Smug Super

Normally, Superheroes are modest, and failing that at least they're rarely vain. But then again, if you had superpowers, wouldn't you be the tiniest bit tempted to lord it over the foiled bad guys? Well, the Smug Super thinks so, and in fact he'll tell you about it. At great length. In fact, he won't shut up about it!

The Smug Super is a super hero or villain who knows they've won the Super Power 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, unlike the Smug Snake, he can be very enjoyable to see in action for the One Liners they deliver. Likewise, he might fall over the edge into camp.

In combat, he's likely to 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 mere mortals.

This trope can also form a mild version of Beware the Superman or being the Superheroic equivalent of the Jerk Jock — 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 cynical universes, the Smug Super may consider himself — and may even be widely considered — to be The Cape; they very much aren't, however.

Examples

Cell from Dragon Ball Z (pictured above). In fact, DBZ villains tend to do this.

Naruto has the resurrected Madara Uchiha, who can't seem to shut up about how badass he and Hashirama are. Case in point: when he's revived, blind, and surrounded by the entire Allied Shinobi Forces, as well as the Tailed Beasts, he simply declares his intent to hunt down and subjugate the Tailed Beasts by himself.

Most villains from One Piece are this way.

Femto from Berserk, who is actually Griffith reborn only much more openly evil. Not only does he show no remorse for what he did to Guts during the Eclipse, but each time he is seen speaking in his alter ego form he is snide, egotistical, haughty, and just downright mean, taunting Guts at every chance he can get about how much more powerful he is compared to his mortal former friend and comrade. This is even shown during the actual Eclipse, though non verbally, as Femto smugly smiled at Guts as he raped his lover Casca right in front of him, thwarting every attempt Guts made to save her. Makes sense since the rape was used to profess Griffith's power over Guts and Casca.

Byakuya Kuchiki of Bleach is a more stoic example of this trope, coming up with mild ways of putting down his opponents, or people he doesn't like... or anyone in general.

Blossom of The Powerpuff Girls. Buttercup even more so. While Blossom is at least rather tactical and rational-minded for the large part, Buttercup is an egotistical Leeroy Jenkins that sometimes escalates defeating a villain into borderline sadistic mugging. It helps she is actually the least powerful of the three girls in reality, having a crappy unique power and tending to fall first in a lot of situations due to her hasty temper.

Sonic the Hedgehog is quick to taunt his enemies and be very vocal about his Super Speed, but how much he does so depends from time to time.

Devil May Cry's hero Dante is this, especially in 4 where he is said to have surpassed the power of his father Sparda. Halfway through the game, you will face him as a Perfect Play A.I. boss that will kick your ass often and give you a lesson or two, while holding back.

Hakumen from BlazBlue is the leader of the Six Heroes, who saved the world from the Black Beast. This seems to have gone to his head a bit (or it could be that he's monstrously powerful, and is fully aware of it). He uses a derisive tone of voice when speaking to most other characters, and many of his in-battle lines seem dedicated to mocking his opponent's inadequacy.