The Incredibles: Is Mirage the Real Hero?

The Incredibles has some of the most relatable and beloved characters Pixar has turned out. Everyone who sees it can relate to at least one of the family members. Audiences remember the scene where Dash ran on water or Helen piloting the plan in complex maneuvers to keep her family safe on the way to save Bob. However, there is one character that seems to be overlooked when regarding this modern day masterpiece: Syndrome's right hand man (or should I say woman) Mirage.

Her Role

True to her name, Mirage's story is an illusion. Everything about her is if she doesn't exist. In fact, she even says to Bob when asking him to return to his work as Mr. Incredible: "According to the government, neither of us exist." Her business card is reflective and you can only see the image if you look at it from a specific angle. The video message that she leaves Bob is like a hologram. It's her that is the reason that the family can be superheroes throughout the rest of the film. So, why is she so forgotten? I honestly think its because of the role she plays throughout the film. She isn't supposed to be the one people talk about but help the ones who are supposed to be. Mirage arrives at just the right time in the plot. She appears at a time that superheroes are practically extinct from going into hiding (also...being murdered by the omnidroid but we'll get to that later). After this first scene of hers, she mainly makes appearances when she's needed. Even though the title of the film is The Incredibles, it seems as though Mirage may be the real hero that the city of Metroville needs.

Missile Lock

Mirage's role as a villain does not quite add up if you really think of it. She seems more along the lines of a S.H.I.E. L. D. agent that didn't fall under H. Y. D. R. A's control during the events of Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Some may argue that the recruiting role she has is a cover up but one scene in particular shows that Mirage has a very pure heart. When Helen's plane is under attack by Syndrome's missiles and she says "There are children aboard! Repeat! There are children aboard!" over her head set, Mirage gets an extremely panicked look on her face. She watches as Bob is restrained and begging for Syndrome to call off the attack. It's at this moment that we see her true side come out. Not only was she a mirage for the supers to lure them in, this moment we see her become a Mirage for Syndrome. Hearing that children were in danger and that her boss was alright with killing them, Mirage realizes that it's time to take action.

Total Turn Around

After the traumatizing experience of the missile lock for Bob, the audience witnesses a complete change in character for Mirage and she seems as if she is a Black Widow/Natasha Romanoff. She switches sides and helps the Incredibles in taking down Syndrome starting from inside the company. Two instances where this happens is when Mirage frees Bob from his restraints. She does it with the intention of releasing him to reunite with his family and watch Syndrome's organization get taken down from the inside. After Bob starts to strangle her and a misunderstanding by Helen, Mirage informs them that their children are in danger signalling to them that she wants them all together for her new plan to fully work. Later on in the film, when the Incredibles are escaping Nomanisan Island, she appears again quickly to them after they can't figure out how to operate a rocket. She tells them that in order to know Syndrome's password, all they have to do is "Say Please". She is willing to give her former prisoners the password since the family is the key to taking down Syndrome and saving the city. She has found a new source of power to be attracted to and starts using her talents for good.

Conclusion

It's not rare that a movies hero is not the main character. Many consider this to be the case with films like Lord Of The Rings having Samwise Gamgee and Guardians Of The Galaxy having Groot. I do truly think this is the case with The Incredibles. When Mr. Incredible sees Mirage for the first time, it seems like she's simply a henchmen for Syndrome. By the end of the film, she changes sides and does one of the most heroic acts of the film that ends up allowing the superhero family to save the day.


https://www.her.ie/entertainment/the-incredibles-2-389198
https://pixar-planet.fr/en/mirage-personnage-dans-les-indestructibles/
https://comicvine.gamespot.com/mirage/4005-39184/
https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/disney/images/7/70/Mirage_drinking.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20180603164528
https://www.amctheatres.com/amc-scene/universal-themes-of-the-incredibles