I read the comics so I’m not afraid of spoilers but it’s been a while so remind me if I forgot anything or if they explained it already.
Most empires expand to explore new world, gain strategic resources, visit new things, or even gain new cultures or customs. The viltrumites has been stated as been like the most perfect or powerful species in the world and they already don’t need to really eat are extremely powerful and advanced technology and can freely visit any planet with ease. They don’t care about other cultures, technology, food or knowledge or really need other resources, so what’s the point of expanding? Why have an empire? Why not just explore the galaxy and be not be just absolute bullies? What’s the point?
I think the Mauler Twins demonstrate a similar concept pretty well, if you’re obsessed with being the best, and there’s no outside party, then in-fighting will occur unless there is equal footing.
In the case of Viltrumites, some are stronger than others. The ones on the bottom are realistically not fond of being ‘weak’ so the only way to maintain the Empire without further in-fighting is to expand and have others for them to lord over.
I can where you’re getting at with the Mauler Twins. With the Mauler twins however,some their goal pretty simple, to eat good food, and have their inventions and studies work in peace. They constantly compete to be better than each other but they only really have the superior complex with each other (which is my favorite running gag).
In fact towards the end of the comics, they finally are able to get hired and contribute significantly to humanities betterment.
Idk, maybe the viltrumites just like being assholes and superiority compass which they justify through “tradition”. I mean hell. They didn’t even treat themselves well in the past
Yes, but the moment one of them had a clear advantage over the other (proof of being the original/more original) it all went to shit. The Maulers only work when they both don’t know who is the ‘original’.
Now imagine that on a larger scale. The ones at the bottom would be constantly trying to usurp the ones at the top.