‘Stuart Fails to Save the Universe’ Traps the Gang in a Comic Book — and Brings Back Familiar Faces

After escaping last week’s warzone, in the penultimate episode, the gang is now trapped inside a comic book, but for once, Stuart (Kevin Sussman) couldn’t be happier about their predicament. After all, if there was ever a universe he was uniquely qualified to navigate, it’s this one. Warning: Spoilers ahead for Stuart Fails to Save the Universe Episode 9 “We Could’t Get the Green Lantern.”

Back in the “real world,” Kyle (Ryan Cartwright) and Trevor (Josh Brener) are taking orders from the mysterious omnipotent swirling ball of cosmic fecal matter. The entity has one very specific command: Do not sell the comic book containing Stuart and his friends. That raises an even bigger question: Who trapped them inside the comic in the first place, and why? Stuart suspects it could be the same person responsible for trapping him in the insane asylum.

Inside the comic, the gang discovers they can actually move deeper into the story, and Stuart is positively thrilled. “My sad, miserable childhood led me to this moment,” he declares.

For Stuart, though, there’s something bigger going on than simply knowing the rules of the comic book world. After years of being the underdog, he’s finally at the center of the story — and Kevin Sussman says that makes this particular universe pretty much Stuart’s dream come true.

“It makes sense for Stuart. It’s a good narrative arc for Stuart, because in the original show, he’s always the sidekick, the underdog, and in this, he’s the main guy, and in that episode in particular, he’s in his world, so even though he’s being chased and hunted and the universe might collapse in on itself, really, this is his ultimate fantasy. I mean, being in a comic book world with Denise, dealing with supervillains is really, if there were gonna be a happy place for Stuart, it would be that.”

They soon realize they’re in Gotham City, but Batman isn’t coming to their rescue. That leaves another possibility: The Flash (Andrew Ridings) and his Cosmic Treadmill, which can allow him to travel between universes. If they can get to Central City — located “nearish” Kansas — they might finally have a way home.

Getting there is easier said than done. Their all-too-chipper gate agent (Riki Lindhome, yet again) of Gotham Air informs them that their flight is delayed; they wait countless hours, and Denise (Lauren Lapkus) gets diarrhea from airport sushi, and yes, the comic chronicles that unfortunate development, too.

Meanwhile, Trevor notices something very important back in the real world: The gang isn’t actually pictured on the comic’s cover. Unfortunately, the entity doesn’t appreciate Trevor reading the comic and kills him.

Once Stuart and the others finally make it to Central City, another familiar face pops up. Gary (Josh Brener) is back, and in this universe, he’s a cab driver. The gang asks him to help them follow The Flash, but Gary thinks they’re yanking his chain and kicks them out of the cab.

And then he is almost immediately killed by Mr. Freeze.

Yes, Mr. Freeze is now chasing Stuart and the gang through Central City, until The Flash swoops in and saves them. But Stuart quickly realizes something is off. This isn’t the modern Flash — it’s the Golden Age Flash, Jay Garrick, which means they could be on Earth-Two. Or maybe they’re dealing with some kind of Crisis on Infinite Earths situation that merged different Earths together.

There’s another comic-book continuity problem: Mr. Freeze (Eric Allan Kramer) is a Batman villain. Shouldn’t The Flash be fighting Captain Cold?

Stuart doesn’t care because he has an even more exciting realization: He’s finally the A-story. Mr. Freeze attacking them is what caused The Flash to enter their story in the first place. Unfortunately, after defeating Freeze, The Flash simply takes off.

“What a d*ck.”

The gang tracks Jay Garrick to his home, where they get another major surprise: Amy (Mayim Bialik) is back, and in this universe, she’s with Jay Garrick. Jay initially denies that he is The Flash, but Stuart and the others eventually wear him down and convince him to help them use the Cosmic Treadmill to return to their own universe.

They start running on the treadmill just as Mr. Freeze shows up yet again. This time, however, they manage to escape before he can stop them.

But where exactly did the Cosmic Treadmill send them?

That’s the big question heading into the next episode — along with another that may be even more important: Is this the first time Mr. Freeze has ever said, “F**k”?

Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, Thursdays, 9/8c, HBO Max