“Hurm.”
This week was an Invinvible original episode. This storyline was something the author of the Invincible comics, Robert Kirkman (also the author of The Walking Dead), wanted to write, but never got the chance to during the comic’s run. And though this is original material for the TV show, it fits with Mark’s arc this season well and further develops one of the more defining points of his life.
The episode opens with Mark at Art’s store, ready to hand in his suit because he feels he is undeserving of it, and is still unsure of himself after killing the Sequid host Rus Livingston at the end of episode one. Mark is deeply afraid that he is becoming like Omni-Man, but this “side quest” mission to help Damien Darkblood was a small reminder that he is not like his father in the ways he thinks he is.
Damien Darkblood and his clan are fighting against Volcanikka, a creature that can raise other creatures that would take over Earth if they got the chance. Damien and his clan’s numbers have significantly weakened because their leader, Satan (voiced by Bruce Campbell), is not at his full power. Hence, Mark is summoned to Hell and is introduced to Satan in my favorite title card drop so far this season. With good reason, Mark is apprehensive about doing a favor for Satan, but as Damien Darkblood explains, Hell, or the under realm as he calls it, is not exactly like how everyone believes it to be. The Darkbloods and others are actually protecting Earth from evils they have never even known about. Though Mark says he will help, he is still apprehensive and tells them he won’t hurt anyone.
After Mark retrieves the crown for Satan with Damien, he and his clan try once more to stop Volcanikka. However, she is more powerful than they expected, and they end up relying on Mark. Mark believes he delivers the final blow to Volcanikka, and immediately justifies his reasoning for “killing” her to Damien Darkblood of all people. This scene really made the episode for me, because his immediate reflex to defend himself and his thought process show just how much his decision to kill Rus is truly affecting him. And that is largely what this episode is about. Mark feels like a horrible person, but has to help out the same type of “ bad” he believes he is. This moral gray Mark finds himself in was one of my favorite parts when reading the comics, and so far, the show has been adapting his guilt and confusion very well.
When Mark returns to Earth, he gets his old suit back from Art. He looks to be refreshed, or at the very least, not riddled with guilt for the first time this season. He tells Eve he’s not okay, but maybe he’s getting there, finally. But of course, that will not last long when Omni-Man and Allen are floating in front of Mark’s house.
Despite being the show’s lowest-rated episode, I enjoyed it. And I think it was a good way to further emphasize how great Mark’s struggle with right and wrong is in this season (and future seasons). This episode was also pretty comedic. It was nice to see Mark act like a 20-year-old, at least for a moment. With Omni-Man and Allen’s arrival on Earth, this episode was a calm before the storm that is the Everyone vs. Viltrumites war.
Rating: ★★★½