Who Is Shapesmith? Invincible Season 2 Hero’s Identity & Powers Explained

Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Invincible season 2, episode 2!

Invincible season 2, episode 2 finally introduced the superhero Shapesmith to the Amazon Prime Video series, and here’s who the character is, how his powers work, and what his role in Invincible season 2 might be. The Invincible universe is full of all kinds of supes, with the various characters having a variety of powers and roles in the overarching story. Although Invincible season 2, episode 2 introduced all kinds of new characters, Shapesmith is easily one of the most important. Many viewers are wondering what Shapesmith is up to, so here’s everything we know about Invincible‘s newest shape-shifting superhero.

Invincible season 2 is finally here, with the highly-anticipated continuation of Amazon Prime Video’s beloved animated superhero series now releasing on the streaming platform. Invincible season 2 has made a lot of promises, with the season expected to follow up on Invincible’s battle with Omni-Man in Chicago as well as introducing an all-new multiversal threat: Angstrom Levy. Season 2, episode 2 expanded the world of Invincible to a great length, showing off some new characters and locations for the first time. Shapesmith is one of the characters first seen in the episode, with him greatly piquing the interest of fans of the series.

Shapesmith’s Shape-Shifting Powers In Invincible Explained

Invincible‘s Shapesmith has only been around for one episode in season 2 so far, but the series has already shown off what abilities the character has and how they work. The aptly-named superhero has the power to shapeshift into almost anyone and possibly anything, making him an especially useful asset to the Guardians of the Globe. Shapesmith tends to stay in the appearance of a human male with an orange and blue suit, although he is able to take on a variety of different identities, including a NASA astronaut as well as his original appearance, with a massive twist revealing the character’s true origins.

Besides Shapesmith being able to transform into different appearances, the superhero also has a variety of other powers. One of Shapesmith’s signature abilities is the power to stretch, allowing him to contort his body in a variety of different ways. When punched, Shapesmith’s elastic body can expand to bear the blow. Shapesmith’s abilities to squash and stretch make him almost invincible, with his powers matching his energetic personality. Shapesmith’s powers will undoubtedly get more screentime as he appears further in Invincible season 2, introducing even more of his wacky abilities to the Guardians of the Globe as well as fans of Invincible.

Who Shapesmith Actually Is: Identity & Backstory

Shapesmith’s identity is one of the biggest mysteries in Invincible season 2, episode 2, with the character’s history and origins being kind of vague throughout the story. At first, Shapesmith takes the appearance of one of the astronauts who was attacked by Sequids while on Mars. Shapesmith apparently replaced him at some point, with the hero clearly not understanding human culture or how Earth works upon his initial arrival. Shapesmith then changes appearances again to take on the look of Shapesmith, but even this disguise isn’t the superhero’s true form.

As it turns out, Shapesmith actually isn’t from Earth at all. Instead, Shapesmith is a Martian who traveled to Earth after the invasion of the Sequids, with him living among the humans since his arrival on the Blue Marble. The Martians were decimated by the invasion of the Sequids, but Shapesmith managed to get out for unknown reasons. Shapesmith’s powers make him a similar hero to the former Guardian of the Globe member Martian Man, although he is keeping his identity as an alien secret for unknown reasons.

How Invincible Season 2’s Shapesmith Compares To The Comics (& What Comes Next)

Shapesmith’s origins as presented in Invincible season 2 are almost beat-for-beat how the character’s story plays out in the comics. In both the comics and the TV series, Shapesmith is a Martian who takes over the life of astronaut Russ Livingston, only for him to get put on leave and evicted from his apartment. The character then learns about Martian Man and decides to become the superhero known as Shapesmith.

Shapesmith’s role in Invincible season 2 will almost certainly have to do with a new major threat: the Sequid invasion of Earth. In the comics, a Martian fleet decides to attack Earth, only for it to be revealed that the invasion was put on by the Sequids who were controlling the Martians. Shapesmith’s identity as a Martian helps him alert the rest of Earth before the Martians reach the planet, allowing the Guardians to put together a response. Shapesmith’s time as a superhero and member of the Guardians will continue to be explored in Invincible season 2, which is exciting for many fans of the character.