Unveiling Atom Eve's Epic Conclusion: A Definitive Explanation

This article contains spoilers for the television special Invincible: Atom Eve and Season 1 of Invincible. Premiering on July 21st, 2023, Invincible: Atom Eve on Amazon Prime Video serves as a crucial addition to the beloved character Atom Eve's backstory. With a runtime of nearly an hour, it feels more like a feature-length film for fans of the show. Getting a glimpse into Atom Eve's life, from her birth to the discovery of her powers and her early triumphs as a superhero at just twelve years old, this special is a must-watch before Season 2 arrives in November 2023. Keep an eye out for the epilogue, which may unveil intriguing details about the Grayson family.

What happens in Invincible: Atom Eve?

The special episode begins with Dr. Elias Brandyworth, a character from the Invincible comics, rescuing Samantha (Atom Eve) during her birth. Previously, Brandyworth had been working at the Global Defense Agency under Steven Erickson to create a super-weapon through the artificial impregnation of a disadvantaged woman named Polly. However, Brandyworth begins to question the ethics of his experimentation and decides to save Polly and her unborn child from Erickson's exploitatory clutches.

Defying orders, Brandyworth takes Polly to a hospital for the delivery of her child, lying to Erickson that both mother and child have died. This turns out to be untrue, as revealed at the end of the episode. Fast forward seven years, Samantha has been raised by a normal couple who are unaware of her extraordinary origins. Samantha, a remarkably intelligent and perceptive child, is misunderstood by her parents who mistakenly consider her insightful observations as social awkwardness.

Only when a teenage babysitter reveals Samantha's remarkable knowledge of chemistry do her parents realize her true intelligence. They then decide to enroll her in a school for gifted children. However, Samantha still feels disconnected from her close-minded parents and unimpressed by her peers. Her only true friend is Val, a girl living across the street.

Five years later, Samantha and Val's friendship remains intact, until a life-changing moment occurs. Samantha suddenly becomes aware of her extraordinary abilities when she transforms her chemistry textbook into a solid glass object. Eager to share her newfound powers with Val, Samantha's display of strength instead terrifies her friend, causing Val to flee and disappear for the remainder of the special. Left feeling abandoned, Samantha, at the age of twelve, embraces her superhero potential and effortlessly combats criminals in an alley. It is during this time that Brandyworth approaches Samantha and reveals some altered details about her birth. Worried about the repercussions, Brandyworth implores Samantha to abstain from using her powers, as he fears that it may attract the attention of Erickson. In a surprising twist, an aerial drone has captured their entire interaction.

Eventually, Erickson locates Samantha and sends a group of failed experiments, who are also children, to attack her. Despite facing multiple opponents, Samantha defeats them with ease, requiring Brandyworth's intervention only once. The ultimate showdown occurs between Samantha and her most powerful sibling, Phase Two, whose energy depletes just before Samantha loses consciousness. When Samantha wakes up, she discovers that Erickson has captured her and has been keeping Polly, her mother, alive. He aims to recreate her powers in his failed experiments, who now lay dead and dismembered at Samantha's hands. Tragically, Erickson kills both Polly and Brandyworth, but Samantha manages to escape, wipe Erickson's memory, and return home unharmed.

How does Invincible: Atom Eve end?

The special ends on a somber note as Samantha's supposed parents, Brandyworth and Polly, are lost forever. Samantha has never felt a strong connection to her adoptive parents, Adam and Betsy, and the special concludes by reinforcing this unfortunate relationship. Samantha returns home on her birthday to find her parents waiting for her, but her father becomes angry when she refuses to reveal the real reason for her absence. Instead, she chooses to escape to her room.

The final image in the special is a fake family photograph created by Eve to replace the broken picture of Samantha's adoptive family. The symbolism is clear: Samantha's bond with Brandyworth, Polly, and her siblings from her past surpasses her already fragile connection with her adoptive parents. This explains her unwavering dedication to her hero work in Season 1 of Invincible. Feeling distant from her adoptive parents, Samantha seeks a sense of belonging in her heroics, associating it with the "family" she longs for with Brandyworth and Polly.

What happens in the epilogue of Invincible: Atom Eve?

As the special comes to an end, a title card poses the question: "Where was Mark Grayson during all of this?" The following epilogue portrays a seemingly ordinary evening in the lives of Debbie, Nolan, and Mark Grayson. Nolan returns home, presumably from his heroic duties, and greets Debbie with a kiss. However, the scene takes a lighthearted turn when Mark bursts into the room wearing duct tape from head to toe, identifying himself as "Duct Tape Man." Debbie instructs Nolan to continue preparing dinner while she helps Mark remove his makeshift costume, creating a cute and playful atmosphere.

Yet, the epilogue takes a dark turn towards the end, reminiscent of the chilling conclusion of Season 1. Nolan comments, "That boy is never getting his powers, is he?" Debbie walks away to attend to Mark, and a close-up of Nolan's face reveals a hint of violent intent. It appears as though he may harm both of them in that very moment, but something holds him back. He eases into a state of distress, letting his massive shoulders sink, and covers his face before the scene fades to black.

To Invincible comic readers, the Amazon series indicates that Omniman's character journey will likely follow a familiar path. The first season concludes on a somewhat ambiguous note, leaving fans who haven't read the comics unsure of Omniman's intentions when he seemingly abandons his attack on Mark just as victory seemed certain. However, a single final shot provides clarity, revealing the evident devastation and paralysis on Omniman's face, indicating that he has harbored affection for humans for much longer than Season 1 suggests. His decision to spare Mark's life stems not only from his Viltrumite powers but also from genuine fondness for his earthly family, even though he believes Mark's Viltrumite genes will never activate. Perhaps Season 2 will delve deeper into this concept when it airs later this year.

You can now stream Invincible Season 1 and Invincible: Atom Eve on Amazon Prime Video.