What is love? It’s the driving force for all heroes…and villains. Some heroes put on the capes and masks to protect and defend. Villains put on their capes and masks to harm and ruin. This is what puts the rival forces at odds. For decades, the wars between heroes and villains has always been viewed as good vs evil. However, there is an underlying, common base for these fights; love. Love is what put these individuals on their paths. It may look muddied because the heroes are absorbing some type of praise while the villains are being protested. So, it may look like hype and hate. But it’s a matter of what they love that puts them at odds.
Heroes are the ones that are a bit more synonymous with love. It’s clearer to see how heroes jump into the action because they are guided by the emotion. Especially the more iconic and recognizable ones. Superman was loved by Martha and Jonathan Kent. Even though Superman was born an alien, the Kents never saw him anything else other than their baby boy. They showed him love, care, interest, and support. He was embedded in it. And once he officially became Superman, all that love he received from his parent was handed out to everyone he tried to help. Regardless if it’s a teenage girl who is losing her sense of the world or a villain who is hellbent on destroying the world. Superman’s love for people all around is what drives him to always do the right thing. When it comes to Spider-Man, he walks a similar route as Superman; where they both try to do the right thing and reciprocate the love they received to everyone they come across. Spider-Man takes it may be a step further and adds respect to his crusade. Everyone is aware of the motto that drives him; with great power, comes great responsibility. His Uncle Ben told him that and after Peter had an argument with him and then becomes Spider-Man, his respect for what Uncle Ben said makes him become a better Spider-Man. His love and respect for his uncle is what drives him as one of the best heroes. Then, there’s Batman. It is all too simple to believe that Batman is fueled by rage and vengeance. Which is justifiable to be fair. But the deep reasoning to why he is like that, is due to the love he has for his parents. Thomas and Martha Wayne were taken away too early right in front of a young Bruce Wayne. That night, he vowed to make sure no body else will ever feel the same way as he did. No one else will feel his pain. And that type of pain Batman has with him every moment, would not be there if it wasn’t for his love for his parents. These heroes specifically embrace love as the driving force for what they are. They found the perfect ways to utilize it for the benefit of all.
Villains are seen as being driven by hate. Which is acceptable. There are villains that are solely hellbent on delivering hate. They are some that are evil for being evil. Darkseid is one that doesn’t have an ounce of love in him unless someone were to argue he loves to hate. But Thanos does love. In the Infinity Gauntlet storyline, Thanos carries out a plan to eliminate half of the life in the universe because he loves Death. Death, not the abstract version of death, but a female physical embodiment of it. Thanos wanted to impress her because he was in love with her. Doctor Doom is another one who is driven by love. He loves Latveria, the residents though are subject of debate. But Doctor Doom loves his own country. He aggressively defends his country from all threats no matter if they are heroes or villains. His homeland is what he loves, and protects it with ferocious passion. An argument can be made that it’s his love that perhaps makes him the best defender of foreign threats. The Joker also has his version of love that guides his actions. His twisted version of love comes from respect, admiration and acceptance. The Joker does not do what he does to impress Harley Quinn, Punchline or his servants. He does it for Batman. The Joker loves Batman as someone who admires or respects someone else deeply. In his eyes, Batman is the only one that sees The Joker in a different light. Something on the lines of an equal or maybe human. For that, The Joker creates chaos in order to draw out Batman so The Joker himself could be in the presence of Batman. This doesn’t only pertain to comic book villains. Darth Vader did what he did for the love for Padme. Anakin had to embrace a darker side of power to ensure the safety of Padme. In the end, it’s this same power that ultimately killed her but the beginning of this dark path did come from love. Villains’ goals are to destroy and ruin but even then, they are not immune to feeling love to drive their motivations. Some disguise it, twist it, or clearly show it which turns out to be more horrifying.
Love is able to push characters to a new level. Push them to their limits and the heroes, or villains, are accepting of this. Love is a simple but powerful emotion. Pure but unwavering. Especially when it drives a character’s motivations. So powerful, characters could ignore pain, be fearless against death or great odds, or even sacrifice themselves for their causes. Love amplifies what a character is. Makes heroes more heroic, makes villains more terrifying much like a certain super solider serum. But this boost is something for everyone. And is used well. Both sides use the fuel love provides to reach out for their goals. Without love, numerous heroes will not be as dynamic as they need to be. And without love, villains won’t be these darkly twisted characters that make them captivating. So, what is love? For heroes and villains, it’s the fire they need to save or destroy.
