noteworthy villains explore at least one aspect of what makes a particular hero a hero, but the best explore a multitude. Ranging from a twisted version of an origin story to a fearsome reimagining of what certain powers might do to a psyche, the best villains are a hero's dark reflection.

For most of his history, Wolverine has had two central conflicts. Before he was known as James Howlett, his mysterious past was a constant source of pain. Before, during, and after his search for his memories, Logan struggled to contain his savage side in battle.

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Sabretooth/Victor Creed is a complete repudiation of these things. While Logan's lack of memories and the knowledge of his violent actions tormented him, neither bothered Sabretooth. Indeed, Creed's embracing of his violent nature marries the evil Wolverine fears with the animalistic urges he tries to hide.

When Wonder Woman left Themyscira, she sought to appeal to the good inside humanity and spread ideals of peace, justice, and love. Even though her quest was fraught with conflict, Wonder Woman never gave up, using her divinity to understand the mortal world rather than force things upon it.

By contrast, manipulating mortals is critical to the Greek God Ares' identity. Unlike Wonder Woman's person-oriented attempts to spread the ideals of Paradise Island, Ares uses magic, menace, and mind-control to spread war across Earth. Ares stands as the worst case of what a god could be, not the example Wonder Woman sets of what one should be.

The Flash has one of the best rogues galleries in comics. Since Jay Garrick's first adventure in 1940, the bearers of the Flash mantle have fought everything from mind-controlling gorillas to blue collar tech goons. Still, at the heart of all these conflicts lies the Flash's desire to do good.

While Barry Allen, Wally West, and the rest seek to improve the lives of others, Eobard Thawne is driven by the desire to ruin the life of one man. His dark focus runs contrary to the Flash's light-hearted kindness, instead devoting his entire existence to a singular cruelty.

When Steve Rogers underwent the Super-Soldier Program to become Captain America, he did it for what he believed his country could do. Repeatedly, he fought against the idea he should do what the American government tells him, holding on to higher ideals learned in a life of righteous struggle.

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Frank Simpson couldn't care less. Nuke borders on nationalistic parody, viewing the U.S. government as an unimpeachable institution for which there is no action too evil to defend with. Like the devastating weapon from which he takes his codename, Nuke obliterates on command.

Hal Jordan is often called the best of the Green Lanterns because of his mastery of willpower. He has used this talent to battle monsters, control other Lantern rings, and defeat the parasitic embodiment of fear. Although egotistical, Hal isn't a tyrant; his strong will is a tool of aid, not subjugation.

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Before Hal was the best of the Green Lanterns, that title belonged to another: Thaal Sinestro. Exerting a similar mastery over will, Sinestro used his skills for universal conquest. While a Green Lantern, Sinestro created a fascist dictatorship on his home planet of Korugar, an action completely opposite Hal Jordan's high-flying interpretation of free will.

In creating Iron Man, Stan Lee sought to create a hero readers wouldn't like at first. A weapons-designer and capitalist who profited off human suffering, Tony Stark's gradual repentance and redefining of himself is as important to the hero as his ingenuity, his quips, and his cockiness.

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Justin Hammer is a Tony Stark who never saw the light. Without an event like the kidnapping that made Stark become Iron Man, Hammer only grew more ruthless, stopping at nothing to beat his competitors. Outfitting supervillain goons with high-tech armor, Hammer stood as a monument to what Tony Stark almost became.

Most of Batman's villains reflect a certain aspect of the Caped Crusader: Penguin shares his wealth, Riddler boasts similar intellect, and Joker mirrors his desire for control. The Caped Crusader is perhaps the most storied character in comics, but Batman's own personal motivation can be summed in one famous quote: "I am vengeance."

Hush is also vengeance, using his dark desire to become as uncannily adept as the Dark Knight himself. Hush is Batman if the hero was selfish rather than selfless. In his plastic surgery transformation, Hush also illustrates how much Bruce Wayne is a character for Batman and how easy it they can lose themselves in a mission.

While many see Batman as an example of cool, Superman is often put forth as an example of good. Despite being a complete powerhouse, the character remains one of the most pure-hearted in fiction. The best Superman stories lean into this, exploring how best to help the world rather than punch it really hard.

Superman's longtime foe General Zod may share his home planet, but his ethos is completely different. Zod sees his immense power not as an opportunity to spread good, but rather as an excuse for evil. Each character reflects a different kind of power fantasy, Zod the antithesis to Superman's thesis.

Peter Parker has it all while having none of it: he is a family man who keeps losing his family, a hero both recognized and mistrusted by his community, a brilliant mind who needs to scrounging for his money. Parker Luck aside, Spider-Man remains one of the happiest heroes in comics.

On paper, Norman Osborn has Peter Parker beat. Wealth, respect, children: all the things Parker wants but has trouble holding on to. Still, Green Goblin's obsession with destroying Spider-Man causes him to lose it all. Despite Spidey's troubles, the Goblin's refusal to appreciate what he has reveals that Spider-Man's way is better.

Mark Grayson is human. A good-hearted kid with a loving family and great set of friends, the titular hero of Invincible is instantly accessible to readers in a way many other muscle-bound comic book types aren't because of how downright relatable he is.

Of course, this set-up makes Omni-Man's reveal as a world conqueror so devastating. Being Invincible is Mark's act; being Nolan is Omni-Man's. Each character is devoted to their loved ones and past, but the way they define it is a tragic — although ultimately heartening — look at how they define family.

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Peter has had a love of comic books and superheroes since he was a child in Vermont. Now living in Utah, Peter is excited and determined to share this love via articles here on CBR. He holds a special place in his heart for the X-Men, Thor, and the Flash. When not reading comics, he enjoys writing, hiking, and camping.

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