Illusive Man

The Illusive Man, real in-universe name Jack Harper, is a character in BioWare's Mass Effect franchise. Initially presented in the tie-in novel Mass Effect: Ascension, the Illusive Man makes his first video game appearance in Mass Effect 2, where he is depicted as the leader of Cerberus, an anthropocentric organization with the goal of advancing humanity's role in the galaxy. The character returns in Mass Effect 3, where he implants himself with a set of alien technology that ends up controlling him and making him aid the Reapers, the game's main antagonistic force. The Illusive Man is voiced by American actor Martin Sheen. The Illusive Man was designed as a morally gray character with few signs of aging, a set of inhuman eyes, and a futuristic open suit designed to give an impression of authority. At one point in the development of Mass Effect 3, a Reaper-controlled Illusive Man was intended to become the game's final boss. His room was designed to show the Illusive Man's control of both his surroundings and a vast amount of information. Narrative-wise, the Illusive Man was designed to represent both the worst and best traits of humanity, with the narrative team making the deliberate decision not to reveal much about his present. In the Mass Effect universe, the Illusive Man is depicted as a "human nationalist" who only communicates with his subordinates via hologram. Aside from his initial appearance in Ascension, the character is also present in several Mass Effect comic series and novels. During Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, a propaganda video appropriating audio excerpts from Martin Sheen's performance of the Illusive Man was shared on Trump's social media before being taken down for copyright infringement. The Illusive Man has been received well, and his appearance in Mass Effect 2 has earned accolades, with IGN naming him best character of 2010. Martin Sheen's performance was also received positively, earning a nomination for best male performance at the 2010 Spike Video Game Awards. The Illusive Man has attained positive reception for his manipulative tendencies, influence, and secrecy within the series. His visual appearance in Mass Effect 3 and his relationship with the protagonist of the game, Commander Shepard, have been the subject of scholarly analysis.