If Invincible Wants to Do Right by Fans, It Must Nail the Comic's Biggest Arc
The Invincibleshow has been loved by fans both new and old, but if the animated series wants to please everyone, it's going to have to hit one story arc out of the park. So far, Invincible has been an incredibly faithful show, but can it deliver on one crucial battle?
Since debuting in 2021,Invincible has been bringing the fan-favorite series to life in an adaptation that's taken great steps to be as close to the comic as possible. But now Invincible is heading into one of the biggest and most explosive chapters yet, and the show's got a lot of expectations to live up to.
The "Invincible War" Could Make or Break the Show
A Pivotal Turning Point in the Comics Will Be Crucial to the Animated Series
All the battles, bloodshed, and broken bones in the first several Invincible arcs led to one of his first major battles. Invincible #60 by Robert Kirkman, Ryan Ottley, Cliff Rathburn, and Rus Wooton was the center and main story of the crossover, "Invincible War". In this jaw-dropping issue, Invincible's nemesis Angstrom Levy has assembled 16 Invincible variants from across the multiverse, intent on making the Earth fear Mark Grayson. The Invincible army flies all over the world and begin wreaking havoc on major international cities and iconic locations.
Heroes across the world unite to fight back, including ones from other Image series such as Spawn, Savage Dragon, and Tech Jacket. The main Invincible joins the fight, but he’s mistaken for one of the variants and attacked by his fellow heroes. Thankfully, Mark convinces them he’s the real one and every available hero joins the fray, but hell breaks loose fast as the remaining Guardians of the Globe are helpless to stop the evil Marks (though Rex Splode manages to take out one Invincible by blowing himself up).
Days pass by and the remaining Invincibles have conquered the planet, with hundreds of cities wrecked and thousands across the world dead. Angstrom Levy arrives for the next phase of his plan, banishing the Invincibles to a wasteland when they turn on him. The real Invincible finds Levy and, after a brutal battle, has him pinned down. Just as Invincible’s brother Oliver persuades Invincible to kill Angstrom, the madman makes a quick escape by generating a portal. Though the Earth is saved, Invincible looks on in horror at the destruction wrought by his variants.
The "Invincible War" is a Poignant Moment for Mark's Character
The Show Needs to Capture the Brutality and the Solemnity of This Event
Though only one issue, this battle is a major moment that the animated series needs to devote enough time and attention to in order to do it justice. Obviously, there are some things it won’t be able to do, namely, including the other Image characters that show up to fight the Invincible army. Thankfully, characters like Spawn and Savage Dragon only show up briefly and don’t need to be included for the story to work. That being said, it’s crucially important for this show to adapt "Invincible War" as closely as possible for everything else.
When the Invincible army hits, it needs to be just as brutal as Omni-Man’s attack on Earth when Mark found out the truth about his father. So much of Mark’s journey after that moment has dealt with his personal fears about being perceived as an uncontrollable monster like Omni-Man. When Angstrom Levy’s army is unleashed upon the world, it’s Invincible’s greatest fears come to life, and it’s important he feels that, because it pays off in big ways in the comic (and hopefully, the show).
It’s also important to highlight the supporting cast in this event. More than anything else, Rex Splode’s death can’t be downplayed. Aside from being the culmination of his amazing character growth, this moment changes the course for a lot of characters, especially Robot, who comic fans know is going to be seriously affected by Rex’s sacrifice. While it’s important that Invincible get the carnage and destruction of the "Invincible War" right, it’s much more important that it strongly emphasizes these crucial character moments.
Amazon's Invincible is on the Right Track
"Invincible War" is Almost Certain to be Adapted Faithfully
While there's always a fear that a comic might not be adapted properly, Invincible has a pretty great track record. Sure, it's not a 1:1 adaptation, but it's done quite well at following the story beats of the original comic. The creative team behind the show no doubt understands that "Invincible War" is one of the most important parts of Invincible and is hopefully intent on doing this story justice.
- Created by
- Robert Kirkman
- First TV Show
- Invincible
- Cast
- Steven Yeun, Sandra Oh, J.K. Simmons, Gillian Jacobs, Andrew Rannells
- Video Game(s)
- Invincible: Guarding the Globe
- Character(s)
- Invincible, Debbie Grayson, Atom Eve, William Clockwell, Omni-Man
