ArchEnemies
Encyclopedia
ArchEnemies is a comic book
mini-series
put out by Dark Horse Comics
from April 5, 2006 until July 5, 2006. The series was created and written by Drew Melbourne with art by Yvel Guichet and Joe Rubinstein.
Star Fighter and his archenemy
Underlord, as well as roommates Ethan and Vincent. They just happen to be the same people, though neither Ethan (Star Fighter) nor Vincent (Underlord) are aware of that fact.
Ethan and Vincent are each horrible roommates, though they are unable to give up their apartment in order to escape the other. Ethan's a slob who likes throwing parties simply to annoy Vincent. Vincent is creepy. Vincent most likely hates Ethan more than he ever could hate Star Fighter.
At the same time as they're fighting between each other (in both their identities), Vincent is attempting to become a member of The Masked Circle, a secret society
of supervillains that both his father and brother already belong to.
:
, Sam Raimi
has signed a deal to adapt the series into a film. No writer or director is currently attached to the project; Raimi will act as producer
along with Mike Richardson
and Josh Donen.
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
mini-series
Limited series
A limited series is a comic book series with a set number of installments. A limited series differs from an ongoing series in that the number of issues is determined before production and it differs from a one shot in that it is composed of multiple issues....
put out by Dark Horse Comics
Dark Horse Comics
Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent American comic book and manga publisher.Dark Horse Comics was founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson in Milwaukie, Oregon, with the concept of establishing an ideal atmosphere for creative professionals. Richardson started out by opening his first comic book...
from April 5, 2006 until July 5, 2006. The series was created and written by Drew Melbourne with art by Yvel Guichet and Joe Rubinstein.
Plot
The 4-part series focuses on the superheroSuperhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
Star Fighter and his archenemy
Archenemy
An archenemy, archfoe, archvillain or archnemesis is the principal enemy of a character in a work of fiction, often described as the hero's worst enemy .- Etymology :The word archenemy or arch-enemy originated...
Underlord, as well as roommates Ethan and Vincent. They just happen to be the same people, though neither Ethan (Star Fighter) nor Vincent (Underlord) are aware of that fact.
Ethan and Vincent are each horrible roommates, though they are unable to give up their apartment in order to escape the other. Ethan's a slob who likes throwing parties simply to annoy Vincent. Vincent is creepy. Vincent most likely hates Ethan more than he ever could hate Star Fighter.
At the same time as they're fighting between each other (in both their identities), Vincent is attempting to become a member of The Masked Circle, a secret society
Secret society
A secret society is a club or organization whose activities and inner functioning are concealed from non-members. The society may or may not attempt to conceal its existence. The term usually excludes covert groups, such as intelligence agencies or guerrilla insurgencies, which hide their...
of supervillains that both his father and brother already belong to.
Main characters
- Ethan Baxter: The buff, handsome, laid back alter ego of the superhero Star Fighter. Ethan works at Morpheus Books, a publishing company, with his sometimes lover Trish. Ethan is a slob, a partier, and just a bit emotional when it comes to both of his identities. He is originally from Iowa, a fact which is disclosed in some back-story during the fourth book. His powers come from the control of "stellar energy" which grants him the ability to fly and shoot energy blasts, along with various other gifts.
- Vincent Darko: The lanky, dark haired genius and geek who also happens to be the villain Underlord. Both his father and his older brother are supervillains and Vincent was raised to follow in their evil footsteps. He has no real superpowers, instead relying on devices he buys over the Internet. He has boasted that he has some skill with hypnosis, but he has yet to demonstrate this talent.
Other characters
- Trish Darrow: A blue haired marketing assistant at Morpheus Books. She went to art school and is constantly doodling throughout the comics, on post-it notes as well as Ethan's bedroom wall at one point. She has an on-again-off-again relationship with Ethan.
- King of Masks: The leader of The Masked Circle, he's smart, ruthless, and can shoot energy beams from his eyes. He's also incredibly hard to kill.
- Anton Darko: Vincent’s sleazy, corporate brother who is also in on the supervillain lifestyle. He was raised by their father to be the heir to his evil empire and was given the power to talk to birds.
- Vlad Darko: Vincent's evil, rich father who has elongated his life through various means.
- Adriana Darko: Vincent's sister, a good looking girl who immediately hits it off with Ethan, due to a similar sense of humor.
- Webface: A huge, muscular African-American man with a web tattoo on his head. He was introduced in the series when he interviewed to be one of Vincent's lackeys, but has become more complicated.
- Nanoman: A tiny superhero who listens to Star Fighter's problems in Issue #2. He offers both philosophical and real-life advice, including giving Star Fighter the number for his tailor. He also has an interview at the end of the same issue, in a Q&A format.
- Cat: Ethan's pet catCatThe cat , also known as the domestic cat or housecat to distinguish it from other felids and felines, is a small, usually furry, domesticated, carnivorous mammal that is valued by humans for its companionship and for its ability to hunt vermin and household pests...
, seen in the first issue drinking absintheAbsintheAbsinthe is historically described as a distilled, highly alcoholic beverage. It is an anise-flavoured spirit derived from herbs, including the flowers and leaves of the herb Artemisia absinthium, commonly referred to as "grande wormwood", together with green anise and sweet fennel...
.
Collected editions
The series has been collected into a trade paperbackTrade paperback (comics)
In comics, a trade paperback is a collection of stories originally published in comic books, reprinted in book format, usually capturing one story arc from a single title or a series of stories with a connected story arc or common theme from one or more titles...
:
- Sinners and Saints (128 pages, January 2007, ISBN 1593076991)
Film
As of September 20062006 in film
- Highest-grossing films :Please note that following the tradition of the English-language film industry, these are the top-grossing films that were first released in the United States in 2006...
, Sam Raimi
Sam Raimi
Samuel Marshall "Sam" Raimi is an American film director, producer, actor and writer. He is best known for directing cult horror films like the Evil Dead series, Darkman and Drag Me to Hell, as well as the blockbuster Spider-Man films and the producer of the successful TV series Hercules: The...
has signed a deal to adapt the series into a film. No writer or director is currently attached to the project; Raimi will act as producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
along with Mike Richardson
Mike Richardson (publisher)
Mike Richardson is an American writer, film producer and the founder of Dark Horse Comics, a comic book publication company based in Milwaukie, Oregon.-Career:...
and Josh Donen.