Unearthed Secrets: Unveiling Atom Eve's Enigmatic Origin in The Invincible Special

Summary

The moment of Atom Eve's creation coincided with a perilous event when the Lizard League, unaware of her existence, launched an attack on the lab while her mother was in the midst of giving birth.

SPOILER WARNING: Atom Eve's tragic backstory has been further explored in a special episode of Invincible, titled Invincible - Presenting Atom Eve Special. This episode unveils new information about her birth, adoptive parents, secret siblings, and numerous deaths. Samantha Eve Wilkins, voiced by Gillian Jacobs, has gained recognition as a prominent character in Prime Video's highly acclaimed animated series. To appease fans during the wait for the second season of Invincible, it was decided to create a dedicated episode focusing on Atom Eve's origin. This surprise episode was announced by Prime Video at San Diego Comic-Con 2023 and made available for streaming on the same day, allowing the beloved character to take center stage.

The Invincible - Presenting Atom Eve Special episode runs for almost an hour and provides viewers with a comprehensive account of Atom Eve's origin story prior to the events of Invincible season 1. Although Atom Eve had a prominent role in the first season of the main show, there wasn't enough time to delve into her past, despite her own storyline. The Invincible - Presenting Atom Eve Special episode rectifies this by unveiling various new details about Atom Eve's origins, which will be unfamiliar to those who haven't read Robert Kirkman and Ryan Ottley's comics.

10 Atom Eve Was Created In An Experimental Lab

The origin story of Atom Eve begins with her birth, delving into the realm of comic book lore. This special episode recounts the tale of how Atom Eve came to exist, detailing her creation in a laboratory through a series of groundbreaking experiments overseen by the brilliant Dr. Brandyworth. In his pursuit to develop a formidable weapon capable of reshaping reality, Dr. Brandyworth approached a destitute pregnant woman named Polly, offering her compensation to partake in a procedure conducted by the esteemed Department of Superhuman Research, a division of the Pentagon. Under the leadership of Erickson, the program sought to engender superhumans, ultimately entrusting Dr. Brandyworth with the momentous task of turning this vision into a tangible reality, a realm of super-powered infants.

The creation of Atom Eve involved the biological mother undergoing experimental procedures at the laboratory. Brandyworth manipulated her amniotic fluid, triggering controlled mutational changes. This process involved the infusion of rapidly decaying particles into her system. While Polly was already pregnant naturally, the transformation of Atom Eve into a super-powered child originated from the laboratory. The experiments proved successful as Polly displayed pink light emitting from her eyes and mouth during childbirth.

9 The Lizard League Attacked The Lab Atom Eve Was Created In

In Invincible, an interesting aspect of Atom Eve's backstory is that the Lizard League unknowingly came close to kidnapping her. On the night that Atom Eve's mother went into labor, the Queen Lizard and her fellow members launched an assault on the laboratory. Their initial objective was to secure a serum, but they encountered unexpected resistance from the Guardians of the Globe and Omni-Man. The intense battle with the world's most renowned superteam led them to suspect that something far more significant than the serum might be concealed within the lab. Although they did not stumble upon Polly, the attack coincided with her labor, prompting Brandyworth to rush her to a nearby hospital.

8 Sam Secretly Replaced Mr. & Mrs. Wilkins' Baby After She Died

One of the most tragic aspects of Atom Eve's backstory in the TV series Invincible is the unexpected revelation of her adoption and the circumstances surrounding it. While it was already known that she was adopted, the truth behind how Adam and Betsy Wilkins became her parents is far darker than anyone could have anticipated. After the devastating loss of their own baby girl, who tragically passed away for reasons unknown, Brandyworth orchestrated a plan to deceive the grieving couple. Under the guise of a nurse, Brandyworth ensured that Atom Eve was given to Adam and Betsy, who were led to believe that she was their own daughter.

7 When Atom Eve First Got Her Powers

Although Samantha always demonstrated intelligence as a child, her Atom Eve transformation abilities only surfaced as she grew older. The first instance of Atom Eve utilizing her powers occurred at the age of 12. Triggered by her father's hurtful remark, she unconsciously transformed her science book into glass, showcasing her capacity to manipulate reality at the atomic level. This moment propelled her to further experiment with her powers, transforming a sandwich into a burger or altering the taste of chewing gum. Notably, she discovered that her powers were unable to affect organic matter.

6 Atom Eve's First Superhero Costumes Are Different

5 Atom Eve's History With Killcannon Confirmed

In Invincible's Atom Eve origin story, a new detail expected to be revealed is her initial superhero costumes. Similar to other superheroes like Mark Grayson, Atom Eve starts off by creating her own makeshift superhero suit. She adorns a pink hoodie and an eye mask that she crafts for her initial patrols. However, this outfit doesn't last long as Atom Eve soon designs her true superhero costume. The new suit features a skirt, a mini cape, a headband, and a mask, all incorporating her signature light pink colors that she carries throughout her teenage years and adulthood.

Another aspect of Atom Eve's backstory explored in the special prequel episode of Invincible involves her entanglement with Killcannon. In the comics, Killcannon is presented as Atom Eve's inaugural nemesis and archenemy. The Invincible - Presenting Atom Eve Special illustrates their encounter in a dimly lit alley, where a fierce clash ensues as she strives to thwart his theft. Remarkably, Atom Eve holds her own in the skirmish and ultimately triumphs by incapacitating the laser cannon embedded in Killcannon's arm, causing a cataclysmic explosion. This pivotal event rationalizes the presence of his significantly enlarged cannon arm in the first season of Invincible.

4 Atom Eve's Biological Dad Is Still A Mystery

The origin of Atom Eve's biological father remains a lingering mystery after the Invincible special episode. While it is confirmed that Polly is her biological mother, the show reveals that Brandyworth has no knowledge of who he is or if he is her father. This intriguing detail has not been explored in Robert Kirkman and Ryan Ottley's comics, leaving Atom Eve's father's identity and whereabouts unknown. With the Invincible special episode delving into Polly's backstory, it is possible that Invincible season 2 will shed light on who Atom Eve's biological father truly is.

3 Atom Eve Had Secret Siblings Who Were Government Experiments

In a surprising twist taken directly from the comics, Atom Eve's origin story in Invincible reveals the existence of her secret siblings. Contrary to what was believed, Polly, the woman who supposedly died the night Atom Eve was born, was actually kept alive by Erickson and the Pentagon. They used her as a subject for their ongoing experiments in creating superhuman children. Although Polly suffered severe brain damage and couldn't be saved, the organization continued to utilize her body as a surrogate for further attempts. Unfortunately, none of these experiments matched the success of Brandyworth's efforts to bestow powers upon Samantha. As a result, these children grew to resent Atom Eve and even launched attacks against her.

2 Atom Eve's Origin Is Loaded With Tragedy

The Invincible - Presents Atom Eve Special episode delves into the tragic origins of Atom Eve, bringing forth a multitude of sorrow for the aspiring hero. Alongside confronting her hidden siblings and witnessing their untimely demise in various ways, she also bears witness to the deaths of Brandyworth and Polly. Though not entirely intentional, both individuals are fatally shot by Erickson during their ultimate confrontation. Atom Eve's mother tragically succumbs to a stray bullet amidst the scuffle between Brandyworth and Erickson, while the same chaotic clash results in Brandyworth being shot by Erickson. If these devastations weren't enough, they all occur on her birthday, further unraveling Eve's bond with her adoptive parents.

1 Atom Eve Wiped The Minds Of Government Officials

Atom Eve's incredible powers are fully revealed as her origin story reaches a climax. Overcoming the psychological barriers imposed by Brandyworth's death, Atom Eve transcends her inability to harm living beings. She skillfully manipulates the minds of Erickson and his doctor, wiping their memories of her and the entire incident. This exceptional ability to erase recollections showcases Atom Eve's true potential, especially in the most critical of circumstances. This final revelation about Atom Eve's origins is unveiled in the Invincible special.