It's still early, but 2021 is set to be the best year ever for superhero television. Marvel has been making waves on Disney Plus. Their WandaVision and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier have been massive successes. They're just getting started. Marvel's release schedule through the rest of the year is sure to keep them busy.
Of course, the MCU isn't the only player in the superhero game. Netflix has some shows in the works, like the third season of The Umbrella Academy. Likewise, Amazon is currently working on the third season of their smash hit The Boys. That season likely won't air until next year, though, and Amazon wasn't willing to let Marvel run away with 2021. Into the midst of all this excitement, they've released a sleeper-hit, Invincible. Fans could be forgiven if they missed the announcement, but they'd better change the channel over to Prime. Invincible feels like it's going to be the best show of the year.
What is Invincible?
Invincible started its life a comic book. Image Comics, creator-owned darling and 3rd largest comic book publisher in the world, put the book out back in 2003. It was created by two little-known (at the time) comics creatives: Robert Kirkman and Cory Walker. If one of those names sounds familiar, it's because Kirkman is the creator behind Outcast and worldwide sensation The Walking Dead. He's also been working on both of those shows, as well as Fear the Walking Dead. The man keeps busy, and he's heavily involved with Amazon's adaptation of his much-beloved comic.
Mark Grayson is Invincible. He's the son of Omni-Man, who is a pretty clear Superman parallel. Omni-Man is a Viltrumite who came to Earth years ago to be the planet's protector. The Earth of this universe is populated with heroes, villains, rob0ts, and aliens. The Guardians of the Globe are the Justice League parallel, but they are only the biggest of many superhero teams. The book follows Mark's journey as a hero, starting when he gets his powers at 17. He'll have to learn to save the world quickly as someone's killed the Guardians of the Globe.
Invincible isn't a household name like The Walking Dead, but that's only because the show is just getting started. The Invincible comic ran for 144 issues. It ended in 2018, the year before Kirkman ended The Walking Dead, which also started its run back in 2003.
Why You Should Watch Invincible
Despite what the words "animated adaptation,", Invincible isn't for kids. The show doesn't have the "gritty realism" of Amazon's The Boys, but it's far from family-friendly. Heroes are flawed people, and their actions have consequences. Often, though, consequences lead to violence, trauma, and death. Still, the showrunners, with Kirkman's guidance, have managed to thread a very fine needle. What could just be another hyper-violent extravaganza actually feels grounded and somewhat intimate.
A large part of the show's appeal is its art style. Amazon hasn't gone light with their animation budget, and every frame of Invincible shines. The show looks like a comic that's been brought to life. It's not just an uninspired panel-for-panel recreation (like something Zack Snyder might attempt). The animation actually manages to bring new life into the world while still accurately emulating the art in the comic.
If the art doesn't sell the show, the star power should. Amazon pulled out the big guns when it comes to Invincible's main cast. Mark Grayson is voiced by Steven Yuen, of Walking Dead fame. Omni-Man is voiced by none other than J.K. Simmons. Sandra Oh, who fans might recognize from Grey's Anatomy and Killing Eve rounds out the main character as Debbie Grayson, Omni-Man's wife. The supporting cast will make jaws drop as well. The show is packed with performances from Zazie Beetz, Gillian Jacobs, and Zachary Quinto, along with guest appearances from people like Mahershala Ali, Seth Rogen, and Mark Hamill.
What's Going on with Invincible?
Invincible started its Prime run with a three-episode drop on March 26, 2021. The first season will finish its 8-episode arc on a weekly basis from there. Each of the episodes is about the length of a network television show. That means if anyone who starts now should be able to catch up before the new episode this Friday, April 16. For anyone who is all caught up and jonesing for more Invincible, there's always the comic series to return to. So far the show has adhered closely to the book.
There might even be more Invincible just around the corner. A live-action movie has been in the works since before the Amazon show. Kirkman has confirmed it's still in progress, and he's working to ensure the show and movie are complementary to each other. Kirkman has also told fans he's working on getting an Invincible video game out to them. Considering the work his game studio Skylab has done with The Walking Dead after Telltale shuttered, the Invincible game is in good hands.
Marvel gets all the attention when it comes to superheroes, but Invincible is here to blow them out of the water. Consider this a wake-up call. Don't sleep on Amazon's sleeper hit Invincible.