Rex Splode's Powers & Origin In Invincible Explained

Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Invincible season 3, episode 3!

Rex Splode is one of Invincible's main superhero characters, and while he has shown off his abilities a lot, surprisingly little is known about his origins and backstory. Like many of the superheroes in the world of Invincible, Rex Splode is a well-established hero by the beginning of the series, with him already working as a GDA-affiliated hero when Mark becomes Invincible. However, parts of Rex Splode's backstory have been drip-fed to audiences throughout the three seasons, with Invincible season 3's first three episodes providing a little more context.

At the start of Invincible, Rex Splode was an incredibly unlikable character. He was in a bad relationship with Atom Eve, he was jealous of Invincible's role in the GDA, and his ego was constantly getting in the way of the Teen Team. However, ever since the Lizard League attack in Invincible season 2, Rex Splode has been undergoing a redemption arc. By the time Invincible season 3 rolls around, Rex Splode is one of the show's most likable characters, raising questions about how his backstory impacted the negative aspects of his personality.

Rex Splode's Background & Origin Before Invincible Explained

What The Show Has Revealed About His Backstory

Not much is known about Rex Splode's backstory before the events of Invincible, but here is what the show has revealed. According to Invincible season 3, Rex had an incredibly unhappy childhood starting at a very young age. Rex says that his parents sold him to the government for a cheap price, with him then being experimented on. Rex grew up in the care of the government, most likely under the supervision of the GDA. Now, Rex is a superhero for the GDA, meaning that he never left his government home.

The Invincible comics provide a little more context. In the comics, Rex is still sold to the government, with former GDA Director Radcliffe making the offer. Radcliffe then used Rex as his personal errand boy, sending him on morally questionable missions like robberies and assassinations. Eventually, Radcliffe tasked Rex with blowing up the Pentagon. While on this mission, Rex met Atom Eve, with Eve setting him on the right path. Rex then helps stop Erickson, the villain from Invincible's Atom Eve special, with Rex shortly after becoming a proper superhero.

How Rex Splode's Powers Work In Invincible

They Aren't Natural

Rex Splode fights using explosions throughout Invincible, with many asking how these powers work. According to the show and the comics, Rex is able to harness the power of molecular acceleration. This means that Rex is able to charge the molecules in any object up, with them becoming unstable and exploding upon receiving kinetic energy. Rex typically keeps small objects on him, with him charging these items up and using them like projectiles during combat.

Rex's powers aren't natural, at least according to the comics. After being sold to the government, Rex was experimented on, with him receiving implants in his hands. These implants are what allow Rex to use his molecular acceleration powers, with them being made even more strong after Rex's gets his cybernetic hand after Invincible season 2's Lizard League attack. On top of that, Rex is also a skilled fighter and acrobat, allowing him to excel in hand-to-hand combat without his powers.

Rex Splode's Timeline In Invincible Seasons 1 & 2

What Happened Before Season 3

A lot happens to Rex during Invincible season 1 and 2, although his story is far from over at the start of Invincible season 3. Rex starts Invincible as an established member of the Teen Team, with him being in a relationship with Atom Eve and meeting Mark after he became Invincible. Eventually, Rex and Eve break up after Eve catches Rex cheating on her with Dupli-Kate, among other things. Rex went on to try out for the Guardians of the Globe after the original team was killed by Omni-Man, with him eventually making the cut.

Rex Splode began a redemption arc in Invincible season 2, with him trying to change his ways and become a better leader. Things got bad for Rex near the end of Invincible season 2, with him, Shrinking Rae, and Dupli-Kate going to a missile base to stop the Lizard League. Things went horribly wrong in this fight, however, with Rex and Rae being horribly injured and Kate seemingly dying. Luckily, Rex recovered thanks to some cybernetic enhancements, allowing him to start his story in Invincible season 3.