Invincible is Incredible
The long-awaited second volume of season 2 is comic book television at its finest.
We need more television like this.
Based off of Robert Kirkman’s genre-bending Image Comic series, Invincible, the widely lauded TV series of the same name, has faced a titanic level of anticipation. Following a two year break, Season 2 - though not as discussed as its debut - was more than worth the excruciatingly long wait.
I’m stoked to dive into this excellent series and now that volume 1 and 2 are released in full - go binge it as soon as you can!
AFTERMATH OF THE AFTERMATH
If season 2’s first volume dealt with the fallout of Nolan’s heinous, deceptive, murderous behavior, season 2’s second volume deals with the fallout of just the opposite. Nolan’s decisions post-exile, though selfish and short-sighted, can be seen as virtuous and peaceful, in diametric opposition with his mission on Earth. But either way, it’s his actions (good or bad) that leave an imprint on the people he leaves behind. And either way, it’s Mark that’s left to assess the damage.
Cleaning up after the sins of his father, the burden on Mark’s shoulders in these four episodes is nearly insurmountable. The pressure in his academic, romantic, familial, professional and social lives are similar to that of Peter Parker in Spider-Man 2, his worlds colliding as he tries to hold it all together. Yet it’s Kirkman’s ability to demonstrate Mark’s longing for normalcy that makes the aftermath of Nolan’s decisions so painful to endure. The absence of Nolan in these episodes could definitely be viewed as a drawback for this season, but in essence, it makes the consequences of his actions hit that much harder.
GROWING PAINS
The difficulty to mine creative character exploration in a show that juggles so many different personalities and ideas is extraordinary, to say the least. But Invincible just makes it look so seamless. Everyone from Mark, Debbie, and Amber, to Donald and Cecil, to the Guardians of the Globe receive enormous opportunity for depth and reflection, none of it ever feeling forced.
With such drastic growth comes equally drastic change, and Kirkman and co. are not afraid at all to alter the formula of the show to make this happen. Yet the pace at which they gravitate to new paths is naturalistic, raw, and achingly human. Debbie’s grief and isolation leads her to a new purpose in motherhood; Donald’s inner torment grants him agency; and even Rex’s self-sabotage helps him gain perspective and empathy. No character feels unimportant, whether a lead or supporting, pointing to the interminable level of care the writers put into them.
VILTRUM IS AS VILTRUM DOES
Without giving too much away, the culmination of this season’s main plot arc - while a tad underdeveloped - is nothing short of spell-binding, triumphant, and heartbreaking when it works. Angstrom Levy’s vengeful mission provides a mix of exciting new worlds and haunting melodrama. The colorful, dynamic animation is stunning, each action scene echoing comic panels with articulation and personality. Most importantly, the series never forgets the innate terror posed by the Viltrumite race and the ones they hurt, like Angstrom.
Seeing what Anissa, Nolan, and Angstrom are capable of is a direct reflection of what Mark could become, illuminating a core theme that is quite stirring upon the completion of this season: choice. We can fiddle around with ideas of destiny, legacy, and history repeating itself, but the one thing that stands in the way of those notions is our discernment and compassion. The push and pull Mark feels all season long reminds us that, although the part of him that’s superhuman provides him his physical strength, it’s his humanity that guides him to improve his emotional tenacity. It’s just up to him to embrace it.
RATING: 8.9/10
Well, there you go! Season 2 of Invincible has its clunky parts, but it’s more than overcome by the writers’ and animators’ profound interpretation of what it means to be a hero. In short, this show hasn’t even come close to losing its bite.
Stay tuned for an upcoming podcast episode that’ll dive into a deeper analysis of the overall season, particularly episodes 5-8. Also…I’m starting a new video series on YouTube called The Music Corner, so keep an eye out for that to drop soon! Until then…
Peace out!