We do need more self proclaimed “nice guy” (the ones who aren’t actually nice guys) and “incel” villains in fiction. Just to be clear – not because they are awesome characters, but because they are so relevant to the toxicity being called out in current culture. This post uses Tighten from Megamind as an example:
(via: Just Sock Thoughts)
I would argue that Syndrome from the Incredibles is another kind of “Nice Guy” villain. He only wanted to be Mr. Incredible’s sidekick, after all, and when he was told to back off after endangering himself and others by distracting the hero enough to let a bomber get away, he decides to make devices that are specifically designed to kill superheroes (even after those superheroes weren’t allowed to be heroes anymore) to show them up. “Because if everyone is special, then nobody is.”
Syndrome’s toxic masculinity lies in the trait of the toxic fans: the ones who really want to be like their heroes and think they’re entitled to their hero’s time and attention, and then throw a hissy fit and trash the other person when denied that attention. Sound familiar?
There’s more than one way to be an incel.
Pretty similar vein, yeah. Entitled obsession that completely consumes the person has many faces.
Well said.
The thing about Syndrome is that he represents entitled fanboys. Similar vein, but the difference is that he wants in on the fantasy of being a hero. “Incel” itself is a term that has “celibacy” in the name. Buddy only wanted to live a fantasy. As is seen when he became Sundrome, he was only after the fame.