Angstrom Levy is introduced as a new villain in Invincible Season 2, poised to become Mark's primary arch-nemesis. Below are the details of his powers and backstory you need to know.
Our review of Episode 1 described it as "a brutal and powerful departure from the MCU's shallow content, and a fantastic reintroduction to one of the top TV shows."
In the first season, there were numerous antagonists, including Battle Beast who nearly killed Mark, Atom Eve teaming up with him to stop Doc Seismic, and other villains such as Isotope, Machine Head, the Flaxans, the Sequids, the Mauler twins, and Omni-Man. While the superhero-turned-villain was the main adversary in the finale, the first episode of Season 2 introduces a new foe, Angstrom Levy, with a serious vendetta against Invincible. Here's what you need to know.
Invincible Season 2: Who is Angstrom Levy?
Prime Video
Angstrom Levy, portrayed by Sterling K. Brown, is a regular man with an extraordinary gift – the ability to move between countless dimensions. The origin and reason for his power remain a mystery.
Haunted by the destruction he has witnessed in various dimensions, Levy is troubled by the dominance of Omni-Man and Invincible in most timelines, but he also sees exceptional opportunities elsewhere. He speaks of undiscovered Shakespeares and advanced technologies, believing that all our problems have been solved in other dimensions.
He devises a plan with the Mauler twins, experts in brain transference technology, to clone and transfer the memories and knowledge of his alternate selves from other dimensions, with the goal of becoming a modern-day Prometheus and saving trillions of lives. This is a slight departure from the comics, where his primary motivation is to travel through the multiverse safely.
After successfully fixing the encoder, the Maulers assist Levy in transferring the memories and knowledge of his alternate selves. However, the plan is thwarted when Invincible intervenes on Cecil's orders, unaware and skeptical of Levy's intentions for the greater good.
Levy calls upon several Maulers to subdue Mark, but as they brutalize him, Levy unexpectedly removes the helmet during the process, triggering a devastating explosion that engulfs everyone in the vicinity – except for Mark.
Prime Video
After emerging from the rubble, one of the Mauler twins discovers Levy still alive but grotesquely deformed and mutated due to the failed transfer. With the memories of countless alternate Levys scrambled in his head, he vows to seek revenge and make Invincible pay.
In an interview with IGN, Robert Kirkman explained that Levy represents the immense danger and scale of Mark's world after the first season. "This character comes in when Nolan is gone and really becomes a Mark-centric villain. He is one of the first villains to truly test Mark and demonstrate his capabilities as a superhero," Kirkman said.
In Season 1, people often asked when Mark would start winning fights. However, in Season 2, he begins to emerge victorious, although he still suffers losses. The introduction of Angstrom Levy is a key factor in depicting Mark as a competent superhero who can hold his own and in establishing the true essence of the show.
Sterling K. Brown breathes life into the character of Angstrom, presenting a more dynamic and vivid portrayal than the comics. He skillfully embodies the depth and authenticity of our scripts, creating a true villain with a relatable and sympathetic core, making him as dangerous and terrifying as he is understandable.
Invincible: Angstrom Levy powers explained
There is a certain empathy for his character that I feel is lacking in the comic. It's probably something that I had in mind, and maybe if I were a better writer, I would have been able to achieve it on the page. However, when you have an actor actually delivering the lines, living through that character, and portraying well-rounded, realistic emotions, there is just a sense of empathy for Angstrom Levy that is much more evident than I anticipated, and that is all Sterling's doing.
Angstrom Levy can travel between dimensions across the multiverse by opening portals at will.
Image Comics
So far, this is the extent of his capabilities. However, in the comics, he gains enhanced strength and resilience after doctors patch him up following the explosion, physically enhancing his body and making him far more durable. His original plan may not have been entirely successful, but it did work to some extent. Despite his insanity, he possesses superhuman intellect that will make him a formidable opponent for Mark, albeit an unpredictable one.
Kirkman elaborated, "If Angstrom Levy is the primary villain, then that is the core of his story. We don't rely too heavily on the multiverse, and we're exploring it in a unique way that sets us apart from other movies and TV shows. It's a big part of his character, as his natural superpower allows him to access other dimensions. We'll be following his journey as he tries to use this power, which may become corrupted over time. Ultimately, this will lead to a collision with Invincible in a way that is detrimental."
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Editor's P/S
1. Invincible Season 2 introduces a formidable new villain, Angstrom Levy, who possesses the extraordinary ability to move between countless dimensions. Haunted by the destruction he has witnessed in various dimensions, Levy is determined to become a modern-day Prometheus and save trillions of lives. However, his plans are thwarted when Invincible intervenes, resulting in a devastating explosion that leaves Levy grotesquely deformed and mutated. Seeking revenge, Levy vows to make Invincible pay.
2. Angstrom Levy is a complex and intriguing character, with a backstory that is both tragic and compelling. His motivations are understandable, yet his methods are extreme and misguided. Sterling K. Brown delivers a nuanced and powerful performance, bringing depth and authenticity to the role. Overall, Angstrom Levy is a worthy successor to Omni-Man as the primary antagonist of Invincible Season 2, and his presence promises to shake up the series in exciting and unexpected ways. I can't wait to see how his story unfolds and how he challenges Mark and the other characters.