Smug Super: Difference between revisions
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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]'''}}
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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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* 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 [http://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|''Superman: It's locked!''
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== 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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*** 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''': That was nothing! I won't let it happen again! I'm the strongest fighter there will ever be! ([[Make My Monster Grow|grows to giant size]])<br />
'''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
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* The Lamplighter, the most powerful superhero in Boston, in the [[Whateley Universe]]. And a real [[Jerkass]].
* [[We Are Our Avatars (Roleplay)|We Are Our Avatars]]
** Max really IS a powerful Necromancer and later a Greek god, as he assures everybody he meets. This feat just pales in comparison to all the [[Reality Warper
** [[Mortal Kombat|Shao Kahn]](in this game) pretty much embodied this trope. Most of the time, anyway.
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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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