"A Deal with the Devil" is the second episode of the third season of Invincible, and the eighteenth episode of the show overall.
Synopsis[]
Mark takes a stand, unaware of the ramifications for his family, the GDA, and even the Guardians. Cecil remembers his past and Eve makes an important decision.
Plot[]
The episode starts off in a small town, where a young Cecil Stedman, working as a field agent for the Global Defense Agency, is sent to stop members of the Order of the Freeing Fist from activating a bomb called, Chemical X.
As Cecil approaches a store, he notices a symbol on the outside wall. He enters the store, where he’s greeted by a store clerk who asks him how she can help him find inner peace. Cecil responds by thanking her for asking, but telling her it’s too late for that while he pulls out a gun and orders everybody out of the store. The store clerk, terrified, tells Cecil to take whatever he wants. Cecil walks past her and goes into the back room. After investigating the room, Cecil radios headquarters that the tip was a bust and there’s nothing there, meanwhile, the store clerk had followed him into the back room. While Cecil continues investigating, he finds the bomb containing Chemical X in a closet. The store clerk attacks him and reveals herself as a member of the Order of the Freeing Fist, Knucklebuster. She acknowledges that Cecil found them, but that he found them too late.
Cecil warns her that the store will be swarming with other agents soon, and she reminds him that he already gave them the all clear and that no one‘s coming. Knucklebuster reveals that when she first attacked him, she grabbed his radio and his gun, breaking the radio and unloading the gun before tossing it. During one on one hand-to-hand combat, she bests Cecil, but Cecil grabs a taser. They continue fighting, and Cecil struggles to use the taser against her and she knocks it out of his hand. Cecil asks why they want to kill thousands of people, and Knucklebuster replies by telling Cecil that someone like him could never understand the beauty in it. She acknowledges that most of the city will die, but the survivors will “inherit a new world and learn that life is a gift not to be wasted”. As she talks, Cecil makes his way towards the taser. He tries attacking her again, but she breaks his wrist. She continues explaining, saying the evolutions will begin around the world as people break away from industrial society, and people will return to what’s natural. As Knucklebuster continued explaining, Cecil continued attacking her and she over powers him and knocks him down. Cecil just tells Knucklebuster that she doesn’t know people, before grabbing the taser and using it on her, knocking her out.
Cecil gets to his feet and tries to disarm the bomb, but a second member of the Order of the Freeing Fist, Force Fist, comes up behind Cecil and pulls him away and subdues him. Knucklebuster tells Cecil that he’s lost and that he’s not going to be able to stop them. Just then, much to their surprise, they hear the sound of police sirens. Cecil laughs, and tells them that he knew who they were as soon as he came into the store. He reveals that the tip wasn’t a bust, but it was code for the other agents to come to his location.
Force Fist and Knucklebuster walk hand in hand to the bomb. Force Fist says that their existence in the world of the living is just a distraction, while Knucklebuster says that fear of death will never keep them from their destiny. Despite Cecil’s pleas, they activate the bomb and the chemical starts leaking out and melting away their skin. Cecil gets to his feet and rushes them, pushing them both into the closet where the bomb is and closes the door, hoping to prevent more of the chemical from getting out. As Cecil holds the door closed, the chemical starts leaking out anyway and melts away Cecil’s skin as it comes into contact with him. The other agents rush in as soon as Cecil starts losing consciousness.
Cecil loses his skin.
Back at the Pentagon, Cecil is shown to be fully healed as the majority of his melted skin was replaced with artificial skin. He’s in a room with Radcliffe, the Director of the Global Defense Agency, asking him how many people died. Radcliffe tells Cecil, had it not been for him, thousands of people would’ve died. Cecil coldly just tells Radcliffe to answer his question, and Radcliffe explains that some of the gas seeped into the market before they could get it contained and as a result, seventeen people died. He again reiterates that seventeen people dying is just a fraction of what it could’ve been and he assures Cecil that they won. Cecil tells Radcliffe that he should ask the families of the seventeen people who died if they think that too. Radcliffe tells Cecil to take a break and sarcastically tells him to come back later to collect his medal. Radcliffe also adds that he’s happy to see that the artificial skin that Cecil was given was working for him, but he commented that he’s going to need his money back because they missed a spot, referring to the scar on Cecil‘s face. Cecil explains that it was all that was left of his real skin and that they wanted to replace it but he wouldn’t let them. When asked why, Cecil elaborates, saying that it’s a reminder of his failure and to never let it happen again.
Sometime later, they were attacked at the Pentagon, and Cecil was assisting Radcliffe who had been wounded. Radcliffe orders Cecil to leave him behind, but Cecil ignores his orders, telling him that they’re almost to a safe room. When they were being attacked, Cecil shoots at their assailant unsuccessfully until Force Fist and Knucklebuster, who have also recovered from their previous injuries, arrived and saved them, much to Cecil’s shock. Noticing Cecil’s unease, Radcliffe assures Cecil that the Order of the Freeing Fist is on their side now. When Cecil points out that they’re crazy, Radcliffe acknowledges that they used to be but insists that he fixed them, claiming that they were too good to waste. Cecil tells Radcliffe that they should be in jail, and Radcliffe points out that the Order of the Freeing Fist just saved them. Cecil tells Radcliffe to allow him to show his gratitude, and without hesitation he pulls his gun out and shoots and kills them both, stating that he doesn’t work with criminals not even if they’re invincible.
After that, Cecil was imprisoned with some of the scariest and dangerous convicts the Global Defense Agency put away. After some time, it was shown that the prison became much less chaotic while Cecil was there, and Radcliffe came to visit him. Radcliffe informed Cecil that he’s stepping down as the director of the GDA and is moving over to a new special projects group. Cecil simply tells him that he doesn’t care. Despite that, Radcliffe tell Cecil that he wants Cecil to replace him, much to Cecil’s surprise who comments it’s no wonder that the GDA wants him gone. Radcliffe points out that there were three deaths a week in the prison before Cecil got there and after three years, that’s no longer a problem. Cecil tells Radcliffe that he has no idea what he had to do to achieve that. Radcliffe acknowledges that Cecil did what he had to do, bringing order where there was chaos, nothing more and nothing less, although a few people had to pay the price.
Radcliffe explains Cecil's punishment and new role as G.D.A. Director.
Radcliffe goes on to explain that he had been watching Cecil, reiterating that he doesn’t waste talent, he fixes it, and that the prison was Cecil‘s rehabilitation. Cecil states that prison was supposed to be his punishment, and Radcliff tells him that it was both, but his punishment is over if he takes the position. After a brief pause, Cecil declines. Before Radcliffe leaves, he tells Cecil that he can’t force Cecil to see things the way they really are, but he also tells him that what he doesn’t understand is that he could either be the good guy or the guy that saves the world but not both.
Back in the present, Cecil is in the white room with Mark surrounded by ReAnimen, with Mark asking what Cecil is talking about when he’s referring to being protected from him. As Mark approaches Cecil, the ReAnimen stand in between them. Cecil tells Mark that it’s his job to protect the planet from threats, and he tells Mark to not make him put him in that category. Mark asks Cecil if he uses the ReAnimen to keep Dark Wing or Sinclair in line. Cecil tells Mark that Dark Wing and Sinclair don’t have the same abilities as him. Mark insists that he uses his abilities only to help people. Cecil questions Mark as to who he’s helping at the moment, pointing out to Mark that he sees things one way and doesn’t make room for any other point of view, and that he threatens people who disagree with him. Mark insists that he doesn’t threaten people, and Cecil doubts that, admitting that Mark is starting to scare him. Mark, getting more agitated, tells Cecil he’s not even doing anything and he starts approaching Cecil again and one of the ReAnimen grabs Mark‘s arm to stop him. Mark questions Cecil if he thinks that he can get him to shut up. Mark starts attacking the ReAnimen and destroying them. Mark asks Cecil if he’s afraid that he’ll blow the whistle and tell everyone how he really runs the GDA. Cecil counters by asking Mark if he really thinks that people don’t know how they run the organization. As Mark continues attacking the ReAnimen, Cecil calmly tells him to stand down and they can talk.
Mark continues fighting the ReAnimen and destroys every one that attacks him, much to Cecil’s shock. Mark challenges Cecil, asking if that’s all he’s got, and Cecil wonders aloud why Mark had to ask that. When the lights are turned off, it’s revealed that there is an army of ReAnimen surrounding them. Cecil rhetorically asks Mark if he’s happy before telling him to stop. Mark tells Cecil that he won’t stop unless Cecil admits to everyone and what he’s been doing. Cecil tells Mark that he doesn’t want to hurt him, but Mark threatens Cecil, telling him that he’s not the one who’s going to get hurt. Cecil reiterates to Mark that he says he doesn’t threaten people, but Mark tells Cecil that people change. As Mark gets ready to attack, Cecil warns him not to. Mark ignores him and starts attacking one of the ReAnimen, but before he could, Cecil flips a switch on a handheld device that emits a frequency that starts causing Mark pain.
Cecil subdues Mark.
As Mark writhes on the floor in agony, Cecil tells him that he had some of the lab technicians re-create, the sound that the giant lobster Mark fought in Atlantis created, and they can transmit the sound to Mark’s earpiece. In response to that, Mark rips out his earpiece, but Cecil reveals that it’s not the external earpiece, but they implanted an inner earpiece into his head while he was recovering in their hospital after his fight with Omni Man and that it’s too deep for him to reach. Cecil turns off the device and tells Mark to be reasonable and to go home. Mark tells Cecil that they’re far past reasonable before he flies off, breaking through the ceiling and leaving the building entirely. Before he gets too far, Cecil turns on the device again, causing Mark intense pain, and he falls out of the sky.
Cecil teleports outside to Mark‘s location, explaining that, other than causing him pain, the sound also messes with his inner ear, inhibiting his abilities to fly and walk. Shocked, Mark questions if Cecil put a weapon inside of him, and Cecil admits that with Mark‘s powers and everything they went through with Mark‘s father, he did. Cecil says that he hoped he would never have to use it, and Mark reminds Cecil that he told him that he wasn’t like his dad, questioning, if Cecil ever really believe that. Cecil insists that he believed that when he said it and that he still believes it, and tells Mark to stop being stupid, but before he can finish, Mark flies off. Cecil tells those at the GDA to track Mark’s movements, and they teleport him to each point where Mark is. Cecil tells them that Mark has “gone off leash“ and he doesn’t want to take him down unless he knows where Mark is going. When Mark starts getting closer to his location, Cecil starts understanding where Mark is going, the headquarters of the Guardians of the Globe, telling everyone back at the GDA that he doesn’t want The Guardians involved, enacting the device again, which slows Mark down.
The Guardians of the Globe have returned to the headquarters, with Bulletproof complaining about how they just got beaten by Doc Seismic, but Monster Girl, trying to soften the blow, points out that it wasn’t just them. Shrinking Ray tells them that it could be worse, and they could be stuck cleaning up like everyone else. Rex, holding up some beers, says that he thinks they could all use a drink after what they just went through. Monster Girl asks Rex if he’s gonna put a shirt on, and Rex stops himself from responding sarcastically, saying that would’ve been the old him and that the new him, is going to thank Monster Girl for her advice before deciding to ignore it.
Just then, Mark crashes through the ceiling. He tells Rudy about the earpiece in his head and pleads with him to get it out before Cecil finds him, much to Rudy’s confusion. Shortly after, Cecil teleports in and tells The Guardians to step back, because the situation doesn’t concern them. Panicked, Mark tells The Guardians that Cecil is trying to kill him. Cecil explains to The Guardians that he isn’t trying to kill Mark, but Mark needs to come with him. Mark frantically explains that D.A Sinclair murdered college students and that Dark Wing killed people and that Cecil is working with them. Cecil tells Mark that they aren’t going to have this argument at Guardians HQ, but Bulletproof tells Cecil that he wants to hear Mark out. Cecil tells Bulletproof that it isn’t a democracy and demands that Mark come with him. Mark tells him he’s not going with him because if he does, he won’t come out again. Cecil tells Mark not to be dramatic and Mark reiterates that he’s not going with him. Cecil tells Mark that he wasn’t asking and reactivates the device, which causes Mark to scream in pain, much to everyone’s shock. Just then, several ReAnimen are teleported in, and Cecil tells The Guardians again to stand down, insisting that the situation has nothing to do with them. Despite this, The Guardians get ready to attack. Cecil again tells them to stay back while telling one of the ReAnimen to grab Mark so they can leave.
Rex starts attacking the ReAnimen and the rest of The Guardians follow his lead and start destroying the ReAnimen, despite Cecil yelling at them to stop. In the ensuing chaos, Rex notices the device in Cecil‘s hand and destroys it, but Mark is still screaming in pain much to Rex’s confusion, who questions why it didn’t work. Rudy explains that there was a dead man’s switch on the device and with it destroyed it can’t be turned off. Rudy works on a way to block the frequency as the fight continues and the ReAnimen start attacking Mark as he’s unable to fight back. Communicating with those back at the pentagon, Cecil orders them to shut down the ReAnimen. Seconds later, Rudy successfully blocks the frequency. Enraged, Mark starts destroying all of the ReAnimen, shocking everyone.
Mark threatens Cecil.
Angered, Cecil calls Mark arrogant, pointing out the mess, telling Mark that destruction follows him wherever he goes because of his ego. Cecil calls Mark a hypocrite who’s trying to help his mass murdering dad, but it’s not okay when anybody else makes mistakes and tries to make up for it. Cecil tells Mark not to threaten him again. As Cecil tries to address The Guardians, Mark rushes him and grabs him by the throat. He tells Cecil that he’s never going to work for him again and threatens to kill him if he comes near his family, before letting Cecil go. Mark tells Rudy to get the device out of his head and Rudy agrees, and they both leave.
That same night, Mark is at home, informing his mother, brother, and Eve about everything, much to Debbie’s dismay. Debbie is furious, because Cecil promised her that he would protect Mark, especially after everything that happened with Nolan. Mark insists that this isn’t her fault, acknowledging that they all trusted Cecil more than they should’ve. Eve creates an ice pack and puts it on Mark‘s face and he thanks her. Eve says that they fight monsters every day, but she didn’t think Cecil was one of them. Anxious, Debbie declares that Cecil has “lost it“ and wonders what he will do next if he went this far. Oliver enthusiastically says that he could fight Cecil and win. Mark admits that he threatened Cecil‘s life if he were to ever come near anyone he cares about again.
Oliver questions Mark as to why he didn’t already kill Cecil so he won’t have to worry about it later, much to Debbie’s shock. Mark explains that they don’t kill. Oliver points out Mark’s threat, and Mark says he only said that to get Cecil to take him seriously. Debbie insists to Oliver that they don’t kill ever much to Oliver‘s disappointment. Oliver asks Mark if he’s going to need help since Mark won’t have GDA helping him out if he gets in trouble. Oliver, proudly showing off his powers by flying around, says that since he has powers, he can help Mark instead, telling Mark that Debbie said he would train him. Debbie points out that training and helping are two totally different things. Debbie explains to Oliver that Mark didn’t get his powers until he was 17 and he got to be a normal kid first and Oliver deserves to experience that too, and she tells him to stop flying. Mark tells Oliver to trust him when he says not to be in such a rush to be a superhero.
Mark and Eve go outside to talk privately, and Eve is still baffled by Mark‘s revelations about Cecil, saying it doesn’t make any sense because she’s known Cecil since she was 14 and he was the first member of the GDA that she met that wasn’t a total jerk, wondering aloud why Cecil would do what he did. Mark explains that Cecil is afraid of him and what he could become. Eve tells Mark that she thinks that’s nonsensical because she knows him and that he won’t hurt anyone if he can help it, pointing out that Rex has been asking for it for years, but Mark still had the restraint to not “ throw him into space”. Mark chuckles and calls himself Mr. self-control. He does concede that Cecil was right about Angstrom, stating that he didn’t mean to kill him, but he did. Eve says that Cecil was just trying to provoke Mark and that Mark is better off without Cecil, and Mark thanks her.
Mark acknowledges that things are weird between them but tells her that it means a lot to him that she’s with him. Eve says that she’s only there because she thought that Debbie might need some help after everything that happened with Cecil, especially since she has Oliver to look after, and she’s also there because she was worried about Mark. Mark tries to bring up what he said to her before they had to go and face Doc Seismic, but Eve cuts him off, telling him that they don’t need to talk about it now. Mark tries to assure her that he didn’t just ask her out because some future version of her told him to. Eve, however, admits that that’s not why she’s upset. She explains that her future self is nearly 40 and she’s heartbroken over something that never was, worrying if that’s what she ends up being. Mark points out to her that it’s a different version of her so they don’t know what happened in that Eve‘s life, but Eve tells him it still doesn’t feel great to know that.
Mark tells Eve that when they first met, he thought she was amazing, but he pushed those feelings to the side because Eve was dating Rex. Mark said that when he started dating Amber, they fell in love pretty quickly, and things were fine, but he still had feelings for Eve. Eve tells Mark that a high school crush isn’t enough, and Mark tells Eve that she knows it’s more than that. Eve admits that she doesn’t know if it’s more than just a crush. Eve tells Mark that they both need to think things through, and she assures Mark that she’ll always have his back and that has to be good enough for now before flying off.
Back at The Guardians' headquarters, The Immortal hands everyone a mop to clean up the blood from the fight with the ReAnimen. Bulletproof asks if there isn’t a cleaning crew for this, and The Immortal replies that since the cleaning crew isn’t available, they will have to handle it themselves. As everyone grabs a mop to clean, Shrinking Ray stands aside, saying the blood reminds her of Komodo Dragon's physical assault at the missile base. Feeling sympathetic, Rex tells her that she doesn’t have to help with the cleanup. Shrinking Ray responds that Cecil spent millions of dollars trying to fix her after her injuries, and his ReAnimen just tried to kill them. She questions what they are to Cecil, and Monster Girl explains that they’re his weapons, similar to his tanks and guns—they're useful until they're not.
Overhearing the conversation, Black Samson tells them to cry him a river, insisting that they'll feel better after some honest work. Rex responds that Black Samson wasn't present during the incident, noting that Cecil nearly killed Mark. Black Samson acknowledges that Cecil might’ve gone too far but adds that Mark’s actions didn’t give Cecil much of a choice, proclaiming that Mark needs to learn what happens when you don’t think things through. Irritated, Monster Girl asks Black Samson when Mark was supposed to think things through—when Cecil was frying his brain or when the ReAnimen were attacking him. The Immortal chimes in, commenting that it's a good thing Mark faces consequences. He notes that Cecil has always been lenient towards Mark, just as he was with Mark's father, Omni-Man. Monster Girl defends Mark, saying that Omni-Man almost killed him. However, Kate defends The Immortal by stating that all Mark had to do was follow orders like everyone else. In response, Shapesmith points out that he has seen most of them deviate from the orders that they’re given more often than not.
Rex comments that they should’ve never quit Teen Team, and Kate reminds Rex of how badly he wanted to be a guardian and how hard all of them work to get there, pointing out that she died for it. Shrinking Ray tells Kate that she’ll die again and again, but Cecil won’t care. Kate tells Shrinking Ray not to lecture her because she went through just as much as she and Rex did if not more. Shrinking Ray scoffs at the suggestion, saying that there’s only one of her and unlike Kate, she can’t hide a backup copy of herself away. Kate acknowledges that her powers are different but points out that unlike Shrinking Ray, she didn’t fall apart the minute she got hurt, and Rex intervenes telling Kate that she went too far. Kate tells Shrinking Ray not to act like she’s the only one who almost died because she had just as close a call as she did. Monster Girl tells Kate that the conversation isn’t about her, but it’s about Cecil. The Immortal asserts to Monster Girl that Cecil only does what’s necessary. Monster Girl sarcastically asks The Immortal if it was necessary for Cecil to put a bomb in Mark‘s head, and The Immortal tells Monster Girl that Mark proved that what Cecil did was necessary. The Immortal then orders all of them to get back to work.
Rex, however, refuses to accept the situation, insisting that they don’t have to tolerate this kind of treatment. He tells everyone that Cecil doesn’t own them and that they can simply leave if they want to. Curious, Monster Girl asks where they would go, and Rex questions what was wrong with Teen Team. Kate responds that everything was wrong with Teen Team, but Rex points out that they didn’t try to kill each other when they were on the team. The Immortal then becomes angry, informing them that The Guardians of the Globe are the best superhero team on the planet. He emphasizes that being part of it is a privilege and an honor, and that there will be hardship and sacrifice. He adds that if they don’t like it, they can choose to leave.
Rex agrees that he would rather quit than continue working with The Immortal. He decides to leave, and Shrinking Ray and Monster Girl immediately follow him. Black Samson calls after them, urging them to calm down, but Monster Girl responds that if Cecil could do that to Mark, who’s to say he wouldn’t do the same to the rest of them? Black Samson tells her she’s being extreme, and Bulletproof chooses to walk out with them, saying he cannot work with a man he doesn’t trust. However, Kate decides to stay. Rudy apologizes to The Immortal before also deciding to leave. Shapesmith chooses to stay, explaining that Cecil spared his life after what he did on Mars. Black Samson also opts to stay, acknowledging that while Cecil’s actions toward Mark were extreme, leaving will not fix that. The Immortal informs them that they have two hours to leave, or he will throw them out himself. Black Samson asks The Immortal if he wants to leave things as they are, to which The Immortal dismissively replies that they’ll be back. However, Black Samson doubts that will happen.
The following day, Mark visits William and Rick at the college campus, informing them of Cecil‘s work with Sinclair. Rick is shocked that Sinclair isn’t in prison, saying that he assumed he would be. Mark tells Rick that Sinclair should be in prison, but instead, Cecil gave him a job, and William comments that it’s the most messed up thing he’s ever heard. Rick becomes increasingly more distressed when he realizes that Sinclair still has the ability to make his ReAnimen. Mark says he thought he stopped Sinclair, but Cecil gave him a bigger lab to work with. He then expresses his regret for bringing it up, but tells Rick he thought he should know. He asks William and Rick if they think he should’ve done more to stop Sinclair. William assures Mark that he isn’t at fault.
Mark tells them that he could’ve stopped Sinclair forever with everything that Sinclair did to others including William and Rick. Rationalizing that he would’ve deserved it. William reminds Mark that they’ve known each other since they were little kids and killing people isn’t who Mark is. Rick tells Mark that he couldn’t have known what would happen, but Mark believes that he should have known. Rick tells Mark that if he killed Sinclair, he would’ve been no better than him. He goes on to say that the world doesn’t need more people like Sinclair, but they need more people like “Invincible”.
Back at Guardians HQ, Rex, Bulletproof, Shrinking Rae, Monster Girl and Rudy are all clearing out their things. Monster Girl gives Rudy a kiss on the cheek, and when Rudy asks her why she kissed him, Monster Girl explains that when she first tried out to become a member of the Guardians of the Globe she didn’t actually think she would make it, and her first few weeks there didn’t feel real. Monster Girl concludes that she was mostly right, and the only thing real about the Guardians of the Globe were the people. Rudy tells Monster Girl that he doesn’t understand, and Monster Girl tells Rudy that what she’s trying to say is that she’s glad he’s leaving with them. Rudy tells Monster Girl that leaving made sense due to the reality of the situation. After Monster Girl leaves, Black Samson tells Rudy to just tell Monster Girl that he’s leaving because he likes her. Rudy comments that that’s good advice, and that he’ll consider it, but Black Samson acknowledges that Rudy has other motivations for leaving. Rudy initially pretends to not know what Black Samson’s talking about, but when Black Samson call him out on it, Rudy explains that Mark, “Invincible”, is the most powerful superhero on the planet, and someday he might need him on his side. Black Samson tells Rudy that he was always a cold fish, but he’ll miss him.
Meanwhile, at an Italian restaurant, Debbie is on a date with Paul. Paul comments that he knows eating at the restaurant is not as good as actually going to Italy, but the restaurant does make their own pasta, but Debbie insists that the food is delicious. Paul tells Debbie that he wasn’t sure he’d ever get a date with her, because when she didn’t call him back, he figured she wasn’t interested. Debbie assures him it wasn’t because she was uninterested, but because after the gas explosion, she was afraid to leave the house. Paul jokes that had he been in her position he would’ve been afraid of staying inside, however, when he sees the sad look on her face, he changes the subject and asks about Mark. Debbie comments on how Mark is now 19 and how time move so fast. Paul asks if Mark is in college, but Debbie tells him that Mark is trying different things. Paul tells Debbie that since Mark is young, he has plenty of time to figure out his life. Debbie tells Paul it’s been a rough few months, and Paul understands, saying that his sister’s kid is often in trouble with the law. Debbie assures Paul that isn’t an issue and both Mark and Oliver are good kids, but have their challenges, causing Paul to inquire whether or not they have special needs. Debbie fumbles an explanation and apologizes to Paul for screwing up the date, asking if he could tell that she hasn’t been on a date in 20 years. Paul understands if going on a date is too soon for Debbie, and Debbie is unsure.
Eve starts a class on architectural form 101 in college.
Back at Guardians HQ, a dejected Cecil addresses the remaining Guardians of the Globe, with The Immortal assuring Cecil that things are better the way they are now. Cecil tells them that they have the ReAnimen on standby if they need back up, and they’ll be able to hold tryouts to add new members to their team. Cecil re-introduces them to Darkwing, and the remaining Guardians get nervous. Cecil tells them that Mark was unwilling to give Darkwing another chance, and he hopes that they will be more open minded. Darkwing tells them that he’s made mistakes, but he’s trying to make up for them, and if they’re willing to accept him, he’ll be honored to serve with them. The Immortal approaches Darkwing and tells him it’ll be good to have Darkwing on the team again and shakes his hand.
Cecil returns to the Pentagon, and Donald asks him if everything is okay. Cecil tells him that they’ll soildier because they always do. Donald questions Cecil about adding Darkwing to the team, commenting that it was one thing when they needed him as a last resort, but it’s a whole different thing to add him to the Guardians of the Globe. Cecil tells Donald that people change, explaining that bad guys can reform and sometimes the good guys forget what they’re fighting for.
Remembering his first day as director of the GDA when he was younger, Cecil meets Donald who introduces himself and the rest of the team, reiterating to everyone that Cecil was handpicked by their previous director, telling the rest of the team that he’s certain that they will show Cecil the same amount of energy and respect that they showed to Radcliffe. Cecil tells the team that he’s looking forward to working with them and they all get back to work.
When Cecil starts looking over reports in his office, he tells Donald that they’re the exact same as the old reports with only a few things changed, believing that because he was in prison, the team thinks he’s a screwup and that they can get away with doing things like that. Donald assures him that it’s only because they don’t know him yet. Cecil tells Donald that if things don’t change quickly, they’re going to learn who he really is, but just then, an employee comes in and alerts the two of them that there’s a situation, and on the monitor they see someone fighting an alien looking creature. The employee tells Cecil that they don’t know who this person is or if they’re friendly, and Cecil comments that he hopes that they are, and tells them to prep a chopper.
Unsure, Donald tells Cecil that to deal with someone this powerful, protocol dictates that they send in The Immortal first and then ask questions later. Cecil tells Donald that they don’t know this person‘s intentions, and The Immortal tends to communicate with violence. Donald asks Cecil what if this person is hostile, and Cecil tells them that Christmas comes early and they can get a new director.
Cecil takes a helicopter to the beach, where this mysterious man had just killed the creature he was fighting. When asked who he is, Cecil introduces himself as the director of the Global Defense Agency, explaining that it’s an organization that runs a team of superheroes to protect the planet from various threats. Cecil is told by the mysterious man that he’s from the planet Viltrum and that his government sent him to planet Earth to protect it. Cecil extends his hand to the mysterious man and asks him his name…
Back with the GDA, when they’re reviewing the footage of Cecil‘s encounter, Donald reveals to Cecil that he was lied to which Cecil says is obvious, especially the explanation about the World Betterment Committee. When Donald asks what they should do, Cecil says that since he wants to help they should let him, pointing out his strength, and as long as he wants to help, he doesn’t care what his motivations are. He tells Donald that they need to track his movements and compose a file and start working on counter measures as well as figure out why he’s really there.
Back in the present, Cecil assures Donald that Darkwing will be fine and to just leave it be. Donald asks what they’ll do about Invincible, and Cecil parrots what Radcliffe told him many years earlier, that they could be the good guys or the guys that save the world, but they can’t be both.
In one last effort, Mark tries to tell Eve about his feelings about her.
At night, Eve flies back to the Teen Team Tower, where she encounters Mark, who again tries to set things right with Eve. Eve gives him at least a minute, where Mark explains that when he nearly died at the hands of the Reanimen, he could only think of thoughts. Thoughts of Eve, to which she found odd but horrible, but Mark retorts this saying this was not just so, this was how he felt, that it was not destiny's calling no fortune or wish, he really cares and loves Eve.
For a moment, the two are motionless, nothing but the air speaking for them, but Eve finally decides to go for it, Mark stutters but complies. So are we dating or what, says Eve, as Mark answers yes. Finally, the two embrace and kiss as the episode ends with the night sky, and the moon.
Cast[]
Starring[]
- Steven Yeun - Invincible
- Sandra Oh - Debbie Grayson
- J.K. Simmons - Omni-Man (mentioned only)
- Christian Convery - Kid Omni-Man
- Gillian Jacobs - Atom Eve
Featuring the Voices Of[]
- Walton Goggins - Cecil Stedman
- Andrew Rannells - William Francis Clockwell
- Chris Diamantopoulos - Donald Ferguson, Forcefist, Professor
- Bokeem Woodbine - Director Radcliffe
- Kari Wahlgren - Knucklebuster
- Jay Pharoah - Komodo Dragon, Bulletproof
- Jason Mantzoukas - Rex Splode
- Zachary Quinto - Robot
- Malese Jow - Dupli-Kate
- Grey Griffin - Amanda/Monster Girl (human form), Shrinking Rae
- Khary Payton - Black Samson
- Ross Marquand - The Immortal, Rudy
- Ben Schwartz - Shapesmith
- Luke Macfarlane - Rick Sheridan
- Cliff Curtis - Paul
Trivia[]
- The title of this episode is in reference to Invincible #49, where Cecil leads Mark to the White Room and states "Fact is, and I'm not ashamed to admit it, I'd make a deal with the devil to protect this country."
- A similar statement is also said by him in Invincible #50 in the issue's secondary story, "At Long Last--The Secret Origin of Cecil Stedman!" At the end of the issue, to justify why he will not take immediate action against Nolan, despite knowing his backstory is fake, he says "I'd make a deal with the devil if it meant the safety of this planet and the people on it. That's my job. That's what I do."
- Britt is once again absent, as he was the one who saved Cecil in the comics.
- Flashbacks of Cecil Stedman's past are shown of him as a former GDA Agent with a strong moral compass similar to Invincible as of present. However, Radcliffe's insistence on "being the guys who save the world" is later reiterated by Cecil to Donald, justifying his actions against Mark.
- This episode is similar to the Marvel's Avengers Assemble's in the episode: Avengers Disassemble where the Avengers Separate due to the battle with Ultron.
- Cecil's facial scars were inflicted upon him by Chemical X, a highly necrotic gas, that immediately dissolved the terrorists' bodies, before severely damaging most of Cecil's skin. Despite most of his body being reconstructed, he chose to keep a portion of his iconic facial scars around his mouth and cheek, keeping it as a physical reminder of his failure.
- Chemical X is a obvious reference to Chemical from the Powerpuff Girls show. It was the source of the creation of the Powerpuff Girls during an accident.
- It is revealed that during Mark's hospitalization, Cecil implanted an earpiece deep inside of Invincible's head which emits the sound of the Depth Dweller's roar. This is a callback to Mark's fight against the kaiju in Atlantis during Season 2's "In About Six Hours, I Lose My Virginity to a Fish", in which its powerful sound waves stunned him.
- Mark and Eve officially become a couple as of this episode.
- Omni-Man's initial arrival to Earth and meeting Cecil is shown during the latter's flashbacks. However, Cecil's distrust of Omni-Man's altruistic intentions align with his suspicions of the latter's eventual betrayal in Season 1.
- Rex Splode, Shrinking Rae, Monster Girl, Bulletproof and Robot all leave the Guardians of the Globe after witnessing Cecil's use of the ReAnimen and his sonic paralysis device implanted into Invincible.
- Dupli-Kate, Immortal, Black Samson and Shapesmith all choose to side with Cecil, arguing that Invincible's recklessness rendered him dangerous.