Invincible is Robert Kirkman’s latest TV adaptation, making its debut in a television
landscape now filled with all kinds of complex shows based on comics.
But the show is more than just a new superhero addition,
and after watching season 1, it's safe to say that it breaks all kinds of barriers and
delivers something interesting, that the genre may have needed.
It celebrates superheroes traditionally, but it also subverts the idea of them.
In this video essay, I'm going to be discussing why
Amazon Prime's new tv show Invincible subverted the superhero genre and why I personally think
it's an amazing show that you should be watching.
This analysis will contain brief spoilers, so if you haven't
seen Invincible yet, then I would recommend watching this video after you've caught up.
But before I get into it, if you want to see more on Invincible as new seasons arrive,
then don't forget to subscribe to the channel and turn on your notifications.
Also, if you enjoy this video remember to give it a like rating.
But without further ado, let's dive into why Invincible has subverted the genre of superheroes
in a good way.
So Robert Kirkman, the comic book creator behind The Walking Dead, had also started
a timely and loved superhero comic book series during the same year as the zombie epic.
At first, Invincible comes across like a traditional superhero saga, especially when compared to
the past decade’s worth of bold small-screen storytelling within the genre.
The series opens with a world-saving sequence in which a comparable Justice League crew
of heroes battle baddies who are attacking The White House.
The animation is well made and standard, reminiscent of shows from the DC Animated Universe.
The pilot episode has a lot of normal writing, including several significant father-son discussions
and Important Lessons.
This is where we begin to dive into the nuanced life of teenager and superhero Mark
Grayson, who is the son of Nolan and Debbie Grayson.
The prime character is in high school and is going through the things that most teenagers
must experience, with relationships, first jobs, friendships, and
school itself.
It reminds you of the superheroes you tend to know and love right from the onset, and
the characters within that mould tend to fit the role types.
The big difference with Mark, however, is that his father is the most powerful superhuman
on the entire planet.
Omni-Man is like a twisted superman, but one which at first may seem like his eventful
actions are controlled and not fully his own until the audience realises that it's not
that at all.
And when Mark begins to develop his own powers, his life suddenly becomes a tutorial of balancing
his day-to-day life with his own super abilities.
So already we've got something familiar but also something that is about to take these
ideas and become a great example of subversion.
Invincible is not what it first seems.
Readers of the comics will know there’s a shocking twist early on that throws the
entire series’ premise into question.
The adaptation, to its advantage, reshuffles some plot points and emphasizes certain characters
in order to make that defining moment even more upsetting and prominent on-screen.
The simple set-up and a lighthearted throwback that reminds you of beloved teen hero characters
like Peter Parker is only the tip of what's going on.
Below all of this is a much darker series, one in which major threats against humanity
are by turns ordinarily and upsettingly relentless.
In particular, the end of the first episode includes a brutal
murder of the guardians in the hands of Mark's father, Omniman, throwing his seemingly perfect
life into chaos, and from this point, we've only just started to get into the subversion
and the violent twists.
What follows is elements of other genres like mystery and horror, as Mark,
his mother and fellow superheroes begin to uncover the truth about what really happened.
Thanks to Amazon giving Robert Kirkman the creative control he desires,
this superhero teen soap transforms into a violent and bloody, true-to-form cartoon.
And the show is full to the brim of big names, with even the supporting roles being ones
you might recognise, helping to elevate the nuance of characters using their powerful
voices.
Alongside J.K. Simmons, Steven Yeun, Mark Hamill and
Sandra Oh, the show includes other roles for Ezra Miller, Mae Whitman, Djimon Hounsou,
Jonathan Groff, Jon Hamm, Nicole Byer, Jeffrey Donovan, Michael Dorn,
Mahershala Ali, Zazie Beetz, Zachary Quinto, Seth Rogen and many more.
Fans of Kirkman’s comics may be hesitant to embrace some of the series’ aesthetic
changes — which seem more in line with Amazon’s other superhero show, The Boys — as it thrives
on exploding heads and buckets of animated blood.
Yet despite its violence, Invincible is not as inherently insensitive as The Boys and
still manages to temper its darker moments with homages and jokes that are rooted in
pure love for all things superhero.
This is what helps to make the plot points feel that much more impactful and create a
connecting essence to mark, who in the meantime is still growing up.
He's slowly being introduced to these horrific events and grown-up
concepts, that makes you think deeply about what it might mean to be a superhero or someone
who is uniquely separated from the everyday person.
But even then, Mark has grown up with everyday people, and the characters he knows or tries
to save, are great elements that really help to ground the character within the world that
the show takes place in.
Robert Kirkman’s Invincible is much more than a traditional superhero animation, as
Amazon's star-studded new series offers an 'intimate subversion' of the comic book genre.
The cartoon manages to perfectly bring the comic book to life, but instead of glossing
over the more intimate moments, or rushing past the things that add so much empathy and
emotion to the book, the series spends a good amount of time not only focusing on them but
expanding upon them.
For every great action scene, we also touch on the personal lives of our characters and
see how these two vastly different existences push and pull on each other.
The show also refuses to stop any punches, offering some of the most incredible battle
scenes ever put to screen, with brains, teeth and body parts everywhere.
Yet the series then immediately grounds things by showing us Mark’s struggles, be it alongside
his best friend William or the best way to prepare for a date with his crush Amber.
And this pull and tug relationship with being human and superhuman is how the show manages
to end on a strong note.
The final 2 episodes are all about this concept, and the show almost gets you ready for those
final 2 instalments with all the character development and plot growth that you witness
throughout the season.
Omni Man and Invincible are the living examples of both, and while we know that unbeatable
superhuman abilities would on paper triumph human abilities, the emotion and connection
between these two main characters are what ultimately suppresses the final event.
The humanity that Omni Man and his wife have produced with his son, comes to the forefront
in the final battle scene against Mark, and we see that this is the one thing that stops
him from delivering a fatal punch.
But the series also dives into the fun details of superhero comics — like introducing us
to the man who designs the costumes of our heroes, reminding me of Edna in a way from
The Incredibles.
Or in the opening episode, like where it gives us a comparable Justice League team.
It's the mix of melodramatic moments and connections with teen soaps and the
sci-fi action, that allows Invincible to be bright with alien invasions and Kaiju confrontations,
but also incredibly intimate, like with the family dinner after
battle with the Graysons.
It is one of them shows that more people should be watching, but it's understandable that
within the plethora of superhero TV shows, that Invincible might have stood out more
prominently if it had been made sooner — before the format became overcrowded with shows attempting
to one-up each other in terms of intelligence and visual appeal.
But despite this, the series still stands on its own with an intriguing and surprising
story led by an enormous cast.
Kirkman’s long-running comic book readers to incredible places, and I hope that this
TV adaptation can continue its astonishing run in season 2.
With its clear love for the heroes that came before,
it also has a big chance to grow into the epic it aims to be.
Invincible will have you addicted by the end of the first episode with great action set
pieces, but will really attract you with the human elements.
This show is so much more than just another superhero cartoon, as it crosses comedy, mystery,
drama, romance and science fiction, giving audiences a multi-genred show that subverts
what you expect.
But that was my video essay for Robert Kirkman's new tv show, Invincible, and why I think the
series has subverted the superhero genre and also gave audiences
something quite enjoyment.
We'll have to see where we go in season 2 and 3 of Invincible down the line, and after
how good season 1 turned out to be, I can't wait to watch what's next and cover it here
on the channel.
Let me know down below what your thoughts are towards Invincible on Amazon Prime and
do you agree with the points I have raised in this analysis.
For more videos on upcoming tv shows and movies, including season 2 and 3 of Invincible in
the years to come, then subscribe to the channel and turn on your notifications.
Also if you enjoyed this video remember to leave a like rating.
But anyway, I hope you guys enjoyed it, I've been Cortex and as always make some noise.