Rex Splode

Rex Splode
Publication information
Publisher	Image Comics
First appearance	Invincible #2 (February 2003)
Created by	Robert Kirkman Cory Walker
In-story information
Alter ego	Unknown
Team affiliations	Guardians of the Globe Teen Team
Abilities	Heightened agility, energy manipulation, blast power, implants

Rex Splode is a fictional superhero in the Image Comics series Invincible, gifted with the ability to make inanimate objects explode. He first appeared in Invincible #2 (February 2003).

Fictional character biography

Born into a poor family, Rex was taken in by the government, his parents essentially being paid for him. Rex was put under extreme physical training, and was experimented upon, gaining the power to heat up non-organic material enough for them to explode. He also developed mild invulnerability and low-level super strength. Eventually, Rex escaped and sought out his family, only to learn that, after being paid, they'd moved on with their lives and had two more children.

Rex soon joined the Teen Team, a group of young heroes, and started a relationship with Atom Eve. He eventually begins cheating on her with Dupli-Kate, an amorous teammate, which breaks Eve's heart. Ironically, Rex finds himself in a similar position as Kate begins a relationship with the ageless Immortal. Rex is currently serving as a member of the Guardians of the Globe.

Recently, he has been unwittingly cloned by the human controller of his teammate, Robot. How this will affect Rex and his place in the Guardians has yet to be seen.

In Invincible #40, Rex's left hand is bitten off by a member of the Lizard League; the hand explodes inside the alien's head, killing him. During this same fight, Dupli-Kate and Shrinking Ray are apparently killed. Thinking the fight is over, Rex lies down in sorrow and exhaustion, only to find that King Lizard is holding a gun to his head. He is shot through the head by King Lizard, but survives. After his recovery he is given an artificial hand that can shoot his exploding projectiles.

These events seemed to have matured Rex emotionally. He takes his activities as a superhero more seriously. Upon hearing of Invincible and Atom Eve's new relationship, Rex sincerely wishes them well, much to Eve's surprise.

Powers and abilities

Rex-Splode has the ability to alter the chemical makeup of inorganic materials, causing them to become unstable and explode. He has limited invunerability and slightly enhanced strength. After his hand was bitten off by a member of the Lizard League, Rex received an artificial hand that can fire exploding projectiles.