With The Boys back on screens everywhere, it's time to welcome back the Amazon Prime superhero series with an evil Superman, gory action, and amazing graphics that leave fans in awe. That's right: It's time to talk about Invincible.
The show was a smash hit that managed to get fans to really connect with its titular teen hero. As Mark slowly developed and grew into his powers, the show explored more and more of the world and characters around him. Still, while it was largely loved, some fans found that there were aspects of the show that really ticked them off — even if it was against the opinions of the wider fanbase.
Mark Was Useless
While most superhero shows tend to involve an overly influential protagonist, Invincible never really had a big heroic moment for Mark. "I felt like I was constantly waiting on Mark to do something redeeming and he never did," says Redditor KindaSortaPeruvian. "I recognize that he's what deterred Omni-Man in the first place, but that was an appeal to humanity and not a thing more."
Still, it's somewhat realistic that Mark never really had that shining moment. He's a budding hero, and his biggest villain was his own father. Appeals to humanity are considerably more par-for-the-course for a case like that.
Finale Was Too Gory
Given that most animated shows aren't intended to appeal to adults, it can be somewhat surprising when a show like Invincible hits the air. The brutal beating that Mark takes, the slaughter of the Guardians of the Globe, or a train full of people being smashed to pieces aren't exactly commonplace, and they can absolutely put some people off.
"I just think the finale was too much," says Reddit user BecauseWhyNot369. "It honesty took away from my enjoyment of the episode a bit." It makes sense. Though the show was dark from the first episode, the finale takes it a step further and it's an utterly horrifying sight. The train scene alone can leave its mark on any viewer for weeks to come.
Omni-Man Was Right
Omni-Man was a monster determined to subjugate the Earth and force it to obey the directives of his people. Yet, he may have been right.
"Would it really be so bad for Earth to be subjugated by the Viltrumites? Advanced technology probably centuries ahead in advancement at the cost of free will," says InsertUsername98. "Humanity also is constantly under attack by monsters and villains with presumably the still current threat of wars and terrorism." It's a debate that often comes up with dictators in media, given that they often promise better lives for their people. Still, the idea of living under the command of people who would utterly slaughter human beings without a second thought is unacceptable, making Omni-Man a clear villain.
Breaking Up With Mark Was Smart
The partners of superheroes often have it rough. Never truly in the loop and often unable to fully connect with their loved one's life, they often wonder if they'll ever see their partner again each time the hero zips off. For Amber in Invincible, it's even worse. "He knew that not being around, being late constantly, and being unavailable hurt her and made her feel like she wasn't important to him. But he continued to string her along," says Reddit user BettyLoops.
Really, Amber's fury at Mark is completely understandable. After trying for so long to convince her that his motives were good, he proved time and time again that he couldn't be the boyfriend that she needed. Though they can still be great friends, they clearly are not entirely compatible as a couple.
Omni-Man Isn't Complex
A superhero darker than his villains, Omni-Man is often considered a complex and three-dimensional hero tackling heavy themes and messages. But that may not really be the case. "Omni-Man is not a well written, or a complex character as everyone says he is," says SuperFly981 on Reddit. "He's a monster for the very beginning and he doesn't deserve redemption or forgiveness."
Given that his motivations were dark all alone, he wasn't really as complex as he seemed. He was just a loyal soldier following orders as he was told. There was never self-doubt, never hesitation, and never anything more than doing his duty. It isn't entirely complex, but it doesn't need to be, as he served his narrative purpose brilliantly.
The Show Is Not Groundbreaking
Whenever a show becomes a massive hit, there often come calls that it is groundbreaking, shocking, and innovative. But that isn't always the case. "Really enjoy the series, and it's pretty good. But it's not groundbreaking like some people claim," says Redditor Best-Dragonfruit-292. "We've seen evil Superman before. We've seen gore before."
While Invincible did explore those themes, shows like The Boys did the same things and more effectively. Homelander, after all, is a much more effective villain than Omni-Man, and the Guardians of the Globe are just the Justice League by another name. Even the Teen Team is just a recolored Teen Titans. Still, it isn't a critique to say that it isn't groundbreaking. It's effective regardless.
Guardians of the Globe Were Pathetic
There's nothing worse than a team of supposedly-competent heroes being played for chumps. But when the Guardians were slaughtered shortly after their introduction just to establish Omni-Man as a real threat, all it does is paint them as ineffective and useless. "I get it as a tone shift, but all it did was make the old Guardians look bad at fighting," says tearbend on Reddit.
Had they had more time to establish themselves as heroes, or if they had even managed to look somewhat more competent against Omni-Man, it would have made the scene heavier. Instead, it's almost laughable how easily they were eviscerated.
Poor Animation
Though the first three episodes of the series had incredible animation, by the fourth, the quality started to suffer. Though the Guardians' fight was amazing, regular day-to-day action for Mark and Friends wasn't always strong.
"Despite having an interest in the story I think the animation is very very low quality outside of certain fight scenes," says Reddit user HungryCap4022. It takes away from the story when it tackles serious issues and the animation quality severely drops, often leading to reused assets like an ever-appearing crow and blurring faces.
Show's Pacing Is Better Than The Comics
Given that plots in comics often tend to progress more quickly than in TV shows, thanks to longer wait times between issues, Invincible takes it a step further. It takes significantly longer to get to Omni-Man's retreat, and some plots are altogether invented for the show.
Still, it worked out. "The parts of the comic that the show has expanded upon or condensed make a lot of sense and really help the show tell the story," says Reddit user Lord_Blathoxi. "Bringing Amber in earlier and giving her a bigger role was a great idea." The slower pace helped to allow a deeper connection to form with the characters, making them feel more human and more relevant. It did a great job of forcing viewers to emphasize with Mark throughout the series.
The Memes Are Awful
While shows being made into memes is expected nowadays, it isn't always a good thing. "Most of these memes are so artificial and ham-fisted," says Reddit user TheHellAccount. "The other main problem is it's spoiling a rather shocking twist for people who haven't seen the show."
While memes can help draw a new audience, spoiling Omni-Man's betrayal or Mark's desperate appeal to his humanity can ruin the experience for those fans. After all, what's the point of watching when they already know what's coming?