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{{trope}}
[[File:
{{quote|''"If I was in [[Superman]]'s place, I'd be totally lording my powers over all the other [[Superfriends]]. 'Hey [[Batman]],' I'd say, 'Nice utility belt! Got anything in there that would help you lift an oil tanker? I didn't think so. Hey [[Aquaman]]! You realize I could pretty much kick ass over any sea creature you cared to summon, don't you? [[Wonder Woman]]! Your magic lasso makes me tell the truth: You suck!'"''
|'''[http://www.bookofratings.com/superfriends.html Book Of Ratings]'''}}
Normally, [[Superhero
The Smug Super is a super hero or villain who knows they've won the [[Superpower Lottery]] and won't hesitate to remind others, especially if they're beneath him on the [[Super Weight]] scale. This character is similar to the [[Smug Snake]], though rather than be manipulative and sneaky, he's very up front about his opinion of himself and is an active fighter who is at least on an equal footing with the rest of the cast. Also similar to the Smug Snake, he can be a very enjoyable to see in action for the [[Chewing the Scenery|Scenery Chewing]] [[Badass]] [[One-Liner
In combat, he's likely to [[I Am Not Left-Handed|hold back]], taunt his opponents, and [[Trash Talk]] with the best of them. Though he might occasionally suffer setbacks due to his [[Pride]] and underestimating opponents. Especially if they're [[What Measure Is a Non Super|mere mortals]].
This trope can also form a mild version of [[Beware the Superman]] - in this case, whilst the Super might not actually be malevolent and will still do the right thing, they're still a bit of a bullying, arrogant [[Jerkass]]. In more [[Sliding Scale of Idealism Versus Cynicism|cynical]] universes, the
Many versions of this trope can be found on Type II on the [[Sliding Scale of Anti-Heroes]]. May be (in fact, quite often is) a target of [[Break the Haughty]], and is generally a "stronger" [[Arrogant Kung Fu Guy]]. [[A God Am I]] is this trope taken [[Up to Eleven]]. Compare with [[Small Name, Big Ego]], who ''thinks'' he's this trope. May overlap with [[Super Loser]] when the arrogance is undeserved... either by not having much power, not knowing how to use it well or not having an ounce of charisma. A [[Smug Snake]] is similar, but relies more on brains than actual brute force like a
{{examples}}
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** In fact, later in the series, he actually gets smug enough about it to turn his ego into [[Kamehame Hadoken|the MokoTaka Bisha]]
* Byakuya Kuchiki of ''[[Bleach]]'' is a more [[The Stoic|stoic]] example of this trope, coming up with mild ways of putting down his opponents, or people he doesn't like... or pretty much anyone in general.
{{quote|
** He's positively humble compared to {{spoiler|Aizen}} in recent chapters after the whole {{spoiler|Butterfly thing}}.
** Yamamoto. [[Badass Grandpa]] status aside, the guy thinks he's above everyone because he's older than everyone else and a [[Person of Mass Destruction]].
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* Crackerjack in ''[[Astro City]]'', despite [[Badass Normal|not actually having superpowers]].
* Doc Magus of [[Marvel Comics 2]]. Apparently being [[Dr. Jerk]] is [[Doctor Strange|is in the blood]].
* In [https://web.archive.org/web/20131029130101/http://www.johnnysaturn.com/2006/01/18/book-one-page-01/ "Johnny Saturn"] the Utopian is so smug that his feet rarely touch the ground, and he speaks with an arrogant tone.
* Believe it or not, [[Superman]] had quite a few moments like this in [[The Golden Age of Comic Books]], using a LOT less restraint against criminals, and generally lording it over the [[Muggles]], as in the very first issue where he broke into the governor's mansion to stop an execution...
{{quote|
''Servant: Yes, and made of steel! [[Tempting Fate|Try and tear this door down!]]''
''(Superman tears the door off its hinges)''
''Superman: (dickish grin) It was your idea!'' }}
* Happened to [[Batman]] when Superman's powers get transfered to him. Superman eventually takes his powers back because Batman was acting like a total dick and bullying the villains after they had already surrendered.
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* If it's [[The Mighty Thor|Thor]] [http://daveslongbox.blogspot.com/2006/04/thor-smack-talker.html it's okay].
* Alfie O'Meagan from ''[[Nth Man: The Ultimate Ninja]]'' constantly alternates between casting himself as a selfless savior of humanity and gloating about being the most powerful person on Earth.
{{quote|
* A number of the heroes in ''[[Irredeemable]]'' fit this blend. Qubit is an [[Insufferable Genius]] who has little trouble reminding people he's the smartest guy in any room. When The Plutonian was still a hero, he played up some false modesty, but after he turned evil he promptly dropped it and had no qualms rubbing his power into everyone's faces. But the best example from the comic is The Survivor, who's entirely too pleased with himself about his abilities and uses his power to do whatever he feels like after getting it.
** The existence of Smug Supers is something that [[Irredeemable]] examines in detail. At one point the heroes discover a man with super-powers on par with The Survivor, but decides to never use them and instead became a humble monk out of fear of what such power could do to him.
* ''[[PS238]]'' got a great big crowd of these. Starting with kids who don't know better, but are about to learn the hard way. Taylor's parents (who chose "Powers" as their "masked" last name) are introduced as highly prideful, but this turned out to be a moderate version. Many super-intellects are [[Insufferable Genius]] sort. Many others, well...
{{quote|'''Phlogiston''': Don't ''any'' of you know what "narcissistic sociopath" means?}}
** Not only they tower over normal people, but many look down at relatively "common" F.I.S.S. ([[Flying Brick|Flight, Invulnerability, Strength, Speed]]) metahumans and [[You Are Number Six|refer to them by numbers]] - enough that many FISS rushed to their own political movement ("Equal recognition for equal [[Does This Remind You of Anything?|<s>work</s>]] heroism!") once they found a fitting "unifying symbol"
** [http://ps238.nodwick.com/comic/2018-06-15/ Ultima Powers helps Gravpulse to regret] coming there, and that's only her fourth page.
== Film ==
* Syndrome from ''[[The Incredibles]]'' seems to think that all superheroes are this. Therefore, if he can prove himself superior to supers using his inventions insead of actual powers, it gives him an excuse to be a ''bigger'' dick than they are.
** As wrong as Syndrome may be about heroes in general, "Gamma Jack" from the film's [[Expanded Universe]] seems to be an example of
* Darryl Revok of ''[[Scanners]]'' is genuinely evil, and thinks that his [[Psychic Powers]] mean he should [[Take Over the World]].
* Captain Amazing from [[Mystery Men]] would have been an annoying [[White Dwarf Starlet]] even if he hadn't deliberately sprung the villain from prison in order to help his own career.
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== [[Literature]] ==
* CoreFire from ''[[Soon I Will Be Invincible]].'' Though it's implied that he doesn't do this quite to the extent that Dr Impossible makes it out to be. Also, one of the two superheroes who interrogate Dr. Impossible in jail. He learns to regret it.
* In the [[Dresden Files]], Harry occasionally indulges in this. Murph takes him to task for it. Happens a bit more with {{spoiler|Lasciel in his head, especially at the beginning}}.
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** This tendency has been used against him on multiple occasions, especially in the episode Midnight where the humans all turn against him because of his glib smugness, and in Tooth and Claw, where Torchwood was created because Queen Victoria thought he and Rose were too smug and having a bit too much fun when everybody's life was in peril. In The Waters of Mars this tendency was taken up to scary levels during his Time Lord Victorious speech, where without realizing it he actually starts paraphrasing the Master. He has nothing on the rest of his race though.
*** And of course that's when he's not busy telling every human he meets how [[Humans Are Special|magnificent]] they are and calling all his companions and everyone he meets who makes a passing effort to think before they act [[Restored My Faith in Humanity|"brilliant."]] Which isn't even to say that the original point is wrong, just that the Doctor is ... complex. Whether you see him as a blowhard who treats humans like children or a guy who makes no apologies for the fact that he legitimately IS the smartest guy in the room while truly appreciating what everyone else has to offer is [[Alternate Character Interpretation|up to you.]]
* [[The Tick (animation)]]: The episode “The Big Leagues” has a "League of Superheroes" made up entirely of smug, misogynistic supers. In fact, almost every super throughout the show is a smug jerk, excepting the 4 main characters.
* [[Power Rangers Jungle Fury]]'s Grizzaka is a villainous example of a
{{quote|
'''Grizzaka''': It's your turn to learn the same lesson all my enemies have. There is no one as powerful as Grizzaka, and never will be! }}
** To be fair, [[Power Rangers]] seems to have a lot of
== Video Games ==
* Grunt from ''[[Mass Effect 2]]''. Since he was [[Super Soldier|created and genetically engineered to be the most]] [[Laser Guided Tykebomb|powerful Krogan ever,]] it obviously meant he wouldn't have been complete without a matching ego.
{{quote|
''Grunt'': "I am pure Krogan, you should be in awe." }}
** To a greater extent, Miranda Lawson. She's quite smug about her status as a genetically enhanced [[Canon Sue]] as well as being [[The Dragon]] of Cerberus. While she does admit that she's not completely perfect, she still believes she's as close as you can get. Then deconstructed as she realises despite all her gifts she'll never have what Shepard has, could never do what Shepard did.
** They both pale in comparison to Harbinger, whose quotes consist entirely of [[Badass Boasts]] about how inferior the characters are, how their efforts are futile, and how superior Harbinger and his kind are.
* Hakumen from ''[[
{{quote|
'''Hakumen:''' "''I'' will not be defeated by the likes of ''you''!"
'''Hakumen:''' "I hope you know what it means... to stand before me!"
'''Hakumen:''' "What was that?! Don't tell me you call that fighting...!" }}
** Series [[Big Bad]] Hazama is a villainous example. Naturally, when he and Hakumen confront each other, it is [[Ham-to-Ham Combat|a sight to behold]].
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* {{spoiler|Iris}} from ''[[Rosenkreuzstilette]]'' definitely counts. To be fair, {{spoiler|she's a reincarnation of Rosenkreuz who enjoys taunting and teasing others about her immense power and sheer intelligence that she was born with. [[A God Am I|Claiming to be a god]], she's very confident that she can't be compared to the likes of everyone else, calling them worhtless run-of-the-mill insects and lording to them about being one of the strongest Magi in existence. She believes everyone to just be simple commoners and thinks it's her right to treat them as toys, and even thinks of the world as little more than her personal playset}}. Interestingly enough, {{spoiler|she's also an [[Expy]] of [[Mega Man (video game)|Dr. Wily]], an essentially vile [[Complete Monster]], and a cute, lovably audacious [[Magnificent Bastard]]}}.
** Grolla also shows signs of this when she, as a boss, defeats Tia in the main game when Tia herself is on her last life.
{{quote|
'''Grolla''': "Is that all you've got?" }}
*** Also, in her own side-game, Rosenkreuzstilette Grollschwert, when she fights the Cross Wall, she [[Bring It|calls to it to show her its worst]] after it attempts to run her down and says that there's nothing her blade can't cut. Later, when she confronts the Count, who believes her to be a spy hired by the Church to kill his daughter Iris, she pities him for {{spoiler|being deceived by his own flesh and blood}}, and in the Final Stage, {{spoiler|when Iris finally reveals herself to be a reincarnation of Rosenkreuz and boasts her claims to be a child of God himself, Grolla doesn't care whether she's a god, a human, or even an insect since she's still willing to rip her apart just the same}}.
* ''[[Devil May Cry]]'''s hero Dante is totally this, especially in ''4'' where he is said to have surpassed the power of his father [[Noble Demon|Sparda]]. Halfway through the game, you will [[Mook Horror Show|face him]] as a [[Perfect Play AI]] boss that will kick your ass often and give you a lesson or two, ''while holding back''.
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* Lodoze (a Lobo parody) from ''[[Sluggy Freelance]]''.
* [[The Non-Adventures of Wonderella|Wonderella]]. She has a cape! And she totally jumps hella high, and lands feet first right smack in this trope.
* ''[[Keychain of Creation
* In ''[[Homestuck]]'', Doc Scratch is nigh [[The Omnipotent|omnipotent]] and [[The Omniscient|omniscient]], and [http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=6&p=004144 loves to] [http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=6&p=004156 remind people of it.]
* In ''[[Heist]]'', the protagonist fits this to a tee.
** Patriot, despite [[Captain Patriotic|his image]], is worse to the point of [[Beware the Superman]].
== Web Original ==
* ''[[
* Both heroes and villains in ''[[Dimension Heroes]]'' show off this trope, noticeably protagonist Rob and antagonist Clonar.
* The Lamplighter, the most powerful superhero in Boston, in the [[Whateley Universe]]. And a real [[Jerkass]].
== Western Animation ==
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* An episode of ''[[Sushi Pack]]'' featured a handful of these as contestants on a [[Reality Show]], [[Show Within a Show|The World's Mightiest Heroes]]. They were all so smug that they didn't think anything of bragging about their ''[[Weaksauce Weakness|weaknesses]]''.
* ''[[Memetic Mutation|Silly bitch, your weapons cannot harm me! Don't you know who the fuck I am?]] [[My Way Entertainment|I'M THE JUGGERNAUT, BITCH!!!]]''
* ''[[Teen Titans (animation)|Teen Titans]]''' [[Big Bad]] [[Satan|Trigon]]:
{{quote|
"Fighting you is beneath me."
"You fail to comprehend the depth of my power." }}
* Blossom of ''[[The Powerpuff Girls]]'' is noted for this.
* ''[[Avatar: The Last Airbender]]'' has [[Cute Bruiser|Toph]] <ref>"I am the GREATEST EARTHBENDER IN THE WORLD!!!"</ref> and [[Magnificent Bastard|Azula]].
** ''[[The Legend of Korra]],'' has Korra, who's [[Downplayed Trope|inclined]] to brag and gloat, both when [[Establishing Character Moment|declaring]] herself Avatar in [[Child Prodigy|toddlerhood]] and as a teenager [[Curb Stomp Battle|battling]] gangsters.
* Maxum Man from ''[[Sidekick (animation)|Sidekick]]''.
* Discord from ''[[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic|My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic]]'' is well aware he's a near omnipotent [[Reality Warper]] and doesn't view anyone as much of a threat to him because of that knowledge. {{spoiler|This is his undoing, as it renders him incapable of realizing the heroes ''are'' a serious threat to him now.}}
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** The episode "The mysterious Mare-Do-Well" fits this even better. Rainbow Dash is not really a superhero, but surely gets too smug over her heroic feats; Mare-Do-Well is the exact opposite, being heroic and effective but humble, and drives her mad by replacing her in the spotlights. Of course {{spoiler|it's all a plot of her friends meant to teach her a lesson.}}
* [[Captain Atom]] in ''[[Batman: The Brave And The Bold|Batman the Brave And The Bold]].'' He is especially dismissive toward [[Badass Normal]] Batman. So naturally, he loses his powers for the episode, learns his lesson, and... has instantly forgotten by the end of the episode. (Hey, it's TB&TB. What'd you expect, one of the [[Stock Aesops]] played straight?)
* [[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2003]] gives us another villainous example in the form of the Shredder, who is not only [[Complete Monster|one of the most brutal fighters and most cruel villains in the show]] but also likes telling others how inferior they are to him and claiming that no one can defeat him. Definitely a
* The DVD set for [[The Incredibles]] had in-world commentaries of different superheroes who were killed by Syndrome's evolving robots. One of them was Gamma Jack, who believed supers like the Incredible Family to be a superior race, and often preferred saving beautiful or attractive women before anyone else. Of course, before being offed by Syndrome, he was also mentioned to have "tyrannical/megalomaniac tendencies", prompting close monitoring from the NSA.
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[[Category:Ego Tropes]]
[[Category:Villains]]
[[Category:
[[Category:Alliterative Trope Titles]]
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