Metro Man

Lore & Background

Metro Man's origin begins when he was sent to Earth as an infant from a planet destroyed by a black hole. He landed in Metro City at the same time as Megamind, but was raised in a rich mansion, while Megamind was raised in a prison. At the school they attended, Metro Man was well-liked by his classmates, while Megamind was relentlessly bullied until he reached his breaking point, setting off a rivalry between them. Over the years, Metro Man and Megamind frequently and unsuccessfully battled for control of the city. On the day of the new Metro Man Museum's grand opening, Megamind escaped from prison, kidnapped news reporter Roxanne Ritchi, and lured Metro Man to an abandoned observatory to rescue her. Megamind blasted him with a sun-powered death ray; Metro Man was unable to escape, having stated that the copper-lined observatory roof weakened his powers. After his apparent death, Megamind took over the city, but eventually became depressed and purposeless without Metro Man to oppose him. Later, Megamind and Roxanne discovered that Metro Man was still alive, having faked his weakness and death after having become tired of protecting Metro City. He had renamed himself "Music Man" to pursue his dream of becoming a musician. When Megamind attempted to enlist his help against the new villain Tighten, Music Man refused; he instead encouraged Megamind to become the city's new hero by telling him that a hero will always rise to defeat evil. At the film's end, a disguised Music Man attended the grand re-opening of the museum rebuilt in Megamind's honor.

In Their Own Story

The sky over Metro City was usually painted with the vibrant streaks of a hero in flight, but today it remained stubbornly gray. The silence was heavy, broken only by the distant wail of sirens that no longer carried the promise of immediate salvation. In the plaza where his statue once stood tall and gleaming, now just a pedestal waiting for a new face, a young boy looked up at the clouds. He remembered the stories of the man who could stop a falling building with one hand, the savior who brought smiles to every corner of the metropolis. The city felt different without him, quieter yet more anxious, as if holding its breath in anticipation of a threat that might never come or one that was already too late.

Reader's Guide

Metro Man serves as the foundational hero and tragic catalyst for the entire narrative of *Megamind*. As the long-standing protector of Metro City, his role is to represent the ideal of invincibility against which the villain measures his own failures. His arc is brief but pivotal; he exists primarily in backstory and memories until his climactic defeat, which serves as the inciting incident for the film's main conflict. His powers are depicted as classic superhero abilities: immense super strength, the ability to fly at high speeds, and an invulnerable physique that allowed him to withstand virtually any attack. These skills made him a one-man army capable of neutralizing threats before they could escalate. His defining moment is undoubtedly his final battle with Megamind, where he is ultimately overcome not by superior power, but by a cunning trap involving a sun-powered death ray. Although he does not survive the film's central conflict, his legacy drives the protagonist to grow. The city's desperate need for a new hero forces characters like Roxanne Ritchi and the eventual successor to step up. Metro Man's story is one of a perfect protector whose end necessitates the birth of a more relatable, human-like heroism.

Did You Know?

• Metro Man is voiced by Brad Pitt.
• He is a parody of Superman, according to the source.
• The home release commentary notes that his costume and showmanship are purposely evocative of Elvis Presley.
• He faked his death because he had become tired of protecting Metro City, renaming himself 'Music Man' to pursue his dream of becoming a musician.
• A disguised Music Man attended the grand re-opening of the museum rebuilt in Megamind's honor at the end of the film.