Summary
One of the most impressive feats of Robert Kirkman’sInvincibleis its enormous cast of characters. Not every figure gets a full profile, but there’s something fascinating about almost every hero and villain. The small-scale social interactions between high school students fit neatly next to the conflicts for the fate of the world. Life in the Viltrum Empire hasn’t been explored in depth yet, but one of its most important figures is about to join the show.
Robert Kirkman’s adaptation of his comicbook seriesInvincibleimmediately became one of the most celebrated animated series of modern memory. The first season left fans hungry for more, but there’s been a long delay with limited information. The second season is prepared to launch later this year with a few new figures in tow.
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Who is Thaedus?
Thaedus was the first Viltrumite to rebel against the empire that birthed him. The Viltrumite race is entirely devoted to violent conquest. They seek to own the galaxy, one planet at a time. Thaedus sought to stop their campaign of brutality. His actions turned the species on their head forever.Viltrumites are extraordinarily toughto kill, even for other members of the race. Instead of using his immense strength to attack other Viltrumites, Thaedus chose to focus on developing tactics and weapons to dismantle the Viltrum Empire gradually.
Thaedus formed the Coalition of Planets. Fans will recognize its leader, Allen the Alien. Allen is tasked with testing the appointed defender of any given world, ensuring they can resist an attack by orbital threats. Allen was created as part of a breeding program that Thaedus started and stopped. Allen grew in power each time he was attacked, eventually making him as strong as the average Viltrumite. Allen would become one of the most significant threats to the Viltrumite Empire.
Thaedus’s plan to defeat the Viltrumites started long before he formed the coalition. He assassinated Argall, the former emperor of the Viltrumites. Argall wasNolan Grayson’s father andthe leader of the species. His death led to a civil war in which the weaker members of the race were killed off. Viltrumites began invading other planets to create a perfect empire. Argall’s reputation as a leader was mixed, but his death led to a darker time for the species. Thaedus had to take greater countermeasures against his own people.
How did Thaedus betray the Viltrumites?
Thaedus’s efforts to defeat the all-powerful species of conquerors required many advancements. The Viltrumite civil war killed a significant percentage of the population, but many still remained.Nolan would go onto reveal the species' unfortunate secret. There are only 50 pure-blood Viltrumites by the timeInvincible’s story begins. 99.9% of the race was obliterated by the Scourge Virus. The Coalition of Planets constructed the virus using Thaedus’s blood as the primary ingredient. The Scourge radically weakens Viltrumites, robbing them of their strength and resiliency. Without their natural gifts, most Viltrumites were slaughtered. The only reason 0.01% of the population survived is that some bloodlines possessed immunity to the virus.
Thaedus created the Coalition of Planets, but he didn’t make the first Scourge Virus. He did, however, perfect a second strain of the illness that could completely purge all Viltrumites. Thaedus reserved that strain in case of emergencies. As other Viltrumites came to see his side of the argument, he held itas a final trump card. Thaedus spent years on the run before establishing an army to fight the Viltrum Empire. His life was long, difficult, and as full of blood as any other member of his species.
Who will play Thaedus?
Thaedus will be portrayed by Peter Cullen, a man whose career has been defined by his regular portrayals of the two most different characters in animated history. Check the man’s IMDB page.He’s Optimus Prime in manyversions ofTransformersand Eeyore in many versions ofWinnie the Pooh. Cullen has been duly celebrated for both of those characters, but his body of work is wider than that. He provided the iconicsounds of the Yautja fromPredator. He was the original voice of KARR, the evil car fromKnight Rider. He portrayed Monterey Jack inChip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers. He’s one of the most iconic voices of the Saturday Morning Cartoon era and his inclusion inInvinciblewill be a boon to the series’ excellent cast.
Thaedus is a fascinating character who could benefit from a deeper divein the upcoming adaptation. As season two prepares to take the world by storm, fans will be thrilled to see a Viltrumite break from tradition and demonstrate some morality. There’s so much fun to be had in the upcoming entries. Thaedus is the man partially responsible for the downfall of the Viltrum Empire, and his presence will lead the series into the war against Nolan Grayson’s people.
