Dynoman and the Volt

Dynoman and the Volt is the third episode of Season 1 of Amazing Stories. It premiered on March 20, 2020.

Synopsis
An awkward young boy and his grandfather are transformed by the arrival of a mysterious ring ordered from a comic book 60 years ago.

Plot
Eight-year-old Dylan Harris uses power tools to work on a metal plate of armor. He wears a homemade Batman helmet and takes selfies in his superhero costume. In the mirror, he mimics Batman's signature catchphras. He attacks a punching bag then falls to the floor. A car pulls into the driveway and an older man, Joe, and his son Michael exit. Joe sharply asks what Dylan is wearing, with Michael reminding his father that Halloween is this weekend. Michael wants Joe to view this as a good thing - a new beginning. He got all the exercise equipment for when the therapist arrived. He begins to quote a mantra to his patients, but Joe grumbles that he's a gastroenterologist.

Helen tells Joe that they've turned Dylan's room into his for now, with Dylan staying with Bryce upstairs. He scoffs that he can handle being unconscious for six hours, as it's the best part of his day. She offers to be there if he needs to talk as she's counseled a lot of patients going through aging or his process. She assures him that loss or grief is normal but he's firm that he's fine.

Dylan is feeding his frog when Joe enters his new room. The walls are plastered with comic book pages. Dylan tells Joe to read any of his comics, and Joe eyes the sketches in the corner. He's trying to make his version of Batman, as he wants to be the next Neal Adams. Joe wants to be alone so Dylan gets his backpack and leaves. Joe sits on the bed with his knee brace.

Dylan enters Bryce's room and interrupts him making out with his girlfriend. Dylan wants to know why Grandpa is so mean, to which Bryce scoffs that he's just old. Bryce wonders what Dylan is doing in his room, and Dylan reminds him that their parents told him he could sleep in there. Bryce and his girlfriend exchange a look.

By night, Dylan lays on the couch messaging someone over how it sucks that Joe took his room. Michael finds him and they talk about Grandpa and how he had to be tough after his father died young. He tells Dylan to cut him some slack, then tells him goodnight as he leaves. Dylan pulls out his sketchbook and a headlamp, hiding under the blankets as he sketches.

Joe begins physical therapy with his new therapists. Michael and Helen discuss their work schedules, then ask Bryce to drive Dylan home after school. He agrees but only after practice which isn't over until 6:30. The bickering ensues before Joe intervenes. He promises to pick him up but needs the keys to do so. Michael is reluctant to let him drive but Joe is insistent he's fine as the injured leg is his left.

In school, Dylan greets Brady to ask if he wants to start at his house or theirs. They always spend Halloween together, but this year, Brady wants to go to the dance. A girl greets Brady on the way past. Brady apologizes to Dylan but promises to catch up with him later.

Joe heads to his workplace where he greets his workers. Kenny offers to help him, but Joe refuses. He heads to the office to talk to Kenny as he's eager to get back to work in six weeks. Kenny gives him the union contract that has his pension attached since Joe's been with them for 45 years. There are great benefits in the retirement plan, too. Joe becomes upset as he's been there longer than anyone, including Kenny, and is the best in the shop. They have a lot of big contracts coming in with hard deadlines, and he can't put someone who can't do the work out there. Joe angrily gets up to leave but promises to come back. Kenny tells him that he has to take it either now or in six weeks.

Dylan waits outside of school as he sketches. Joe arrives to pick him up. They talk about Dylan's day and he lies that it was great. He then blurts out that he hates junior high. Joe would give anything to be back in school - he wasn't just popular, but a legend. The night of the senior prom he put the principal's car on the roof. By the end of the dance, everyone found them on the roof with the car. Dylan surmises that he has to accomplish that to be popular. Joe asks if he has friends, though Dylan just lost Brady as he doesn't want to hang out anymore. Joe scoffs Brady off then drives home.

Dylan brings the mail inside as Joe gets out of the car. Dylan hands him a small box that is for him - it's from Wham Comics. This surprises Joe who quickly opens it with the car keys. Inside the box is a ring with a card that says Dynoman. He ordered it from the back of a comic book 60 years ago for 50 cents. Dylan realizes Joe was into comics once, but the man explains it was a long time ago. He thinks this must be a joke with Kenny behind it. Dylan asks what happened to the comics, but Joe probably gave them to Michael.

They find boxes of comic books in the garage. Joe explains that Dynoman was a miner like his father, which is probably why he liked the hero. He was working underground one day when a stick of dynamite blew up and shot three radioactive rocks into his ring. Each one had a special power: strength, speed, and flight. Dylan wonders if it's magic or alien DNA that changes his genetics. Joe shakes his head as Dylan's generation needs an explanation for everything. Dylan asks about another character in the book, who is called the Volt. He's Dynoman's archenemy. Dynoman saved Volt's village in Romania from a meteor by smashing it with his ring. A chunk of debris destroyed a house, killing a man and woman inside while the son played outside. The boy vowed vengeance on Dynoman. He collected all the debris of the meteor, as it had absorbed the power of Dynoman's ring and had begun to glow. He knew he could have that power too. He built a helmet from the remains. Dylan calls it pretty standard stuff. Joe admits he's right but his stories had more panache. Dylan is excited as he does that too, asking why he stopped. Joe drops the books as no one can play with superheroes forever. Dylan remarks the ring comes when you need it, and Joe needs it right now. He wants Joe to try it, but Joe tells Dylan to try it. The ring is too big on Dylan so he pesters Joe into putting the ring on. Joe is surprised when it fits and pretends it does something to prove a point. Dylan sees the red stone glow and quickly stops his grandfather. He doesn't think toys just magically appear after 60 years of being lost. He wants Joe to hit the bag, but Joe remarks it's a hunk of plastic. He's going to throw it away now. He can't get it off, which Dylan thinks is a sign, but Joe yells at him to stop. Just because things are crappy doesn't mean he should believe in something stupid. Dylan states it's not stupid and storms out. Joe becomes upset as he still can't get the ring off, watching his grandson storm off. The red stone glows brightly.

Dylan runs inside upset, ignoring his mother's calls. Michael brings home burgers instead of Indian. Helen is upset as the chain doesn't put real meat in their burgers. However, Michael insists they're Joe's favorite. Helen begins to analyze their relationship as she's protective of him. Michael thinks this will change things.

The family sits for dinner, though Dylan stays in the other room. Bryce annoyingly toys with a football as his coach told him to keep his hands on it at all times. He remarks on Joe's new ring, though the man brushes it off as nothing. Michael tells him that Lance called about the retirement package the company is offering Joe. He wants his dad to take it but Joe becomes upset, accusing Michael of this being the thanks he gives to a father who believed in him. Helen challenges this as Joe called the medical school a boot camp for know-it-alls. Joe stands by his statement. Helen, however, thinks Lance knows what he's talking about as he's been running the jobs for years. She isn't sure if they can let him go back to work. Dylan joins them at the table at Michael's behest. Joe challenges her statement of "letting him" so she tries to justify her remark by reminding him of his age. He scoffs as they aren't too far behind him either. Michael tells him to take a breath as they want him to think about his future realistically. Joe snaps that he's the reason the company is getting those big orders. As he vents, the red stone glows and Dylan tries to point it out. Bryce continues to toss the ball between his fans but fumbles it. Joe snatches it mid-air and proclaims his life is not over. He then deflates the ball with a single squeeze. He looks to Dylan then down at the glowing ring.

In the garage, they try to figure out how to explain what's happening. Dylan thinks the ring's real but Joe is skeptical. He encourages Joe to hit the bag as the power only comes when he's strong. He begins to taunt Joe until he hits the bag across the room, breaking into the wall. Dylan grins that he's right as Joe happily realizes he's right. He smacks the table happily and smashes it by accident. The blue stone begins to glow.

They test his knee by having him lift weights - a feat he accomplishes astoundedly. Joe returns to work with Lance trying to stop him again. However, he picks up a solid slate of wood and carries it with ease, leaving the men in shock.

Dylan happily talks to Brady during class, but the boy doesn't want to talk to him right now. The other kids begin to make fun of Dylan for dressing up as Batman. They call him "dress-up Dylan". He realizes Brady showed everyone the photos and runs out of the class. Brady stops him in the halls to explain how his friends saw the photo. He didn't do it on purpose, as they saw the picture while going through his latest pictures. He told them he was an old friend who lies to dress-up. Dylan can't believe Brady didn't stand up for him, since last year Brady himself dressed up as Venom. He asks to be left alone.

Joe comes home happily. Michael asks about the broken workbench. Michael asks how his dad's feeling, and he's feeling great. He has a complete release from the doctor and goes back to work tomorrow. They remark it isn't possible, but Joe chimes that it is. He'll be out of their hair in six days instead of six weeks. He hurries off to tell the good news to Dylan.

He finds his grandson in bed, looking depressed. Dylan says he's toxic and gives his phone to his grandfather, who sees the mocking comments under the image of Dylan in his Batman costume. Joe sits down on the bed, wishing he could give the ring to Dylan so he could kick the crap out of the kid. He offers to help with anything else. Dylan decides to do the prank Joe talked about - putting the car on the roof. Joe admits he exaggerated the story. All they did was move the car a block. Dylan wants to do it anyway as he'll be a legend. Joe doesn't think he should worry about the kids at school, as they are losers now and will grow up to be losers still. If he wants to go trick-or-treating, he should go, get himself some candy. He knows it isn't the same, but understands that Dylan might not want anyone around him right now. Dylan stops him by remarking that he's right - he doesn't need Brady or any of the kids from school. He wants to have the best Halloween with his grandfather after he gets off work. Joe agrees to go with him.

Joe is working hard, the stones in his ring glowing brightly as he does. Lance compliments his work and Joe decides to head to lunch early. He steps outside where the stones continue to glow. He runs down the street and begins to use super speed to run the blocks. He is a blur to pedestrians. He appears beside Dylan who is admiring a map. Joe wanted to say hello and explained that he used the ring to run. Dylan explains his trick-or-treating map as they can hit all four places with his grandfather's speed. Joe tells him to pack an extra bag before speeding off.

Joe returns to work where a customer is angry over not having her tables right. Kenny tells Joe about the situation, so Joe assures the customer they'll be ready tomorrow. He assures Lance he has it covered.

Dylan excitedly runs into his room, pulling his homemade costume together. Joe continues to work while his coworkers watch in disbelief. By six-o-clock, Dylan is still on the couch waiting for Joe. Helen arrives but Michael doesn't need an 'I told you so' from her. She doesn't need to give one as Dylan's face says it all. He knows she's right, so he approaches Dylan to talk. He remarks that Dylan and Joe have been acting differently, assuring his son he can tell him anything, though Dylan knows his dad wouldn't believe him. He thinks Joe is off having fun with his superpowers. He attempts to explain Dynoman to Michael, who read it as a kid with Joe. Dylan tells his father everything about the ring.

Joe is drinking with his workers as they laugh over the great work. Michael arrives to ask what his father is doing. The men leave to give them space. Joe apologizes but Michael confronts him about having the superpowers. He doesn't understand why Joe is filling his son's head with the Dynoman crap. Joe defends his actions as he tried to get Michael into comics or anything Joe liked, but he was never interested. Michael didn't want the stuff just his father, and now that's what Dylan wants but Joe is messing it up again. Dylan is learning the same lesson that Michael learned years ago - that Joe only cares about himself, his shop, and his friends. Joe rebuffs that he loves the shop, trying to justify his actions. Michael is tired of the excuses as it's always about Joe or what he needed. He thought things would be different this time but the minute his job was threatened, his knee fixed itself. Dylan is at home crying his eyes out because the one person he thought was on his side isn't. Joe thinks he can fix it, but Michael tells him it's too late. He tells Joe to go home, pack his things, and leave as he's been warned to do since he arrived. Michael storms out and moments later, Joe crumples to the ground. He struggles to stand as he limps with his leg.

Dylan pulls off his costume and throws it aside. He throws the Dynoman costume in the trash, but the comic lands face open. The Volt's origin story appears, and Dylan begins to draw parallels to the pair. He finds the smashed workbench that is glowing with the power of Dynoman's ring. He decides to build a helmet from the pieces. The lightning bolted wooden blocks glow as he tightens it down.

Michael returns home where Helen is giving out candy. He's finally done with his father and accepts the way things are. He doesn't expect Joe to come home tonight. Just then, Joe pulls up in his car. He uses a cane to limp to the garage in search of Dylan. He finds the comic book, the broken wood, and the helmet pieces. He pulls off the ring, letting it clatter to the ground.

Joe storms into Bryce's room, interrupting his makeout session. He demands to know where Dylan is. They saw him leave for the dance in his costume, making promises about things being legendary. Joe realizes what Dylan is about to do and leaves.

Dylan dons his helmet as he arrives at school. He pushes the principal's car to the wall. Michael enters the garage looking for his dad, but sees the ring on the floor. Dylan runs up to the roof of the school, dropping a rope that he uses to propel down the side of the building. Joe struggles to get through the trick-or-treaters. Dylan scales the wall then uses his super strength to lift the car off the ground and onto the roof. He begins to struggle and then falls backward. The car teeters along the edge of the roof. Dylan attempts to save the car but ends up falling into it. His helmet falls off and smashes on the ground. He locks himself into the car by accident. Joe arrives to see the teetering car, so he walks to the roof with his cane. Dylan asks him for help but Joe doesn't have any powers. Joe tells Dylan to grab his hand, trying to guide him out of the car. They grasp hands through the open door, but the car suddenly jerks backwards, pulling Joe inside. He apologizes profusely to Dylan, holding the boy close as they brace for the impending impact.

The pair clutch one another when the car suddenly stops in mid-air, with Michael flying while holding the car up. All three stones on the ring glow brightly as he guides the car to the roof. Once safe, Dylan and Michael hug tightly before Michael realizes the astounding power he showed. He saw the ring on the ground in the garage and the power took over. Dylan closes the car door and the alarms go off. Michael grips his family then flies them off the roof. The school floods outside to see the prank and begin laughing as the principal stares in shock.

The trio stand in the yard where they plan to bury the ring. The ring only comes to them when they need it, and none of them need it anymore. Joe offers to make a superhero with Dylan as he has some ideas. Dylan offers to draw them. The trio walk back home as they laugh over the potential side weaknesses of their hero. From the ground where the ring is planted, sprouts a green tuft that glows red, blue, and black.

Starring

 * Robert Forster as Joe Harris
 * Tyler Crumley as Dylan Harris
 * Kyle Bornheimer as Michael Harris
 * Alison Bell as Helen Harris

Guest Starring

 * Felix Solis as Lance

Co-Starring

 * Toby Nichols as Bryce Harris
 * Cecilia Campesi as Erica
 * Morgan Gao as Brady
 * Michael Harrity as Kenny
 * Leander Suleiman as Sybil
 * Logan Medina as Jesse
 * Erica Frene as Woman in Shop
 * Emery Mae Edgeman as Maya
 * James Healy Jr. as Principal

Trivia

 * The opening credits use comic-themed font to represent the theme of the episode. In addition, a "Dynoman and the Volt!!" title card is used. This is the first episode to use a title card.
 * Dynoman and the Volt included a dedication, "In Loving Memory of Our Friend Robert Forster" at the end of the episode.
 * This episode was Robert Forster's final television acting role before he died on October 11, 2019. The episode aired five months after his death.
 * The comic book pages in the episode were drawn by Howard Chaykin, a comic book artist that began his career in the 1970s.
 * Dylan's school is called, "Minoqua Middle School". The town could be based on the real-life census-designated place "Minocqua" located in the town of Minocqua in Wisconsin.