MovieChat Forums > The Incredibles (2004) Discussion > Why didn't Syndrome just... become a sup...

Why didn't Syndrome just... become a superhero?

posted 9 years ago by Viltrumite
12 replies | jump to latest

A perfect example of a smart guy making the stupid choice. What was to stop Buddy from using his tech to become a superhero in his own right as opposed to that stupid, elaborate scheme?

[–] roboh-1 9 years ago

He was a young kid who spent his life idolising his (super)hero. All he wanted was for his hero to recognise him. But once Mr Incredible spurned him, he cracked. He wanted to hurt Mr Incredible, as payback for the hurt he suffered.

=*=*=*=*=
The main reason that Santa is so jolly is because he knows where all the bad girls live

[–] Viltrumite 9 years ago

Yeah, I get that. I'd hurt Incredible by being a better superhero than him, though.

[–] PopSixSquish 9 years ago

Exactly. I felt really horribly for him, although it's true that the better choice would've been to use his innovatively extreme smarts to outshine Bob in the superhero department!

[–] jayf8888 9 years ago

Because superheroes weren't allowed, and so he had to make a need for them again.

[–] Viltrumite 9 years ago

Yeah, I remember the ban, but something probably would have happened sooner or later meaning superheroes would have to come back.

[–] clayjar_azn 9 years ago

Syndrome wanted the glory and fame. He didn't have good intentions to begin with. He wanted to use Mr Incredible so he can be adored and liked. He didn't really care about saving people. Only being liked and adored by everyone. WHen he was spurned by Mr Incredible, he threw off any pretense of being a superhero and only wanted to get the fame by any means. Because of the superhero ban, he wanted to create the threat being the giant robot and kill off his competition (the retired superheroes).

He was evil to begin with and totally embraced it when he was spurned by Mr Incredible.

Me fail English? But, that's unpossible.
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[–] thelordtantalus 8 years ago

Spot on.

[–] DarthBill 8 years ago

Syndrome wanted the glory and fame. He didn't have good intentions to begin with. He wanted to use Mr Incredible so he can be adored and liked. He didn't really care about saving people. Only being liked and adored by everyone. WHen he was spurned by Mr Incredible, he threw off any pretense of being a superhero and only wanted to get the fame by any means. Because of the superhero ban, he wanted to create the threat being the giant robot and kill off his competition (the retired superheroes).

He was evil to begin with and totally embraced it when he was spurned by Mr Incredible.

Syndrome was definitely after glory & fame, at least by the present, but I don't know if he was necessarily evil from the very start. His unhealthy obsession with gaining Mr. Incredible's approval & respect, which he carries well into adulthood whether he'll admit it or not, definitely showed he was psychologically unbalanced from an early age and needed help, help which he unfortunately never got.

There's an essay theorizing that Syndrome is Mr. Incredible's illegitimate son and while I'm not quite on board with that theory the essay points out some interesting things such as the way Syndrome seems to look to Mr. Incredible as a father figure. You can read the article here -

http://screenprism.com/insights/article/is-syndrome-the-illegitimate-son-of-mr.-incredible

[–] clayjar_azn 8 years ago

I'll read that. Yes, he probably wasn't evil when he was a kid, but he had many psychological and emotional issues that made him worse once he was spurned by Mr. Fantastic.

He is very similar to the Comedian in the Watchman. He became a hero because he loved the fame and glory, but he also loved killing people as he is a sociopath. And being a hero justified him killing people.

Me fail English? But, that's unpossible.
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[–] LeiaOfLothlorien (1980) 8 years ago

I agree that Syndrome/Buddy's obsession with Mr. Incredible was unhealthy psychologically, and that he was after fame and glory. Not quite sure about being Mr. Incredible's bastard son, but I suppose there could be some hints of it.

I'm going on a bit a tangent here, but this situation reminds me of Kylo Ren. His parents and uncle were heroes, and that probably followed him wherever he went growing up. Things like, "Oh, I wish you were more like your father," or "What great things will you accomplish?" or "Your uncle would never do something like that!" He was probably cracking under all the social pressure and looking for escape, which is where Snoke could have come in, saying something like, "You may not be your parents, but your grandfather was even better than them. You can be just like him. Follow me, and you will be stronger than in your wildest dreams."

And I understand you might not have made the move here, but thought this was an interesting point. ^.^

[–] PreachCaleb 8 years ago

Yeah, I remember the ban, but something probably would have happened sooner or later meaning superheroes would have to come back.

Syndrome couldn't predict the future. He wanted to make sure he'd be needed.

Plus, he wasn't actually being a super hero. He rigged the Omnidroid so only he could beat it. He wasn't gonna take a chance on a villain that he might not be able to beat.

You are sin.

[–] Viltrumite 8 years ago

Plus, he wasn't actually being a super hero.

Yeah, I'm guessing he missed the point of being a superhero. Now that I think about it, I don't think he thought the whole plan through.