Frenemy Mine

More warring duos who secretly need each other…

Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr

Their shaky alliance pitched “between rage and serenity,” Prof X tempers Magneto while Magneto keeps his X-bezzie sharp. They had fun in bars together in First Class, before X’s peacenik persona and Magneto’s hawkish tendencies chafed. Sharing an on/off bond of tender empathy

and levitating football stadiums, this pair complete each other.

Rocky Balboa and Apollo Creed

Sparring partners turned pals, the boxing buds share bruises and shorts. Apollo calls Rocky names (“Bum!”) and punches him daft before becoming his trainer. After Creed dies, Rocky is moved to thaw the Cold War by fighting Creed’s Soviet nemesis. And, by training Creed’s son, he saves the next generation too.

Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi

“He was a good friend…” Obi and Ani were top bros: they shared space-cars, hung out in bars, fought old men together. But Obi decides Ani will be the death of him and chops off his legs. Years of understandable Ani-mosity climax in post-life reunion. “You’ve changed,” says Obi (presumably).

Henri Ducard and Bruce Wayne

Ducard and Wayne become buds in prison and afterwards, sharing tips on style and hallucinogenic drugs. A Magneto/Xavier-style fall-out follows: Wayne digs compassion and capes, Ducard thinks compassion is wussy and capes are daft. It all ends in a punch-up, of course: but who knew Duc’s daughter would get involved?

Peter Parker and Harry Osborn

Like any story worth telling, this one’s about a girl. And a Goblin. You know the drill: high-school buds fancy MJ, MJ fancies Spidey, Pete kills Harry’s dad, Harry gets pissed and (American meaning) pissed, Pete blows him up... Tragedy brings a touching reunion, until the emo-Goblin reboot spoils everything.