The fifth episode of Invincible's first season, in which an overconfident Mark partners with the criminal Titan to bring down crime lord Machine Head. Juggling school and a fraying romance, Invincible walks into a trap and takes the worst beating of his young career.
Summary
That Actually Hurt is the fifth entry in the first season and the fifth overall, airing April 9, 2021, from a script by Christine Lavaf and directed by Jay Baker. Riding high on his new powers, Mark accepts a risky alliance with the local villain Titan to topple the crime lord Machine Head, all while trying to balance school and his budding relationship with Amber. The episode weaves Titan's double life, Mark's chronic tardiness, and Eve's growing independence into a story that ends with Invincible gravely wounded and a hidden schemer coming out ahead.
Key Events
Titan approaches Invincible on a rooftop and convinces him that toppling Machine Head would mean genuinely helping ordinary people. Against Nolan's warning that he is being used, Mark agrees, and the two break into Machine Head's building only to find the crime lord waiting for them. Isotope teleports in a small army of supervillains, including Battle Beast, who overwhelm Invincible and Titan as Omni-Man silently watches from the sky. The newly formed Guardians of the Globe arrive after an anonymous tip, but even they are battered, with Invincible left bleeding out and rushed into GDA care.
Notes
The episode closes on a twist: Isotope actually answers to Titan, who orchestrated the entire operation to seize control of the city for the sake of his family. Elsewhere, Debbie discovers Damien Darkblood's notebook and confirms her mounting suspicions about Nolan, Eve walks out on her disapproving parents, and Robot recruits the Mauler Twins for their cloning expertise. A final lab scene notes that Viltrumite cells simply refuse to die. The title nods to a line Invincible speaks in the nineteenth issue of the comic after taking a hit from the Tether Tyrant.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens in Invincible's That Actually Hurt?
That Actually Hurt is the fifth episode of Invincible's first season, in which Mark partners with the criminal Titan to bring down crime lord Machine Head while juggling school and his relationship with Amber. The episode ends with Invincible badly wounded and a hidden schemer coming out ahead.
Why does Mark team up with Titan in That Actually Hurt?
Titan approaches Invincible on a rooftop and convinces him that toppling crime lord Machine Head would mean genuinely helping ordinary people, so Mark agrees despite Nolan's warning that he is being used.
What is revealed about Titan's true motives at the end of the episode?
The episode closes on a twist revealing that Isotope actually answers to Titan, who orchestrated the entire Machine Head operation in order to seize control of the city for the sake of his family.
What happens to Invincible during the fight with Machine Head's forces?
Isotope teleports in an army of supervillains, including Battle Beast, who overwhelm Invincible and Titan; even the newly formed Guardians of the Globe are battered, and Invincible is left bleeding out and rushed into GDA care.
What does the title That Actually Hurt refer to?
The title nods to a line Invincible speaks in the nineteenth issue of the comic after taking a hit from the Tether Tyrant.
Sources & Information
Looking for more on That Actually Hurt? 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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