Captain Obvious

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Captain Obvious is a sarcastic term often used in reference to people who state the self-evident. Particularly utilized on the Internet, it usually comes in the sentence "Captain Obvious to the rescue!" or "Thank you, Captain Obvious!"

The term is based on archetypical superhero names that begin with "Captain". When people use the "Captain Obvious to the rescue" phrase, it is sometimes included with an altered picture of Captain America.

An example of the Captain Obvious usage on the imageboard iichan. The poster 'Lan' has made a rather obvious analysis of the posted image (a Warhammer 40,000 Space Marine soldier).

In the Star Wars fandom, "Captain Obvious" is sometimes used^[1] as a nickname for Ric Olié due to dialogue heard in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace such as:

There's the blockade!

That's it... Tatooine.

Coruscant... The entire planet's one big city.

Enemy fighters straight ahead!

The deflector shield is too strong!

Additionally, "Mr. Obvious" is the subject of a recurring skit featured on the Bob & Tom morning radio show, and performs the same function.

Captain Obvious is said to have an archnemesis in "Captain Oblivious". Captain Oblivious is used to describe people who seem to know what they're saying (and usually try to insult people who disagree, even though they're actually the ones who are right), but actually have their facts completely wrong. Additionally, "Professor Subtle" is the antithesis of Captain Obvious.

A weekly segment on the Triple M Australian radio network is known as "Captain Obvious". Here, listeners are encouraged to get in touch if they've "heard or seen something thats just plain stupidly obvious". ^[2]

The term is also used in the WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW series of games--usually the 2006 and 2007 editions, spoken sarcastically by Tazz to Michael Cole whenever a player performs a "dirty" move on his/her opponent to boost his/her momentum meter. When Tazz uses the Captain Obvious remark, Michael Cole is left to say, "I just think it's unfortunate whenever a Superstar decides to cheat to win, rather than compete fairly", right before the illegal move is finished.