Matthew Patel is introduced as the first of Ramona Flowers' seven evil exes, a young man with a grudge and a flair for the theatrical. In the original storyline, he serves as an early and relatively easy obstacle for Scott Pilgrim, but the anime series Scott Pilgrim Takes Off reimagines his role dramatically. Patel dated Ramona briefly in the seventh grade, when he was the only non-athletic, non-white boy in her school, and their relationship lasted only about a week and a half. After Ramona ended it, he carried a deep sense of betrayal and resentment into adulthood, which motivated him to join the League of Evil Exes. In terms of personality, Patel is initially portrayed as boastful and vindictive, but also as someone who has long felt underestimated. The anime reveals that underneath his bitterness lies a capacity for ambition and strategic thinking, as he seizes an unexpected victory over Scott Pilgrim and uses it to challenge the league's leader, Gideon Graves, ultimately taking control of the organization. His motivations shift from simple revenge to a desire for recognition and power, especially after he proves he can defeat what others considered an invincible foe. Throughout the series, Patel's development is marked by a growing confidence that transforms him from a disposable villain into a formidable antagonist, capable of summoning demon hipster chicks and unleashing fireball attacks. His key relationships include his rivalry with Scott Pilgrim, whose disappearance he causes, and his adversarial connection to Gideon Graves, whom he overthrows. He also maintains a complicated attachment to Ramona, though his feelings are more about proving his worth than genuine affection. His notable abilities include pyrokinesis, the power to summon and command a group of glowing female demons, and a fighting style that blends martial arts with mystical projectiles. The anime expands his character by giving him a more active role in the overall plot, allowing him to demonstrate a level of power and leadership that was absent in earlier versions of the story.