Spoilers for “Invincible” season 4 episode 7 “Do not Do Something Rash” observe.
Season 4 of “Invincible” has heated up right into a full-blown house opera, as our heroes assist the Coalition of Planets combat towards the evil Viltrum Empire. The Coalition’s chief is Thaedus (Peter Cullen, most well-known because the voice of heroic Autobot chief Optimus Prime in “Transformers”). Between his Christian God-like look and sensible voice, Thaedus gave the impression to be a typical “massive good” character at first, a la Cullen’s aforementioned primary position.
Then, “Invincible” season 3 revealed that Thaedus is a Viltrumite himself. Way back, he grew disgusted along with his folks’s brutality and conquests. So, he assassinated the Viltrumites’ Emperor Argall, for which the Viltrumites name him “The Nice Betrayer.” When the much more brutal Grand Regent Thragg (Lee Tempo) took over, Thaedus developed a “Scourge Virus” to wipe out Viltrumites; he dedicated genocide on his personal folks, leaving lower than 50 Viltrumites alive.
“Invincible” season 4 episode 2 beforehand depicted the early days of the virus on Viltrum, and confirmed how Viltrumites nonetheless revere Argall. Now, episode 7 opens with a scene exhibiting Thaedus’ betrayal and Thragg’s ascension. We lastly see Argall within the flesh and listen to him discuss. Who performs his voice? Legendary voice actor Frank Welker. “Transformers” followers (like this one) noticed an Easter egg as quickly as they heard Argall discuss.
Certainly one of Welker’s most well-known roles is taking part in Decepticon chief Megatron, Optimus’ nemesis, within the unique 1984 “Transformers” cartoon. Casting Welker because the enemy of Thaedus, a personality performed by Peter Cullen, is unquestionably intentional. “Invincible” co-creator Robert Kirkman is an enormous “Transformers” fan, and is at present writing the continuing “Transformers” comedian for his firm Skybound Leisure. (A comic book that is already introduced massive modifications for Optimus Prime and Megatron.)
Frank Welker reverse Peter Cullen in Invincible reunites Megatron and Optimus Prime
If we’re evaluating cartoon credentials, Peter Cullen as Optimus Prime is to Frank Welker as Megatron simply because the late Kevin Conroy’s Batman was to Mark Hamill’s Joker. Two definitive voices for a hero and villain, paired off time and time once more in new tales. Cullen’s Optimus and Welker’s Megatron sparred in nearly each episode of the primary two “Transformers” seasons, earlier than reaching a climactic closing battle in 1986’s “The Transformers: The Film.” Little did the filmmakers understand how enduring this robotic rivalry can be in years to come back.
Cullen made his grand return as Optimus Prime within the Michael Bay-directed “Transformers” film in 2007. Welker, although, was recast as Megatron by Hugo Weaving, who took the half with excessive indifference. Weaving stayed round for the 2 subsequent sequels, whereas Welker needed to accept voicing Megatron in some film tie-in video video games.
Pairing Cullen’s Optimus off towards a Megatron with out Welker’s voice by no means felt fairly proper, which the 2010 cartoon “Transformers: Prime” rectified by bringing each actors again. Welker-as-Megatron virtually breaks the fourth wall in his debut scene, proclaiming: “Decepticons, I’ve returned!” From there, Welker additionally returned for the latter two Bay films, “Age of Extinction” and “The Final Knight.”
For his return, Welker refined his Megatron voice to sinister new heights. Within the unique cartoon, Megatron was a bumbling villain with a shouty voice. (That is not a mark towards Welker; he was doing what the present referred to as for.) In “Transformers: Prime,” Megatron speaks like an erudite king, however there’s at all times a growl of menace underpinning his voice even at his most calm. Megatron first amassed followers along with his phrases, however he is nonetheless as bloodthirsty as a gladiator turned warlord must be.
How Invincible’s Thaedus compares to Optimus Prime
In the course of the flashback in “Do not Do Something Rash,” Viltrumite leaders focus on the best way to cope with a conquered planet in revolt. Thaedus argues that their topics will cease rebelling in the event that they rule with a lighter hand, however Argall as an alternative orders his troopers to cull the planet’s inhabitants by 25%.
That is a really Megatron-esque transfer, as a result of Argall is a tyrant similar to the Decepticon chief; he preaches rule of the sturdy and believes his race has the precise to “carry order” to the galaxy. Megatron’s perception in “peace by tyranny” is an ethos Argall would most likely agree with.
Thaedus, too, shares quite a lot of parallels with Optimus Prime — for good and ailing. Optimus usually takes up a protector position to Earth and humanity, feeling a accountability to stop the Decepticons from ravaging one other world just like the Transformers’ homeworld, Cybertron. Thaedus’ dedication to stopping his race’s harmful nature from harming different folks could be very Optimus Prime-like.
However Thaedus is unquestionably a “means justify the ends” thinker. On high of his later actions, we see on this episode that he killed Argall by placing from the shadows, hardly the act of an honorable warrior. Optimus Prime typically has these tendencies, too. In “The Transformers: The Film,” after the Decepticons ravage Autobot Metropolis, Optimus swears that: “Megatron have to be stopped, regardless of the fee.” In “The Transformers: Prime” season 2 finale, Optimus sacrifices an opportunity to revive Cybertron to avoid wasting Earth as an alternative, a call even a few of his Autobots query.
Within the 2015 online game “Transformers: Devastation,” Megatron (Welker) asks Optimus (Cullen): “Cybertron is the middle of my universe. How is it not the center of yours?” On this episode of “Invincible,” loyal Viltrumites like Thragg pose nearly the identical query to Thaedus.
“Invincible” is streaming on Prime Video.
