Included in this article Spoilers For “invincible.”
Superheroes are as good as their villains. “Invincible” knows this and creates a memorable enemy of Mark Grayson (Steven Yong). From his own father, Omniman (J.K. Simmons), to the dimension traveler Angstrom Levy (Stelling K. Brown), an alien invader disguised as a superhero. The sixth latest episode of “Invincible” Season 3 – “I’m sorry I can say” – introduce another enemy worthy of invincible.
Currently, “Invincible” creator Robert Kirkman has failed to acquire Brian Cranston on the show so far, but Cranston’s former “Breaking Bad” co-star Aaron Paul is another story. Paul was announced to be taking part in “Invincible” in January just before the season premiere, with his character being Scott Duval/Powerplex.
“Invincible” draws much from the Spider-Man story. Mark doesn’t do anything a spider can do, but like Peter Parker, he is a young man trying to find his place in the world. His normal stress, like family and work, is even more difficult as he has the weight of the world on his shoulders. As of season 3, Mark currently has Atom Eve (Gilian Jacobs) a redheaded girlfriend of his own.
Some of the invincible villains also reflect the Spider-Man villains. The elephant (John DiMaggio) is a clear substitute for the rhinoceros. PowerPlex, which can generate and blow up electricity, is invincible electricity. One of Spider-Man’s oldest enemies, Max Dillon was originally portrayed as a simple thug. A lineman who was very fortunately shocked and tried to cash in. Later electro portrayals like Jaime Fox’s Max in “The Amazing Spider-Man 2” made him a more pathetic character. PowerPlex is beyond that, a villain that really hurts your heart.
Aaron Paul’s Powerplex is the invincible new sad villain
“All I can say is, I’m sorry,” opened during the battle of Invincibility and Omniman in the season 1 finale, leveling Chicago and killing thousands. Among those victims were Scott’s sister and Nie, Jessica and Gretchen. Worse, Scott I saw it Omniman dies and collapses when he is invincible into his apartment.
Scott is invincible and believes he is a murderer who is not superior to Omniman, and conspires with his wife Becky (Kate Mara) to see “justice.” we I know Mark is really not responsible, but the episode itself and Paul give you a PowerPlex feel. Even if he’s misguided, you spend the episode hoping he can get some catharsis, or that he and Mark can deepen their understanding. Sadly, it won’t come.
Thanks to his work at Global Defense Agency (GDA), Scott is able to steal some power-enhancing discs to boost his mild energy capabilities. He tries to call for invincibility by disturbing peace. After two unsuccessful attempts, he only gets him by pretending to hold Becky and their son Jack’s hostages. As Powerplex roasts invincible, his power accidentally attacks and kills his family. He is imprisoned at the end of the episode, but even trapped, his hatred of invincibility still surges through him.
Well, this episode is a faithful adaptation of PowerPlex’s original appearance, “Invincible” issue #59. The major beats are all there but they stretched a bit to fill the 50 minutes (not that this hurts or drags the episode). The comic was published in 2009, but now I can’t help but watch the episode and think about 2016’s two biggest superhero films, Batman v Superman and Captain America: The Civil War.
Invincible wisely imperfect the hero
Both of these films focus on how superheroes should be governed to limit collateral damage and ensure a powerful presence. Omni-Man vs Invincible is particularly similar to the conflict from Superman and Zod’s “Man of Steel.” Like Batman, PowerPlex thinks that invincibility is too strong to exist above the law, and like Zemo in the “Civil War”, he loses his loved one thanks to the failure of his hero and is out for revenge.
Aaron Paul has limited experience in voice acting, but he excels as a PowerPlex. Scott has the trembling cry of rage and despair that Paul used in Jesse Pinkman’s worst moment in “Breaking Bad.” (The moment that made Jesse the soul of the show.) Returning to the original comparison, Paul as the Powerplex reminded us of the incredible voice work of Crispin Freeman as an electro of the “epic Spider-Man” temperament.
The big theme of “invincibility” this season is accountability and how Mark can take it for himself. He cuts his connections with GDA Head Cecil Stedman (Walton Goggins), but despite how the shady Cecil is run, no one Fearing Mark’s power, he can call him completely wrong. Mark also feels he needs to be his highest self, as he must set the right example for his younger brother Oliver (Christian Convery), and finds that a good heart will lead you to the right path and not give you all the answers on how to follow that path. PowerPlex is invincible to be there to remind him that his failures will bring about consequences. In the end, Mark can’t give Scott an answer that goes beyond remembering his loved one, promising to get better.
Mark’s distinctiveness is one of the reasons why “Invincible” defeats “Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man” in his own game. Mark Grayson may be invincible, but he is not perfect.
“Invincible” is streamed on Prime Video.
