Mission to Mars
EpisodeA NASA crew bound for the red planet is captured by its hidden Martian inhabitants, and Invincible tags along to protect them. The rescue succeeds, but a fateful swap leaves one astronaut behind, planting the seed of the Sequid crisis to come.
Summary
Following the murder of the Guardians and the Flaxan invasion, Cecil informs Mark that astronauts have been sent to Mars and asks him to shadow the two-week mission. Aboard the spacecraft, Mark adjusts to weightlessness and hardened food while staying out of sight, then slips away to explore the Martian surface alone in search of the planet's buried inhabitants.
He is swarmed by Sequids, aggressive parasites with a history of destroying worlds, and fights them off before reaching a hidden Martian city. There the Martian Emperor explains their long war with the Sequids, kept in check only by the Martians' shape-shifting, which the parasites cannot bond with. Fearing the creatures might claim human hosts, the Martians sentence the astronauts to death, but Mark tricks his captors and hauls the crew back toward their ship, carrying them through a pursuing horde with his strength and speed.
During the frantic takeoff, Rus Livingston is knocked out and left behind unnoticed, and a Martian shape-shifter takes his place among the returning crew. Down on the surface, the abandoned Rus is overtaken by the Sequids, and the parasites turn on the shocked Martians, beginning their conquest of Mars.
Key Events
Invincible rescues three of the four astronauts and returns them safely to Earth. Rus Livingston is left on Mars and possessed by the Sequids, while a disguised Martian secretly replaces him aboard the ship.
The Sequids begin overrunning Mars, marking the true genesis of the Sequid threat that would erupt on Earth later.
Notes
The event debuts in the fourth Season 1 episode, Neil Armstrong, Eat Your Heart Out, set in the Thragg Era during the fall of 2022, and later reappears as a flashback in the fifth Season 2 episode. It sits between the Flaxan Invasion and the Machine Head Takedown, running alongside Nolan's Odyssey.
This mission directly sets up the major conflict of Season 2, when the Sequids and their host return to threaten Earth.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to the astronauts on Mars in Invincible?
During Mission to Mars, Invincible secretly protects a NASA crew sent to the red planet, rescuing three of the four astronauts, while Rus Livingston is knocked out and left behind, where the parasitic Sequids overtake him.
Why does Invincible go to Mars?
Cecil sends Invincible to secretly shadow a two-week NASA mission to Mars in this event, following the murder of the Guardians and the Flaxan invasion, asking Mark to protect the astronauts without being seen.
Who are the Martians and why do they threaten the astronauts in Mission to Mars?
In Mission to Mars, the shape-shifting Martians, led by the Martian Emperor, live in a hidden city and have long warred with the parasitic Sequids; fearing the parasites might claim human hosts, they sentence the visiting astronauts to death.
What is left behind after the Mission to Mars event, and why does it matter?
During Mission to Mars, a Martian shape-shifter secretly takes the unconscious Rus Livingston's place among the returning crew, while the real Rus is left on Mars and possessed by the Sequids, setting up the Sequid invasion of Earth.
How does Mission to Mars connect to later Invincible events?
Mission to Mars directly sets up the major conflict of Invincible's second season, when the Sequids and their host Rus Livingston return to threaten Earth.
Sources & Information
Looking for more on Mission to Mars? The Invincible Wiki on Fandom has a dedicated page with community notes.
View on FandomThis content is original writing by Daddy Jim Anime based on the Invincible anime series, manga, and official materials. Invincible was created by Robert Kirkman, Cory Walker and Ryan Ottley, published by Image Comics / Skybound, and animated by Skybound Animation. All rights to Invincible and its characters belong to their respective owners. Episode and chapter references are cited where applicable.
Rights holders
- Created byRobert Kirkman, Cory Walker and Ryan Ottley
- Published byImage Comics / Skybound
- Animated bySkybound Animation
All rights belong to their respective owners.
Character and scene imagery on this site is original artwork by Daddy Jim Anime, not screenshots or licensed imagery. Official cover art is used on three types of pages for editorial commentary:
- Movie pages: theatrical posters and key visuals, credited to Skybound Animation and Image Comics / Skybound.
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