Revamped Invincible: Tech Jacket's Gender Swap Sparks Fan Debate
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Warning: This article Contains SPOILERS for Invincible season 4, episode 5, "Give Us a Moment."
season 4 has gotten off to a loud start, with each episode bringing something new to the table. The three-part premiere saw Mark and the Guardians deal with all kinds of threats on Earth, while Omni-Man also revealed various Viltrumite weaknesses, before the created even more noise.
Now, episode 5 has arrived in style, providing one of the show's most brutal episodes yet, but among the action, a massive hero change was also made. Having been a cult hero in the comics — even getting his own comic run — there were big expectations for Tech Jacket in Prime Video's TV series, especially heading into the Viltrumite War.
We have already seen the fan favorite appear previously, as Tech Jacket was one of the many , taking down an evil Mark variant by themselves. However, while their role going forward looks to be the same, there are some notable differences between the character and their comic book counterpart, which could split opinions.
Prime Video's Tech Jacket Changes Are Bound To Divide Invincible Fans
For fans of the comics, Tech Jacket's first appearance in season 4 may have come as quite a shock, as the character has undergone several changes in the TV adaptation. Firstly, Tech Jacket is no longer Zack Thompson. Instead, Prime Video's version is a woman named Zoe, who still embodies this beloved hero, despite some noticeable differences.
Gender swap aside, Zoe comes across as more playful and outgoing than Zack, as she addresses the crowd after beating The Walking Dredd, clearly enjoying the admiration. In contrast, Zack feels a little more laid-back and lacks that same level of confidence Zoe possesses, despite both being positive and moral characters, which is a key aspect of what makes Tech Jacket so likable.
Zoey Deutch voices Zoe/ Tech Jacket in Invincible season 4.
While we've yet to really see Zoe's background, the early signs suggest that it may be different too, as she has a very close relationship with her dad, who acts almost as a coach during her fights. Zack also has a good bond with his father in the comics, but rather than being a mentor, Zack's dad serves another role.
Being the target of a robbery forces Zack to intervene and save his father, which is where he learns about the true powers of his suit in the source material. Considering we've barely gotten to know Zoe, it's unfair to judge her too harshly, especially since she is already forming that same friendship with Allen that Zack does in the comics.
However, since didn't go down too well, it won't be a surprise if amending such a popular character leads to some division among the audience, despite Zoe having a lot of potential.
Tech Jacket Is Still Likable In Invincible's TV Adaptation, But It'll Take A Lot To Match The Comic Version
Considering Zoe is still Tech Jacket and will likely experience a similar journey to Image Comics' version, there is no doubt she could also become a fan favorite, but it won't be easy to match the fanfare of Zack. Not only did the original Tech Jacket have the advantage of an extensive background, but he was also the ultimate underdog.
Taking down two evil Invincible variants on his own and going toe-to-toe with Vilturmites felt badass, since Zack was technically just a normal human with incredible armor. Zoe has similar traits going for her, but with her personality being slightly more self-assured, it could work to her detriment.
Fortunately, she still has that youthful naivety and charming spirit that makes her even choosing to fight against such powerful beings an admirable decision. Allen didn't have to do much convincing, and Zoe's upbeat attitude also makes it all the more concerning when she's genuinely in trouble and panicking against some of .
Although some fans may not give this new interpretation of Tech Jacket a fair chance, Prime Video's Invincible has a strong track record at improving upon certain characters from the comics, including those whose gender is different in the TV series.
Therefore, Zoe's likable personality and promising road ahead make me optimistic that she can still become a fan favorite just like Zack, even if the writing team has to work harder to make this possible.
Why Invincible Season 4 May Have Tweaked Tech Jacket's Character
Knowing Tech Jacket's reputation was so strong makes the decision to change them for the show a bold move, but there are a few possible explanations for this. Firstly, copyright issues could have come into play. While the overall Invincible universe is largely connected, there are still problems getting certain characters involved on TV.
Brit debuted later than we expected in the animated series, while Science Dog was changed to Seance Dog due to rights restrictions. Considering Tech Jacket still has the same hero name, it would be strange if this were the reasoning behind switching the character's gender and personality, but it's still a potential factor behind this deviation.
Additionally, the change could be down to representation. Although there is room for debate about which version is better, Prime Video's Invincible has certainly spent more time fleshing out its female characters, providing an increasingly layered depiction of Debbie while also expanding Atom Eve's story and history.
As a result, it's clear the show has been conscious of catering to a wider audience, and with every other hero involved in the Viltrumite War being male, the show may have opted to have at least one female in the team — especially since the majority of the Viltrumite Empire are men.
According to , the true reason behind this big decision was Invincible creator Robert Kirkman's fear that Zack may feel too similar to Mark when adapted into the televised story, making a gender swap the best way to help Tech Jacket stand out.
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With , this one tweak will be minor in the grand scheme of things, and regardless of whether Kirkman's explanation is the whole truth or there's more to the story, Tech Jacket is bound to be a talking point for weeks to come.
Tech Jacket Isn't The Only Character Invincible Has Made Big Changes To
Image via Prime Video
Despite how faithful Prime Video's Invincible has been to the source material, the show has still made plenty of alterations in the past. Perhaps the most relevant one is , who was previously a man with a much shorter story.
Rather than surviving the Lizard League fight, Shrinking Ray died in the comics, yet Rae was able to recover from these wounds in the show and form an unexpected relationship with Rex, which did wonders for both characters. Likewise, Amber was given a much different personality in the series, and while not everyone loved this in season 1, she progressed over time.
Damien Darkblood has also been given a much bigger role in the animated project, since he was treated as a throwaway joke in the source material, yet he remains an intriguing mystery in season 4. There are also smaller changes like Green Ghost's gender and Donald's reaction to being a Cyborg, proving Invincible has always been open to adjusting.
Given that these tweaks have had far more hits than misses, there is little reason to be worried about Tech Jacket being slightly different in the show. Understandably, some people will miss Zack, but Zoe deserves a chance to shine in Invincible season 4, and there is plenty of evidence to suggest she'll do Tech Jacket justice.
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Cast
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Mark Grayson / Invincible (voice) -
Debbie Grayson (voice)
, Simon Racioppa Expand Collapse
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