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Get ready for the long-awaited showdown! Invincible faces off against Angstrom Levy in a battle that’s been on everyone’s radar. After enduring countless physical and emotional trials, can Mark handle yet another onslaught? Let’s dissect the upcoming clash and see where the odds lie!
Check out Episode 7 Recap Here!
***Spoiler Warning for both the show and the comic.***
Its Judgement Day!
In this episode, we return to the Viltrumite prison ship where Nolan prepares for his impending execution by engaging in a rigorous training simulation with drones and soldiers. Fully restored to his former strength, he effortlessly overwhelms his opponents. General Kregg, impressed by Nolan’s prowess, declares that he is now ready for execution. This sequence closely mirrors a pivotal moment from issue 46 of the comics, where Nolan confronts identical robots and alien soldiers. The dialogue exchange between Kregg and Nolan remains faithful to the source material but is enriched with additional lines, enhancing the dramatic intensity of the scene. It’s truly remarkable to see how this iconic comic moment has been brought to life on screen with such fidelity and depth.
The scene shifts to a lighthearted moment featuring a character named Taylor, who was not present in the original comics. Taylor is seen comically struggling as he runs uphill, providing a humorous interlude. This deviation serves the purpose of fully displaying the iconic Invincible title card, showcasing the familiar blue and black logo.
Let the Battle Begin!
Finally, we’re treated to the moment we’ve all been eagerly anticipating: the showdown between Angstrom Levy and Mark, straight out of issue 33. The battle unfolds exactly as it did in the comics, with stunning precision and some mind-bending portal jumps between worlds. Fans were thrilled to see the much-anticipated meta portal jumps come to life exactly as teased. Overall, the episode delivers more action and intense moments than the comic counterpart, making it an exhilarating experience. The show skillfully portrays Angstrom’s inner conflict as he grapples with his desire to eliminate Mark and his family, especially as he revisits memories of his other selves in alternate dimensions. Angstrom’s calculated actions and words add depth to his character, showcasing the complexity of his motivations.
Back In The Stone Age?
Angstrom throws Mark through the first portal into the talking dinosaur dimension. However, instead of landing directly among the feeding dinosaurs as in the comics, Mark finds himself in a field with three raptors, who immediately spot him. This provides an exciting opportunity for engaging dialogue between Mark and the dinosaurs, a moment lifted directly from the comics.
Angstrom swiftly opens another portal, and Mark wastes no time flying back to his home dimension. Here, Angstrom begins to discuss Mark’s brother, noting that this reality is the only one where his brother exists, which piques his curiosity. In a sudden turn of events, Angstrom hurls Oliver towards the ground, prompting Debbie to spring into action, catching him like a football just before impact. Enraged, Mark charges at Angstrom, and another portal materializes, and Mark flies through.
The Ultimate Experience
This is the moment where we witness Agent Spider, voiced by Josh Keaton, engaging in a battle with Prof Ock. While both characters resemble the original Spider-Man and Doc Ock from the comics, the show expands on their interactions with additional dialogue and scenes. The creative team truly does justice to this part, offering fans an experience that had me grinning from ear to ear as a comic enthusiast. The witty banter between the characters adds a delightful layer to the encounter. Just like in the comics, Mark returns through a portal, flying with webbing attached to his back—a perfect touch that captures the essence of the source material.
In a tense moment, Angstrom swiftly opens a second portal beneath Debbie and Oliver, threatening to send them to a dimension eight stories above if Mark advances any further. Mark, showing remarkable growth as a hero and stark contrast to his father, attempts to reason with Angstrom, defusing the volatile situation. Angstrom then sends Mark back through another portal, leaving only himself, Debbie, and Oliver in the Grayson household. As the conversation unfolds, Angstrom’s inner turmoil becomes evident as he grapples with the multitude of memories and interactions between himself and Mark across various dimensions. Despite Angstrom’s realization that this dimension is the only one where Mark is good and he doesn’t want to achieve his goals through violence, the weight of his other selves’ decisions ultimately pushes him over the edge. The show’s portrayal of Angstrom’s backstory and motives adds complexity and emotional resonance to his character, offering a deeper understanding of his actions and decisions.
Fresh Meat!
In a twist reminiscent of the comics, Invincible falls for a similar trick, propelled into the next portal by Angstrom’s manipulation. However, in the show, Angstrom resorts to throwing a knife at Debbie and Oliver, when in the comics he repeatedly threatens their lives across all realities. Mark’s protective instincts kick in, leading him to pursue Angstrom into the portal. As Mark flies through the portal, the scene transitions to The Walking Dead universe, staying true to the meta nature of Robert Kirkman’s work. He throws the knife through one of the broken windows, inadvertently alerting the zombies and setting off a frantic pursuit as they close in on him from all directions.
We return to Angstrom, who grows increasingly frustrated by Mark’s resilience. Debbie takes action by hitting Angstrom with a vase and then stabbing him with a shard, echoing a scene from the comics. As she tries to escape, Angstrom opens a portal, and Mark flies through narrowly missing Debbie and Oliver.
In this moment, Angstrom reveals that in most dimensions, Debbie actually joins Mark and Nolan in their quest for world domination. This portrayal of Debbie standing up to Angstrom differs from the comics, where she often plays a more passive “damsel in distress” role. The series continues to add to Debbie’s evolution as a strong supporting character, making her more well-rounded compared to her comic counterpart. Debbie confronts Angstrom, highlighting how in this particular reality, Mark turned out good while Angstrom turned out evil, influenced by her nurturing upbringing. As a result, Angstrom loses control and violently breaks Debbie’s arm, depicted in a far more graphic and intense manner than in the comics. Even for those familiar with the story, this scene evokes a shocking and gut-wrenching reaction, underscoring the heightened emotional stakes of the moment.
Story Time!
The scene transitions to Mark sitting around a fire, narrating the entire story to a group of campers in another dimension, mirroring the comic’s continuity.
The narrative then shifts to several other dimensions, including one resembling Batman’s, where Mark humorously remarks on the laziness of his own superhero name.
Quick glimpses of familiar scenes from the comics follow, such as the caveman encounter, the encounter with Omnipotus, and a Mad Max-inspired dimension, all serving as direct nods to the original comic series.
The Power Of Family
In this climactic moment, instead of immediately flying through the portal, Mark waits for Angstrom to stick his head out. Seizing the opportunity, Mark grabs Angstrom, flies through the portal, and is confronted by his mother’s injured arm. This sequence closely follows the events in the comics, as Mark explosively bursts out of the house with Angstrom in tow.
The intense battle between Angstrom and Mark spans both the ground and the air, with frequent dimension hopping adding to the chaos. Angstrom reveals that he was not only reconstructed but also enhanced by the Mauler twins, giving him increased strength and abilities.
The confrontation reaches its peak in the desert, where Mark taps into the strength of his family and unleashes his full power. In a gruesome scene surpassing even the comics, Mark brutally mutilates Angstrom. The execution of this sequence is elevated by the accompanying music, intensifying the emotions and making it an unforgettable moment.
I Thought You Were Stronger
After defeating Angstrom, Mark grapples with the weight of taking a life and the realization that he’s now stranded in this unfamiliar dimension with no means of returning home. This internal struggle mirrors a pivotal moment from the comics, captured in the episode’s title, “I Thought You Were Stronger,” which Mark continues to say during this sequence.
Back with Debbie and Oliver, a military team portals in followed closely by Cecil, who’s asked about Mark’s whereabouts but admits he doesn’t know. Meanwhile, in the desert, Mark walks alone, grappling with the justification for killing Angstrom Levy. Struggling with the weight of his actions, he confronts the realization that he lost control. Steven Yeun’s voice acting shines as Mark’s internal dialogue takes on multiple personalities, reflecting his inner turmoil and the complexity of the situation he’s facing.
Strength In Numbers
Back at the prison ship, General Kregg and two Viltrumites overpower Nolan, leaving him beaten. As Nolan returns to his cell, he encounters Allen, who recognizes him. In a brief telepathic exchange, Nolan acknowledges Allen, and Allen hints at a future conversation between them.
Back in the desert, Invincible hovers high above, searching desperately for an exit from the dimension, only to find endless desert. Feeling isolated, he still grapples with the weight of having taken a life. Suddenly, an older version of the Guardians of the Globe arrives through a portal and Eve swiftly changes his clothes to conceal the bloodstains. These future Guardians inform Mark about the events that transpired and Robot opens a portal to send them home. Mark expresses uncertainty about surviving in this future, but Robot assures him that he did, albeit at the cost of his integrity.
Before stepping through the portal, Eve confesses her love for Mark and urges him to tell that version of her how he feels.
As Mark departs, Robot removes his helmet, revealed to be Rex in this universe, who warns Eve about the consequences of altering the time streams.
The Turning Point
Back at Mark’s house, Cecil contacts him, and they meet outside his mother’s room. Mark expresses gratitude to Cecil for handling matters and then embraces his mother. Debbie asks if everything is over, prompting Mark to break down completely, with his mother offering unwavering support. This moment underscores Debbie’s role as a strong familial figure, again continuing to build her up compared to the comics.
The scene shifts to the rooftop, where Mark gazes into space, deep in thought. Cecil suddenly teleports in, and they engage in a conversation. Cecil attempts to reassure Mark, explaining that he’s not like his father and had to make difficult decisions to ensure the safety of Mark’s family. However, Mark continues to insist that Cecil wasn’t present during the ordeal. This interaction highlights Mark’s ongoing struggle with healing and processing his PTSD following the traumatic events involving Angstrom and even his father from the finale of season one.
We return to Amanda and Rudy in the kitchen, where Amanda is preparing a sandwich. They engage in a heartfelt conversation about Rudy’s efforts to support Amanda and his genuine care for her. Amanda graciously accepts his apology, and their ongoing relationship is helping Rudy learn how to navigate social interactions. She reassures him that they can go on another date sometime, planting the seeds for the future.
We shift to a cabin nestled in the snow-capped mountains, where Immortal enters with some fish. Dupli-Kate surprises him by revealing that she’s still alive, explaining that she always kept a hidden duplicate as a precaution but never disclosed it to anyone. She expresses regret for not revealing this sooner. Immortal is overjoyed by the revelation, mirroring the events from the comics precisely.
We transition to two female characters unlocking a crypt, one of whom exhibits super strength reminiscent of War Woman. She mentions inheriting powers from her grandmother, hinting at a potential backstory to be explored later. Inside, they discover one of their fathers dead beside an Egyptian tomb. As the tomb crumbles open, a male mummy-like creature emerges, declaring he needs a living male host to break the tomb’s curse. Meanwhile, Invincible flies overhead, grappling with his emotions following recent events. Mark’s introspective flight, reminiscing about moments with his father, resonates deeply, showcasing the emotional depth of Invincible. The sequence culminates with Mark flying over Amber’s college, where she notices him, adding another layer to the emotional impact of the scene.
A Fresh Start?
We return to Mark and Debbie standing outside their house, putting finishing touches on it. April arrives with Oliver, and they all head inside. After dinner, Debbie mentions preparing for bed. Later, she goes to Mark’s room to say goodnight but finds him missing. Looking out the window, she sees Mark on the roof. They have another heart-to-heart, during which Mark reveals his decision to quit college. Despite Debbie’s attempts to dissuade him, Mark explains that he needs to focus on improving himself and controlling his abilities. Understanding his reasoning, Debbie supports his choice.
We transition to Eve on the bridge, where Mark flies up to join her. They sit together, and Eve assures Mark that she will always be there for him. As they touch hands, Mark seems about to confide in her about his conversation with her older self, but he ultimately decides against it. Eve expresses her belief that Mark doesn’t deserve what happened, and they both gaze out at the cityscape, contemplating their shared experiences.
In a post-credits scene, Nolan and Allen converse in the prison. Allen suggests they’re aligned due to Nolan’s actions on Thraxa, but Nolan disagrees, urging Allen to keep Mark out of their discussion. As they continue talking, Nolan reflects on his shifting emotions and questions his identity as a true Viltrumite.
The episode concludes with Nolan expressing his longing for his wife, mirroring the conclusion of issue 45 and marking the beginning of his redemption arc. While this ending may be surprising for non-comic fans, it effectively adds depth to the characters’ struggles with trauma, providing a poignant conclusion.
Thanks for checking out my Invincible Recap. Let me know what you thought about this episode either in the comments below or any social media platform here! Till next time…
