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Is Everyone in Comics Getting a Doppelgänger Today? [Spoilers for, Well, Pretty Much Every Comic]

Superhero comic books love a doppelgänger. There is something innate in them having an exact opposite to fight against. The Marvel movies can't get enough of it, but it is also deeply rooted in the comics. Whether it's clone sagas, bizarros, parallel dimensional versions, shapeshifters, time-travelled versions, or legacy characters, the lead always ends up in some way or form fighting themselves.

But today seems to have reached an event horizon for these things — a critical mass. What is it about the zeitgeist right now that demands such a thing?

Be warned there are spoilers for today's Amazing Spider-Man, Spider-Man Annual, Titans, Champions, Catwoman, Flash — and bigger final-page spoilers for Titans and Daredevil.

Is Everyone in Comics Getting a Doppelgänger Today? [Spoilers for, Well, Pretty Much Every Comic]

Amazing Spider-Man #3 is the most prominent, as Spider-Man is split in twain into a powered Peter Parker and a non-powered Peter Parker.

Is Everyone in Comics Getting a Doppelgänger Today? [Spoilers for, Well, Pretty Much Every Comic]

He's done the clone thing before, but this is something new. While Spider-Man Annual has another Spider-Man (as well as Miles Morales), who it turns out is a shape-shifting Skrull under the mask. Though why he just can't have changed his face to the image of the mask is not explained.

Is Everyone in Comics Getting a Doppelgänger Today? [Spoilers for, Well, Pretty Much Every Comic]

While over in Daredevil, Matt Murdock as Daredevil comes up against Mike Murdock, a fake twin brother whom Matt Murdock previously disguised himself as to get out of secret identity issues — and to go places that Matt could not. And somehow, just like in Amazing Spider-Man, now in two bodies.

Is Everyone in Comics Getting a Doppelgänger Today? [Spoilers for, Well, Pretty Much Every Comic]

While in Champions, the two different versions of Viv Vision are reconciling themselves to the fact that they are the same person.

Is Everyone in Comics Getting a Doppelgänger Today? [Spoilers for, Well, Pretty Much Every Comic]

Is there something in the water at Marvel? It seems not, because the same thing is happening over at DC Comics today, as Flash encounters all manner of versions of himself…

Is Everyone in Comics Getting a Doppelgänger Today? [Spoilers for, Well, Pretty Much Every Comic]

While Linda West is having to deal with that she has merged with her timeline doppelgänger, with separate sets of memories.

Is Everyone in Comics Getting a Doppelgänger Today? [Spoilers for, Well, Pretty Much Every Comic]

Catwoman has to fight all manner of versions of herself.

Is Everyone in Comics Getting a Doppelgänger Today? [Spoilers for, Well, Pretty Much Every Comic]

In Titans, after a dimensional trip, they all return…

Is Everyone in Comics Getting a Doppelgänger Today? [Spoilers for, Well, Pretty Much Every Comic]

Except the Raven they returned with is someone masquerading as her — the real Raven was left behind…

Is Everyone in Comics Getting a Doppelgänger Today? [Spoilers for, Well, Pretty Much Every Comic]

And that's before you even get to Nuclear Man in Superman #2… Can't there just be one of a character? Seems that's not the way today… say, I wonder if those returning Fantastic Four are the real Fantastic Four?

You just can't trust anyone these days. Maybe that's where this zeitgeist thing is coming from — you thought you knew someone, and then you discover they voted a different way, believe something you didn't expect, or have a history of actions against people that are suddenly exposed, and you wonder if you ever really knew them at all. Maybe having a doppelgänger as an explanation would be a lot more comforting and today's comics are all about wish fulfilment?

Or maybe the reader and/or writer is looking for a doppelgänger explanation for themselves and their own actions? Calling Dr. Freud…


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Rich JohnstonAbout Rich Johnston

Founder of Bleeding Cool. The longest-serving digital news reporter in the world, since 1992. Author of The Flying Friar, Holed Up, The Avengefuls, Doctor Who: Room With A Deja Vu, The Many Murders Of Miss Cranbourne, Chase Variant. Lives in South-West London, works from Blacks on Dean Street, shops at Piranha Comics. Father of two. Political cartoonist.
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