Amazon Prime's new superhero animated series, Invincible, premiered its first three episodes on the popular streaming service on March 26, 2021.
For nearly two decades, superhero stories have been changing the landscape of mainstream entertainment. From the widely successful Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) to the forthcoming Suicide Squad video game, comic book fans have had plenty of content to enjoy, and now they've been given a little more with Amazon Prime's Invincible.
Following suit with the streaming network's other hit superhero show, The Boys, Amazon Prime gave subscribers access to the first three episodes of the highly-anticipated series to satisfy their appetites. With an episode release schedule that is set to end with a finale on April 30th, the show will air five more episodes individually every Friday after its debut on March 26th, making eight in total. Here are some neat facts to know about it before watching!
6 The Same Creator As The Walking Dead
Invincible is based on Robert Kirkman's first major on-going comic book series after getting his feet wet as an independent writer in the early 2000s. His earlier publications include his self-published, 16-issue superhero satire Battle Pope, and a mini-series titled SuperPatriot: America's Fighting Force.
After a 5-page preview for Invincible debuted in the back of another popular comic book titled Savage Dragon, Kirkman's frequent publisher, Image Comics, asked him to flesh the story out into a full series after the preview had garnered positive reception from readers back in 2002. Just a few short months later, Kirkman would begin development on another comic book about a group of survivors during a zombie apocalypse called The Walking Dead, which would become his most famously known work today (spawning four episodic, choice-driven video games by TellTale Games and Skybound Games).
5 Hybrids of Popular Comic-Book Characters
The story of Invincible follows a half-alien, teenaged boy named Mark Grayson, whose father, Nolan Grayson, is a powerful superhero named Omni-Man, who was originally from an alien planet called Viltrum. Nolan fills most of his time saving the Earth when -- one day -- Mark inherits his father's super-strength and ability to fly, prompting him to begin teaching his son valuable lessons in responsibility.
While watching the show, one may notice quickly how Omni-Man has a similar appearance and powers to that of Superman, and also fights alongside a team of meta-humans known as the Guardians of the Globe. Each member of the Guardians has a common super-hero trait both Justice League and X-Men fans will find familiar, such as super-speed, water manipulation, or use of a military-grade grappling hook (similar to Batman's in the Arkham Games).
4 It's Comic Book Ran For 144 Issues
Starting with its first issue in January 2003, Invincible would generate enough popularity among comic-book fans to continue for an impressive 15-year run before finally ending with its 144th issue in February 2018.
Today, the series is collectible in both trade paperback and hardcover, spanning over 25 volumes or four compendiums, with even a handful of spin-offs to read for fans who want more. Each available volume has a title that is uniquely named after a famous television sitcom, the first of which features a special cross-over issue where the title character meets numerous icons from other Image Comics, including Spawn and Witchblade.
3 It's Not For Kids
For some viewers, the show's sleek animation, vibrant colors, and electrifying music will leave the impression that it is tailor-fitted for a child. However, the series bears a TV-MA rating due to content and themes that are targeted toward adult-aged viewers.
Like other works from Robert Kirkman, Invincible promises a clever narrative that doesn't shy away from the heavy use of blood, coarse language, and ultra-violence. While the first episode does its best to tell a heartfelt, up-and-coming hero's origin story, the audience is given a twist by the end of its epilogue that not everything in the story's world is sunshine and rainbows.
2 Original Music From a Veteran Marvel Composer
To further capture the tone and epic scope of a superhero series, Amazon Studios employed TV composer, John Paesano, to score the entire first season.
Some of Paesano's other work includes Netflix's Daredevil as well as its cross-over limited series, The Defenders. Gamers may also recognize his music from Marvel's Spider-Man game originally released on the PS4 back in 2018, and its DLC-sized spin-off, Miles Morales, which had launched with the PS5 last November 2020.
1 It's Got An All-Star Cast
Early impressions of the show's animation have proven it to be faithful to comic book artist Cory Walker's character and world designs. In addition, Invincible fans are not only getting a series penned by its creator Robert Kirkman himself, but they are also going to hear their favorite characters voiced by various Hollywood stars.
Among the main cast is The Walking Dead TV show alumni, Steven Yeun, who plays the titular character, whose father, Nolan/Omni-Man, is voiced by Oscar Nominee and Spider-Man movie actor, J.K. Simmons. The rest of the cast includes Sandra Oh, Seth Rogen, Gillian Jacobs, Mark Hamill, Zazie Beets, and many more.
Finally, the animation and voice acting quality alone has proven for some to be a top choice for must-watch shows in 2021, with comic book sales and episode streams projected to shoot up, up, and away. That said, with positive reviews pouring in from several outlets urging comic book enthusiasts and moviegoers alike to give Invincible a try, it's difficult to not foresee the show being immediately picked up for a second season.