Warehouse 13 enters superhero territory for this episode, entitled “Mild Mannered,” and the result is surprisingly successful. Focusing on the investigation of a guy who has used an artifact to become a superhero, the episode is an examination of absolute power. We also get some more insight into a character that, in the previous episode, briefly became one of the series’ most interesting. “Mild Mannered” is not without its problems, but it works by keeping its story grounded in the dilemma of a man who wants to fix the world on his own but who cannot acknowledge that doing so may bring harm to those he cares about most.

This time, Pete and Myka head to Detroit to investigate some suspicious incidents involving criminals being captured in circumstances involving bent lampposts and man-sized brick wall holes. Someone is using an artifact to emulate a fictional-fictional Silver Age comic book superhero called the Iron Shadow (think the Phantom crossed with a Mexican wrestler) and bust bad guys. After falling victim to an assault and robbery in his own home, he has deemed the police incapable of handling the city’s crime problem, so he has taken things into his own hands. He does so by using an artifact that allows him to alter his body’s density. Problem is, his increased density is essentially causing him to alter gravity around him. Before long, he loses control, and Pete and Myka have to neutralize the artifact before he reaches infinite mass and brings devastation to the city (and, presumably, much more).

The best aspect of this episode is its analysis of vigilantism versus legal justice. Ultimately, the situation of the vigilante (whose identity I won’t spoil) is analogous to wielding great power in real life. Not only does the “hero” lose control of his power and cause unintentional harm to others, he literally begins to buckle under the weight of his own power. The events don’t so much illustrate the axiom that Myka brings up, “With great power comes great responsibility,” as much as it does a similar one that is not directly referenced -- “Absolute power corrupts absolutely.” This character is not literally corrupted by his near-absolute power, but it becomes too great for him to wield, causing him to wreak havoc as one might do when corrupt.

Vigilantism's antithesis is present in Pete and Myka. The main characters, by operating with such seemingly supernatural knowledge and equipment, are practically superheroes themselves, but they still work under the authority of a governing body. Even heroes, the episode suggests, must be answerable to some authority. In all of this, “Mild Mannered” is also a circumspect analysis of Pete in particular, who is demonstrated to be more of a comic book fan than he had previously revealed and, himself being a huge fan of the Iron Shadow, would relish the chance to become a superhero. The episode goes so far as to offer him that chance at one point, through a different avenue than the artifact used by the central suspect, but he ultimately declines, learning that even this alternate form of heroism comes with a huge potential consequence (impotence). The fact that Myka accepts this power in his stead does not contradict the theme of power and corruption because she does not actually want to wield it. To her, the act is a burden, not a blessing.

Pete’s childish little quips and outbursts, like ‘em or not, find meaning beyond their typical humor level in this episode. They illustrate precisely how tempting it must be for him to acquire power like that of the faux Iron Shadow. The best of these moments is his simple, amazed, “Wow!” when he sees the superhero fly off, despite his knowing that the character is causing more harm than good. Earlier in the episode, his exclaiming, "That was no man. That was a superhero!" accomplishes the same characterization but to a lesser degree. He has a kid-like desire to be a superhero himself, but he also has enough sense to see the drawbacks in doing so.

I said in my review of the previous episode that (episode 2.1 spoiler alert) even though I give great credit to the writers for having the guts to kill off a major villain, MacPherson, I wish we could see more of him given his pre-death change of heart. It looks like my wishes may be answered. This episode sees him return in ghostlike form. He speaks mysteriously to Artie a few times, and in the end we learn that the two are somehow connected via their use of the Phoenix. Artie later reminisces upon their partnership in running the Warehouse and finds a stopwatch MacPherson left for him. The nature of the stopwatch is not explained, but five bucks says it isn’t ordinary. Either way, MacPherson is back, and he may have a more vital role than ever.

Leena has a notable part in this episode as well, as she begins experiencing strange flashes of disorientation. No hint as to what these are yet, but they’re probably related to the mind control under which MacPherson had placed her at the end of season 1. Near the end of this episode, she gives Ms. Frederic a call and tells her what is happening. For now, we learn no more.

One of the less effective parts of “Mild Mannered” is the drama between Leena and Claudia, who blames Leena for her being framed as a villain in the freeing of MacPherson and H.G. Wells (see the season 1 finale). This doesn’t make much sense, though, because Leena was under mind control when it happened. Claudia learns a nice little life lesson when Pete and Myka elect to let the Iron Shadow guy free, under the reasoning that he simply got caught up in something bigger than himself. She later forgives Leena, and everyone is happy. It’s all too simplistic and, ultimately, pointless.

There are a few other problems, too, but nothing major. Myka and Pete have several opportunities to shoot the Iron Shadow with their Teslas, but they never do so. Considering the Tesla is nonlethal, you’d think they would use them more freely and save themselves a lot of trouble. It often seems that they’re holding their fire simply because the writers need the suspect to get away. The other problem is especially minor, but most of us who are geeky enough to watch the Syfy channel will probably catch it. In the end, Myka gives Pete a super-rare issue of Iron Shadow, the only one he does not already own. The issue is bagged -- but it’s not boarded! I guess we'll chalk it up to Myka’s own comic ignorance. That way I can sleep at night.

The fact that I have not found a fitting opportunity to mention that Jewel Staite and Sean Maher from Firefly appear in this episode is good. It means that they are incorporated naturally into the show and do not stand out as forced fan service. They appear no more than they are needed, and there are no out-of-place references to the characters they played in that other series (unless you count the fact that one of them is in love with the other). This, of course, is the best way to do it. It works as a nice treat for fans as is not overdone.

Even with its flaws, this season of Warehouse 13 has been a general improvement over the last, which was mostly formulaic for roughly the first six episodes and begin building steam thereafter. Here we get a fun premise, an engaging analysis of concepts and characters, and an expansion of the series’ mythology. For that, I’ll forgive its problems any day. Warehouse 13 is slowly becoming one of the better sci-fi shows currently running.