The central characters ofInvincibleare two unique takes on Superman. Omni-Man subverts the narrative of an alien sent here to save humanity to create a soldier of an alien empire sent to dominate Earth. Invincible, his son, is a teen hero adapting Superman’s struggle between two sets of parents. Alongside their story, fun remixes of other heroes populate the secondary cast. Damien Darkblood is Rorschach fromWatchmenby way of Hellboy.
Like many superhero satires,Invinciblehas antagonists beyond its supervillains or corrupt heroes.The Boyshas a corporation aspowerful as The Seven.Invincibleaims its critique toward government instead of business. The series' Global Defense Agency or G.D.A. is as corrupt and vicious as any alien threat. They’ve proven their willingness to eliminate anyone in the way of their goals.
Damien Darkblood’s role inInvincible
Damien Darkblood, sometimes called the Great Horned Holmes, is the only person actively working to expose Omni-Man’s brutal murder of theGuardians of the Globe. Darkblood is a repentant demon who escaped Hell and dedicated his life to solving mysteries and helping the innocent. He’s only present for the second, third, and fourth episodes of season one. He finds it unusual that Omni-Man survived the attack, causing him to pursue Nolan as his prime suspect. Darkblood is, in many ways, the opposite of Omni-Man. He’s genuine, selfless, and heroic. He seeks to do good, but his appearance provokes distrust and fear. Conversely, Omni-Man is a monster performing a convincing impression of a noble savior. He would be the perfect foil to find the grim truth of his Viltrumite origins and plans. Darkblood putspressure on Omni-Manby unearthing his secrets, sewing doubt in the people who supported the supposed hero. Though he’s the first person to put holes in Omni-Man’s armor, his quest for the truth ends in tragedy.
What happens to Damien Darkblood?
Darkblood investigates Omni-Man thoroughly. He attends the Guardians' funeral, speaks to Nolan’s wife, and consistently tracks the Viltrumite’s movements. Darkblood initially works with Cecil Steadman of the G.D.A., but the cold-hearted director eventually orders the demon to drop the case.Omni-Man threatens his lifewhile feigning confidence, convinced that the world will believe the celebrated hero regardless of the evidence. After finding dried blood in his office, Cecil and a small army take Darkblood into custody. The demon plainly states that Omni-Man planted fake evidence against him, and Cecil agrees. Though both men know Darkblood didn’t commit the crime, Cecil can’t have him sniffing around after he ordered him to stop. Cecil arranges an exorcism to send Darkblood back to Hell, revealing an AI-reconstructed tome that he kept hidden. Darkblood disappears into Hell, cursing Cecil with a worse fate that has yet to come. His final words in the series (so far) are:
I’d say I’d see you in Hell, but there’s a worse place waiting for you.
Who plays Damien Darkblood?
Themighty Clancy Brownportrays Damien Darkblood inInvincible. Brown is one of the great character actors working today. He’s in a bit of everything, from superhero movies and shows to long-running cartoons to stellar action films and beyond. He’s likely best known for providing the voice of Eugene H. Krabs inSpongeBob SquarePants, a role he’s held for almost 25 years. Brown is a stunningly prolific performer with nearly every major franchise under his belt. Damien Darkblood is in Brown’s wheelhouse. He usually portrays villains, authoritarian leaders, or characters with gravitas. Brown appears again in the show as General Kregg,a notable Viltrumite. Even if Darkblood doesn’t return, Brown will stay with the series.
Damien Darkblood inInvinciblecomics
Damien Darkblood is completely different in the comics. He’s a gag at the expense of characters like Rorschach. The show’s Darkblood is a stellar detective who solves the case ages before anyone else starts looking. He takes the fall for Cecil’s moral bankruptcy and disappears from the plot.The comics portray himas an incompetent fool who only discovers Omni-Man’s involvement in the murders a few weeks after his public confession. Darkblood barely has a backstory, and his role in the comic’s narrative is nonexistent. The show elevated the character far beyond his origin.
Damien Darkblood plays a small but impactful role inInvincible. He isn’t around long, but he creates the first tiny crack in Omni-Man’s seemingly faultless defenses. If Cecil had allowed the demon detective to continue his investigation,Omni-Man would have beenpublically exposed within a week, and Mark’s fight with his dad would have come considerably sooner. Though that outcome would likely have been even worse in the long run, Darkblood’s commitment to the truth and skills as a detective would have drastically changed the narrative. Damien Darkblood was a brilliant detective and a decent demon. He’s a living example that heroes don’t always look like saviors.
