How Invincible Season 3 Changes Rex After His Near-Fatal Lizard League Fight Previewed By Star

Invincible star Jason Mantzoukas teases how his character will evolve in Invincible season 3. Mantzoukas provides his vocal talents for the role of Rex Splode, a member of the superhero group Guardians of the Globe. After surviving the tumultuous ending of Invincible season 2, Rex has become more of a key character in the series' third installment. He is now closer to Mark aka Invincible than he has been in any previous season. In addition to Mantzoukas, Invincible features a leading voice cast including Steven Yeun, J.K. Simmons, Sandra Oh, Walton Goggins, Gillian Jacobs, and Grey Griffin.

In an interview with Screen Rant for Invincible season 3, Mantzoukas teases what is to come for Rex. The actor references the season 2 Lizard League fight, noting how it has changed Rex Splode. Mantzoukas says that season 3 will see Rex "really coming into his own and becoming an adult" and "understanding that his actions have consequences." In the upcoming episodes, Mantzoukas teases that Rex is "able to forge relationships with people that are meaningful and not just superficial." He hints that things "getting bigger and bigger and bigger and bigger" for Rex.

You know, I feel like this is a really exciting, cool growth period for Rex. I really think the Lizard League fight and everything that he went through in season 2, and now going into season 3, we really are watching, I think, the most interesting storyline on Invincible, Rex Splode. First of all, let's be clear, the most interesting storyline is Rex Splode really growing up, really coming into his own and becoming an adult, which I very much understand. Understanding that his actions have consequences, and that his bluff and bluster is just that, and that there is a very scared person under there who needs to grow up.
It's really cool because, yes, it's absolutely like, I'm getting to do cooler, interesting, emotional stuff that's very exciting. But really, that is all testament to the writing. In the past, Rex Splode oftentimes functions as, like you're saying, a bit of humor, a bit taking the piss in scenes, a jokey kind of side character. And I think in this season — in these episodes, rather — he gets to do really incredible stuff and have scenes that have emotional weight, that really land, and that was really fun to do, and to do in the booth. But, I was getting to say really great lines. The scenes they wrote for Rex were much different than just Rex off on the sidelines quipping, he becomes a different character. It becomes a richer character, which is always fun to do, because, listen, I'm always glad to be funny and brash and loud and all that kind of stuff, which is what Rex has been for the most part. But now, I think, especially post Lizard League fight, it's a real moment for Rex where he becomes self aware, and that's interesting to play a character who's on that journey.
It's interesting. I'll be honest, it's hard to have a rich conversation about this stuff, knowing that I can't speak to very specific moments, and I think that kind of on a big picture, broad-stroke scale. I think, in micro, for Rex, he gets to have different types of scenes with people. He gets to have different moments with everybody, you're getting to have Rex bounce off of people in a different way. But I think, in a larger context, what we're seeing writ large is the continued expansion of this world. What I love about this series, what I loved about these comics, was the constant forward movement that is always not just eating everything up, but getting bigger and bigger and bigger and bigger. And that, to me, is very rich. The cumulative nature of what's already come, never mind what's to come, is awesome. So, season 3, I think, is a real crucible season. What a cool season to — well. [Laughs] It really is hard! It's hard to talk about this stuff when I can't speak to specific moments. I would love to spill the beans, but then I'm gonna have to answer to Robert Kirkman and this f----ng guy, he's a real as---le. [Laughs] And as a comics reader, boy, it's so exciting to be inside of this story that I love so much, that I spent so much time processing.
Yeah, that's kind of what I mean, there's a real sense that whereas he, in the earlier seasons, was so narrow-focused and so insecure and all of that teenage kind of stuff, now I feel like he really has broadened. He's emotionally richer. He's able to forge relationships with people that are meaningful and not just superficial. It's great. His stuff with Mark is great, Rex's stuff with Eve is great. It's really terrific.

What This Means For Rex In Invincible Season 3

Rex Is Going To Have An Emotional Journey

The Lizard League fight occurred during Invincible season 2, episode 5. In the bloody battle, Rex has to stand up for his friends, including Dupli-Kate and Shrinking Ray, who both initially appear to die in this scene. Rex steps up to become the real hero of this fight, saving his friends as much as possible. If things get "bigger and bigger" in the upcoming episodes as Mantzoukas promises, Rex Splode and his friends could soon be thrust into even more perilous situations in season 3.

Beyond the physical danger, Mantzoukas also makes sure to stress the character transformation that Rex Splode is about to go through in season 3. Already, Rex's emotional maturation from season 2 to season 3 is palpable. Rex is a much better support to Mark, and he is more thoughtful and less impulsive than he was in the previous season. Mantzoukas hints that Rex will continue to have these meaningful interactions and "have scenes that have emotional weight."

Our Take On Rex In Invincible Season 3

If Done Well, Rex's Journey Will Epitomize What Makes Invincible Great

Rex Splode injured, with some tech troopers behind him in Invincible S2 Ep6

Invincible season 3 started off strong in the first three episodes, and Mantzoukas' statement instills me with even more confidence for the rest of the season. While Invincible is a comic book adaptation, its best moments are character scenes that humanize the show's superpowered leads. Rex's journey alone sounds like it is composed of more of these moments, and with a breadth of characters, which will give Invincibleseason 3 the emotional punch it needs to carry the story forward.