Richie has built a new moving computer called Backpack, and he's solving complicated math equations in class with ease. He and Virgil figure out that Richie is a metahuman, with enhanced intelligence. Meanwhile, the Meta Breed starts to suspect that Virgil is Static.
Tropes for this episode:
- Badass in Distress: The Meta Breed knock out Virgil and kidnap him to get evidence that he's Static. Fortunately Virgil realizes before he can out himself.
- Call-Back:
- Ebon recognizes Richie as the kid who hung out with Static, and tries to attack him.
- Virgil brings up how Richie gained his super-powers presumably because Virgil himself was still wearing the clothes covered in the gas that gave him superpowers.
- Camera Spoofing: How Richie helps Virgil maintain his secret identity, by manipulating the camera footage to make like Virgil is still just pacing in his cell while he was actually getting in his Static disguise.
- Clark Kenting: Talon points out that Virgil has hair similar to Static's. While Ebon points out that a lot of kids have that particular style, he's still willing to kidnap him to prove that the hero is Virgil.
- Comically Missing the Point: After Richie nearly gets attacked by an out of control rocket roller skate, Virgil notes that this is getting out of control. Richie then notes that he probably added too much to the rear boosters before Virgil elaborates that it's Richie's gadgeteering that's the problem.
- Cover-Blowing Superpower: Subverted. Before Virgil tries to bust out of a padded cell after the Breed kidnaps him, he realizes this trope may be in motion. Instead, he calls Richie for help, who manages to hack into the camera footage in his cell.
- Department of Redundancy Department: Played for laughs when Richie, babbling endlessly about his recent brain activity, remarks that his thought just thought a thought.
- Explain, Explain... Oh, Crap!: When Virgil finally confronts Richie over his spew of ideas and creations that have gone way beyond his usual tinkering, and suggestions maybe something is up with his brain like Richie alluded to previously, Richie stops and thinks about this, only to realize Virgil is right and panics over how he can't seem to stop thinking.
- Foreshadowing:
- At the beginning of the episode, Virgil thinks Ritchie is hiding under a cloth. Ritchie will use this same tactic with Shiv later.
- As Virgil notes Ritchie's gadgeteering, he states that Ritchie's suddenly become "Brainiac the Maniac". Yeah, just wait a few more episodes...
- The Ghost: When Gear suggests "Hardware" as a codename, Virgil states he think's it's taken. Amusingly, Edwin Alva, one of Hardware's enemies does appear on the show.
- Good with Numbers: One of the side-effects of Richie's new superintelligence is his ability to instantly perform incredibly complicated mathematical operations in his head. At one point, he looks up at a gigantic equation that his teacher has written on the board, stares at it for about three seconds, and gives the answer "Four over pi" without even trying.
- Heart Is an Awesome Power: At first, Richie thinks having super-intelligence is a lame power and not very useful. However, after he uses all of the gadgets he's built to save Virgil, he comes around to it and becomes Gear.
- Hidden in Plain Sight: The Meta-Breed makes a hideout out of an old juvenile delinquent facility, reasoning that no one will think to look for troubled teens (albeit ones with superpowers) there.
- I Have Your Wife: Ebon realizes that while the Meta-Breed has a hard time capturing Static, the human kid who's been seen hanging out with him—namely, Richie—would be a much easier target...
- I Was Just Joking: When Virgil sees some sketches, he asks Ritchie if it's for a particle accelerator. A glum Ritchie mutters "Yeah".
- Motor Mouth: Richie falls into this when he starts expressing his recent thought process to Virgil.
- Oh, Crap!:
- Richie when Ebon corners him at the beginning of the episode.
- Richie and Virgil when the Breed attack them and kidnap Virgil.
- Properly Paranoid: When Virgil gets kidnapped and locked in a room by the Metabreed, he was about to easily blast his way out, but then stops himself when he realizes that they might be watching him. It turned out to be true as Ebon had a camera on him to determine if he really is Static.
- The Reveal: Richie's also obtained powers of his own, but it's gradually been building up because he wasn't as fully exposed to the gas like Virgil was.
- This Looks Like a Job for Aquaman: With Static out of commission, Richie has to pull together his gadgets and Backpack to save his best friend.
- Throw the Dog a Bone: Richie has powers and can be a hero like Virgil.
- Title Drop: As Richie is trying to figure out his new hero name, he mutters that there has to be something about all the gear he has.
- We Need to Get Proof: Villainous example. The Meta Breed want to know Static's secret identity, but they need to prove it with Virgil.
- Wham Episode: Richie has also become a meta-human, and becomes a tech-themed superhero named Gear.
- Wham Line: As Richie tries to put together how he's been gaining a boost in intelligence, Virgil figures it out.Virgil: Rich... know what I think? I think you're becoming a Bang Baby.
- What Kind of Lame Power Is Heart, Anyway?: Richie at first doesn't see how superintelligence can help with fighting crime.
- Won't Take "Yes" for an Answer: When Virgil and Richie are in class, their teacher notices how Richie is caught up doodling in his notebook, and asks him to solve a complicated problem on the board. Richie takes a brief glance at it before saying "Four over pi." The teacher then proceeds to admonish him for not paying attention before realizing he gave the correct answer.
