Earl gets promoted to toxic waste supervisor, and is disappointed that the Baby isn't impressed, instead idolizing a TV superhero, Captain Action Figure. While discussing the Baby at work, Earl ends up in the polluted water and gains the abilities to fly, have heat vision, and accurately guess the weight of others. Roy, familiar with super hero comics, tells Earl that he has to be a superhero, can't take a shower (since it would remove his powers), and not tell anybody, not even his family. Although he has to keep it a secret, Earl is pleased when his new alter-ego, Captain Impressive, replaces Captain Action Figure as the Baby's hero. B.P. Richfield soon finds out about Earl's powers and points out that his employment contract he signed (which he was told he didn't have to read) states that if any employee obtains superpowers, the heroes will become the property of WESAYSO, and Earl is forced into putting promoting the company as Captain Impressive over saving the world. While Robbie and Charlene quickly think he's a sell-out, the Baby continues to be a fan. After research shows that Captain Impressive is "God-like" to little children, Captain Impressive is given his own television show. While Earl hopes to use it as an opportunity to teach children, the show is really a home shopping show meant to sell very questionable Captain Impressive merchandise. When the Baby calls in to order a dangerous product just because it's associated with Captain Impressive, Earl reveals his identity, gives up being a superhero and takes a shower. Earl then explains to Baby that parents can be heroes as well, because even though they don't have super powers, they do a lot of hard work to care for their kids.
Includes examples of
- An Aesop: Heroes aren't always the characters who have superpowers and wear capes. They can be ordinary people who do extraordinary things just to make sure those who can't stand up for themselves have a better life.
- Comically Missing the Point: While testing to see if Earl has X-Ray vision.Roy: Tell me, what do you see in my change purse?
Earl: I see a guy with a blurred definition of masculinity.
Roy: No! I mean inside the purse! - Dramatic Unmask: Earl does this to himself on TV to speak out against the commercialization of superheroes.
- Flight, Strength, Heart: As Captain Impressive, Earl's superpowers are flight, heat vision, and accurately guessing one's weight.Howard Handupme: Who is this caped marvel, this heat vision hero, this weight-guessing wonder?
- Heroism Won't Pay the Bills: Perhaps a literal example; Earl knows that B.P. Richfield is evil and that he really should be saving Pangaea from villains and criminals instead of working for him, but since he has bills to pay and a family to support, he has no choice but to work for him.
- Hollywood Density: According to Earl's weight guesses that nobody disputes, even the smallest two-legged dinosaurs are meant to weigh tens of thousands of pounds in-universe.
- Last-Second Word Swap: Earl saved the world by diverting an asteroid, then he flies back home where his wife scolds him for not calling that he'll be late for dinner.Earl: Well excuse me! But it just so happens I was out saving the whole— (the family looks at him) the whole twenty cents for not calling. It adds up, you know.
- Merchandise-Driven: The Captain Impressive Show is basically a home shopping show that sells official Captain Impressive merchandise.
- So is "Captain Action Figure and His Para-Military Pals".
- Mundane Utility: After becoming an established superhero, Earl uses his heat vision to cook Roy's sandwich at work. Unfortunately, he does this at work, in direct view of Richfield's trailer, allowing his tyrannical boss to figure out the secret identity of Captain Impressive.
- My Little Panzer: Some of the Captain Impressive merchandise that B.P. Richfield sells include an action figure with a fish knife inside of it and a trachea plug. When Earl tries to tell him the merchandise is dangerous, Richfield argues that it's only dangerous if not used properly. Despite the trachea plug labelled as being for "Ages 12 and older", it doesn't stop Baby from trying to order one. At the end of the episode, Earl gives Baby a Captain Impressive action figure and reveals that he took the fish knife out of it so it's safe for him to play with.
- Not His Sled: A meteor didn't kill the dinosaurs, since Earl diverted its path away from Earth.
- The Real Heroes: At the end, Earl explains that regular dinosaurs are heroes too, since they go out and work to support their families.
- Screw the Rules, I'm Doing What's Right!: Earl gives up his superhero life after the Baby attempts to buy a dangerous item, stating that he didn't want to be a hero to sell things.
- Secret-Keeper: Roy was the only person to know of Earl's superpowers, until B.P. Richfield caught him.
- Superhero Episode: Earl gains superpowers after exposure to toxic waste, and becomes a superhero named Captain Impressive. Unfortunately, as he is an employee of the WESAYSO corporation, B.P. Richfield forces Earl to use his powers to promote the company instead of saving the world.
