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In the Incredibles films, it seems that the villains all rely entirely on technology, while the heroes (while they can use it) have innate powers.

We don't have as many examples as Marvel, but I think there's enough at this point to see a pattern.

  • Screenslaver. Uses brainwashing transmissions and glasses that she created.

  • The Underminer. Uses a drill machine and bionic limb enhancements.

  • Mirage. Uses her technological and computer skills.

  • Syndrome. Uses various kinds of technology; technology is heavily related to his reason for villainy.

  • Bomb Voyage. Uses bombs. It's not totally clear that he lacks powers.

By contrast, all the heroes that I recall seem to have innate powers, i.e. tied to their physical or metaphysical person, and probably heritable. Certainly this is true of Frozone, the Parr family, and seemingly all the heroes in the new film...

..who only act villainous because of Screenslaver.

This is particularly interesting because in the Marvel and DC inspiration, the top villains who fight powered people usually have their own powers: Doomsday, Darkseid, Hela, Zod, Loki, Magneto, and so forth. (Though there are exceptions: Lex Luthor, say). The Fantastic Four, the most direct inspiration, are known for fighting Dr. Doom, a powered individual.

But the Incredibles is different.

Why is this? Has there been any comment on it?

Adamant
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  • Syndrome has extreme (possibly super) intelligence – Valorum Jun 19 '18 at 08:51
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    @Valorum you could probably argue that's true about a large portion of the villan list above -- Syndrome and SS both had extreme to the point of super intelligence. So does LL from Superman etc. It's also interesting to note that both major villains were trying to achieve something for the greater good with technology, only to be stopped by Supers. Maybe it is time for the Supers to "go away." – Wraith Leader Jun 19 '18 at 18:13
  • Don't forget about Baron Von Ruthless and his death ray! – Skooba Jun 20 '18 at 12:54
  • There is theory floating around that the Government created the supers, but I think the second film pokes some holes in this. – Skooba Jun 20 '18 at 13:15
  • @Valorum - thought from first movie (only seen two or three times, and a while ago) that Syndrome's motivation to Be Evil was from being rejected as a side kick. Being smart and a decent engineer (there are no mad scientists - only mad engineers) does not a super make. – ivanivan Jun 20 '18 at 21:16
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    @ivanivan - He's not just a "decent engineer". At the age of ten he built flying boots. By his thirties he's designing killer robots and 'zero-point energy' weapons. It's pretty obvious that he has superior (possibly super) intelligence – Valorum Jun 20 '18 at 21:24
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    @Valorum - It doesn't matter. The villains are still technologically based even if they have "super" intelligence. The question is then more "Why do all the villains have only super intelligence and build stuff to do evil, while the heroes use a variety of powers?" But it amounts to basically the same thing. – Adamant Jun 20 '18 at 22:51
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    @Adamant - Not really. How is a super-intelligent villain supposed to use their powers if not by making things? – Valorum Jun 20 '18 at 22:52
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    @Valorum - I'm not sure you understand. The question would be, why are the villains only super intelligent? – Adamant Jun 21 '18 at 02:11
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    @Valorum To put that point to an end, Syndrome is not a Super (scroll down to the Syndrome section or see my answer here for the quote), or at least wasn't born one. – TheLethalCarrot Jun 21 '18 at 09:47
  • Brad Bird has commented a few times that the villains in both films came late in the process and for Screenslaver he was influenced how technology is affecting people today. Not sure if that's enough for a true answer for you though. – TheLethalCarrot Jun 21 '18 at 11:47
  • Um, I thought Dr. Doom didn’t have any powers, he combined technology and magic into his armor because he’s an evil genius. But he himself has no superpowers per se. With the obvious exception of that terrible movie a few years ago where he turns metal. – Broklynite Jun 22 '18 at 11:32
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    @Broklynite - He has magic powers. And psionic (not originally). However he got his magic powers (learning or genes or bargains; all three are implied at various times) they're basically part of him. – Adamant Jun 22 '18 at 13:10
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    @Adamant - as you note, Doom can perform magic; in fact, he's been considered as a candidate for Sorceror Supreme. And, in recent appearances, he's been using it much more than he used to. However, historically, he's relied much more on tech than magic, except for his efforts to free his mother from Hell. – RDFozz Jun 22 '18 at 19:59
  • Is there canon proof that Gazer Beam's powers weren't technology-based? It could certainly be beams from his eyes like Cyclops / The Comet, but is there any evidence against it being from the various eyepieces? – VBartilucci Jul 05 '18 at 13:44
  • What about Gilbert Huph, Insuricare boss? – Misha R Jun 15 '19 at 05:12

4 Answers4

6

Jealousy/resentment?

I haven't seen the sequel yet. But there don't seem to be that many Supers around. But they do get all the fame and stardom.

The villains could simply be people who are "bummed out" that they were born as a normal person, but they want to achieve great things. Somehow this usually gets out of hand, and they get too powerful. And the Supers stop them.

Like Wraith Leader an ivanivan said in the comments. There is a lot of resentment towards the Supers from "the villains" because they are always stopped trying to achieve great things or they are rejected simply because they are not a super. Why should the Supers have that much power, just because they are born with it, right?

TheLethalCarrot
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Whacko
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    FWIW Syndrome didn't have resentment to all the Supers, not initially anyway, it was almost mainly directed at Mr. Incredible after he rejected him. – TheLethalCarrot Jun 22 '18 at 08:40
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Whacko's answer seems to be on the right track.

Resentment of supers is a theme in both movies. To some degree, Syndrome planned to end Supers by (killing them and) by commercializing equalizing technology: "when everyone is super...no one will be". Screenslaver planned to end Supers by permanently marring their reputation.

Another interesting aspect that may pertain to the villains' use of technology is that in both Incredibles movies, the stakes are heightened not just by the immediate danger to general welfare, but by the danger to Supers' right to be themselves.

WARNING: the following may feel like English class:

If you want to get metaphorical about it, it seems there's a symbolic goodness or purity in the Supers' powers when juxtaposed with the technology-driven threats of evil. Assuming that most viewers relate to the Supers, the implications could be something along the lines of valuing intrinsic abilities and qualities. Related discussion here.

ZX9
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2

In the tie-in novel A Real Stretch: An Elastigirl Prequel Story, we see a powered supervillain who turns bad after being exposed to some experimental chemicals and decides she'd be better equipped to rule the city all by herself (maniacal laugh).

"But why, Blazestone?" Elastigirl called out.
"Why not?" Blazestone said with a laugh.
"That can't be it. That's not a reason," Elastigirl said.
"Fine. Here's the reason: once I get rid of the Supers, who can stop me?" Blazestone said. "I can do whatever I want, whenever I want. Rule Municiberg if I want. Or somewhere bigger and better!"
Elastigirl knew Blazestone was right. Regular law enforcement would be no match for Blazestone.
"And besides, don't all those stupid rules and regulations annoy you?" Blazestone yelled. "Sheesh! All those meetings! The forms we have to fill out in triplicate. It's enough to drive a Super right up the wall."
"Maybe so," Elastigirl conceded. "But that's still no reason to—"
"Come on! You wish you could handle things your own way, instead of by the book. Am I right?"

Valorum
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I don't think the villains of the Incredibles universe are required to not have powers. The two movies just happen to both have anti-Super resentment as the driving force.

At the end of Incredibles 2,

when the Supers hijack the ship, nobody (with the possible exception of Winston Deavor) spends any time wondering "Wait a minute-- how could the Supers be evil?" Their reaction is pretty much just "RUN FOR YOUR LI-I-I-I-I-I-I-IVES!" Even the crew member who manages to alert the city does so by saying (in paraphrase) "The Supers have taken over the bridge!" in a very cool-under-pressure way.

Keep in mind that the two movies happen back-to-back, so I think it's easy to see the similar plot of the second as a reasonable extension of the first.

TheLethalCarrot
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PlutoThePlanet
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