Maybe you would.

The thing is, for a supervillain to be so confident in his brilliant plan that he'll go out of his way to capture the good guy, and set his doomsday device into action, he has to believe that his brilliant plan *IS* brilliant. And think for a minute; how alluring is the thought of pointing out to your bitter rival that he failed and that your brilliant plan was so well orchestrated that it is about to be fulfilled?

Very. It is very alluring.

"But Child," you say in wonderment, "if television and movies throughout history show that the evil overlord explaining his plan to the protagonist is what leads to his ruination, WHY do they insist on doing it still?"

"Because," I reply with all the condescending patience of a shrink, "supervillains are people too, and usually protrayed as rather intelligent (as one would have to be to conquer the world...). But too often people are so wrapped up in the supervillain's evilness that they fail to notice the brilliance of his plot! And whether or not they are willing to admit it, supervillains acknowledge the mental (near) equality of the protagonist (how else are they able to get so close to toppling the plan?) enough to understand that they'll understand the plan."

"But that's the price of tea in China. What does it matter how smart the antagonist thinks the protagonist is?" you ask in wide-eyed innocence.

With a polite chuckle, I answer "Simply because, as I've said before, supervillains are people too, if slightly more megalomaniacal and devious than an average person. But because they're human they have a need to be acknowledged for the brilliance of their brainchildren, their doomsday plans, and who better to acknowledge that than the person who spent their time failing (as the supervillan sees things...) to thwart that plan? You see, the supervillain doesn't reveal his plan out of stupidity, he reveals it out of a human desire to be accepted as a capable and intelligent person."

"I see!" says you.

So next time you see an evil overlord, give him a big hug and ask about his lifelong plan. It may not be to destroy the world. It may not be to take over the world. But every supervillan has his brilliant plan, and he is very proud of it. Indulge him. You may be given an honored position as a Legionnaire of Doom.

Remember, Supervillains Need Wuv Too!