April 23, 2010 (2010-04-23) – January 3, 2013 (2013-01-03)
Generator Rex is an American animated science fiction television series created by Man of Action for Cartoon Network,[1] with John Fang of Cartoon Network Studios serving as supervising director. It was inspired by the comic M. Rex, published by Image Comics in 1999. The series premiered in the United States on April 23, 2010 on Cartoon Network, and concluded on January 3, 2013. A crossover special with Ben 10: Ultimate Alien, titled Ben 10/Generator Rex: Heroes United, aired on November 25, 2011, while a second 44-minute four-part special, Ben Gen 10, aired on April 11, 2021, featuring new versions of the Generator Rex characters in the Ben 10 reboot universe.
Plot
Five years ago, a massive explosion released high concentrations of underdeveloped, incomplete nanites into the atmosphere, infecting almost every living thing on Earth. These nanites may randomly activate inside their hosts, mutating the subject into a monster known as an E.V.O. (short for "Exponentially Variegated Organism"). Though some E.V.O.s retain human-level sanity, intelligence, and memory and are in full control of their special E.V.O. abilities, most transform into monster-like creatures and go violently berserk, causing widespread chaos and destruction. An international military-style organization known as Providence exists to combat the E.V.O. threat.
Rex is a sixteen-year-old amnesiac teenager who is a permanent E.V.O. Unlike most E.V.O.s, he lacks any physical deformation but has forgotten his past. He is also able to control his active nanites, allowing him to manifest from his body a wide variety of various bio-mechanical abilities and powers. Rex has the unique ability to deactivate nanites inside other E.V.O.s, effectively curing them of their monstrous mutations and returning them to normal. Working for Providence under Agent Six, and White Knight, Rex uses his unique abilities to stop and cure rampant E.V.O.s. His archenemy, Van Kleiss, is a British E.V.O. scientist who despises Providence and is connected to the original nanite explosion (which is noted as simply "The Nanite Event" throughout the series). His ultimate goal is to be all powerful, using E.V.O.s to get him there, he promises to tell Rex about his childhood past if he will join him.
Rex is eventually thrown into the future, in which everything has changed since his "six-month disappearance" and that Providence has been taken over by a woman called Black Knight, who attempts to manipulate Rex into utilizing him and his ever-developing and evolving abilities for her side in "saving" humanity by restarting the Nanite Project with those who had funded it six years ago in order to become all-powerful by ensuring the creation of five certain meta/master-control nanities that contain "the God Code", only four of which were scattered all across the planet, with the fifth and most powerful one having been kept hidden undetected within Rex himself.
Jeff Bennett as Peter Meechum (1st time), Providence agent (1st time)
Dee Bradley Baker as Foul Mouth, Stork EVO, Principal Rothberger, Gabriel, Humungousaur, Diamondhead, Lodestar, Big Chill, Four Arms, Cannonbolt, Upchuck, Terrified student
Generator Rex currently does not air on Cartoon Network. Episodes 56 through 60 were released on iTunes for purchase before they aired. The show "ended" with its third season, but had left out many important things unresolved before the two-part season three finale "Endgame"; namely Rex and Circe's romantic relationship that finally blossomed at the end of Episode 51 "Assault on Abysus" and with Rex rescuing her from Providence ("Mind Games") some time before the two-part finale.
On July 11, 2011, the schedule for the 2011 San Diego Comic-Con revealed that during Cartoon Network's panel, a crossover special between the Ben 10: Ultimate Alien and Generator Rex series titled Ben 10/Generator Rex: Heroes United would be discussed. During the conference, show creators "Man of Action" revealed that the crossover would be a special, extended episode of Generator Rex, which aired on November 25, 2011 on Cartoon Network.[4][5] The double-length special[6] revolved around Ben and Rex fighting a villain, originally created by Rex's older brother Caesar, the Alpha Nanite.[7] Rex makes a cameo appearance in the OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes episode, Crossover Nexus along with many other Cartoon Network shows. On February 17, 2021, it was announced Generator Rex would have a 44-minute crossover special with Ben 10 (2016–21), which aired on April 11, 2021.[8]
Other media
Home video
Warner Home Video released Volume 1 DVD, a two-disc set that contains the first nine episodes of the series on October 19, 2010.[9]
Video game
A video game, entitled Generator Rex: Agent of Providence, has been developed for Wii, PlayStation 3, Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS and Xbox 360. The game was released on November 1, 2011 in the United States, published by Activision.[10][11] The plot involves Van Kleiss attempting to find blueprints to build an Omega-One Nanite. The entire voice cast reprises their roles from the series. Agent of Providence was given an E10+ rating by ESRB.[12] The game was also scored by the series' composer, Kevin Manthei.[13]
Toy line
Mattel has produced a toy line based on the series. For the main figures each is approximately 4 inches tall and packaged with an ordinary day E.V.O. There were also deluxe figures, EVO attack packs, as well as other waves and lines that were never released including a line from MEGA Bloks was announced (in 2010) featuring construction sets.[14]
Publications
Cartoon Network has featured Generator Rex and Ben 10 in their and DC Comics's Cartoon Network: Action Pack comic books.[15] Two 3D picture books (featuring cardboard 3D glasses) "EVOs and Heroes," a whole analysis on characters and their abilities and "The Swarm," an adaption of the episode of the same name, where Rex must fight insect E.V.O.s that feed on metal, have also been released.[15] For beginning readers, the story "Leader of the Pack" is also based on an episode and features Rex and Bobo being captured and locked in an underground prison cell.[15]
In February 2013, IDW Publishing announced a partnership with Cartoon Network to produce comic books and issues based on its properties. Generator Rex along with Ben 10 was one of the titles announced to be published.[16]
