Earlier today I went to the cinema to see The Invisible Man (2020) – a horror remake of the H. G. Wells book of the same name. Should you want to know my thoughts on The Invisible Man, you can check out my review over on It’s A Stampede!.
The Invisible Man tells the story of a young woman who is terrorised by her former partner, after he develops the ability to turn invisible. Throughout the course of the movie he hides in plain sight, using his newfound power to terrorise her at every opportunity.
As I sat and watched The Invisible Man, I began to recall an episode of Batman: The Animated Series in which the Caped Crusader crossed paths with a man who also has the ability to turn invisible. The episode was called See No Evil, and it appeared during the first season of the show.
See No Evil was written by Martin Pasko and directed by Dan Riba and in the episode, Kevin Conroy played the role of Batman, while Michael Gross played the part of the Invisible Man aka Lloyd Ventrix.
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What happens in See No Evil?
In See No Evil, a former convict called Lloyd Ventrix, steals an experimental suit that grants him the power of invisibility. By day, he uses this suit to commit crimes undetected, while by night he spends time with his daughter, pretending to be her imaginary friend called Mojo.
Ventrix attracts the attention of Batman when he crosses paths with Bruce Wayne at a jewellery store. Wayne is purchasing a watch when Ventrix dons his suit to rob the store.
Batman attempts to apprehend Ventrix, but fails when it becomes clear that the thief’s power of invisibility gives him the upper hand. Even an attempt to cover Ventrix in paint, thus making him visible, falls flat as the suit has the ability to burn the substance clean off.
As the story progresses, Ventrix keeps tabs on his daughter, even going so far as to approach his ex-wife to convince her that he is changed man. Meanwhile, Batman continues to investigate the case, discovering that the suit is made from a special kind of plastic, which has worrying side-effects.
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How does the suit of invisibility work?
The suit is made from a special plastic, which contains filaments. When an electrical current is run through the filaments, the plastic bends light instead of absorbing it.
The process makes anyone wearing the plastic invisible. However, the plastic is toxic and prolonged exposure can cause mental health issues.
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What makes Ventrix deadly?
Throughout the episode, Ventrix pretends to be someone he is not. Instead of revealing his identity to his daughter, he passes himself off as a friend.
In addition to this, he lies about turning over a new leaf, choosing to continue his criminal career – first by stealing the suit of invisibility, then by committing robberies, and finally by kidnapping his daughter.
Ultimately, what makes Ventrix truly deadly is that he vows not to stop. With the suit in his possession he feels invincible, believing he can do whatever he wants and no one will get in his way.
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What is special about the suit of invisibility?
In addition to giving Ventrix the ability to turn invisible, the plastic can also be used on other objects. In See No Evil, Ventrix coats his car in the plastic, which allows the vehicle to disappear from sight.
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How does Batman stop the Invisible Man?
Following an altercation, Batman manages to cover Ventrix in water, making him temporarily visible. Using this as an opportunity to strike, Batman manages to disable his foe.
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See No Evil is a creepy episode of Batman: The Animated Series, which casts a spotlight on deception. It provides an interesting take on The Invisible Man story, introducing a one-time villain into the Batman: The Animated Series mythology.
If you liked The Invisible Man and also love Batman, then I recommend checking out See No Evil. And should you wish to read more Batman-related posts please take a look around this blog or check out one of the recommended reads below.
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