Caution: spoilers ahead
“Invincible,” the animated adaptation of the comics of the same name, has been a fan favorite since its premiere in March 2021, serving as one of, if not the, best non-DC or Marvel-affiliated superhero productions. The Emmy-nominated, often gory show known for its incredible plot lines follows the life of Mark Grayson as he becomes the superhero Invincible and deals with his complicated life. It premiered its fourth full season on March 17, releasing the first three episodes for streaming on Prime Video and airing weekly since then.
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The first three episodes, “Making the World a Better Place,” “I’ll Give You the Grand Tour” and “I Gotta Get Some Air” focus largely on the immediate consequences of the finale of season three, where Invincible defeated Conquest in a costly battle. The emotional toll this took on Mark and the impact it had on Earth resulted in tensions with Cecil, Debbie, Eve, Oliver, the leaders of the coalition and all of humanity. Episode four, “Hurm,” is largely separated from the rest, focusing on a mission that sends Mark down to hell to work with Damien Darkblood to save the underworld. During all of this, Invincible changes dramatically as a character, becoming much more sporadic and less empathetic to his enemies, a significant character arc in the show.
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These primary episodes are a good representation of the rest of the show: incredible plot writing but subpar animation. Viewers complain that the graphics and detail of the animation fail miserably to reflect the huge budget Amazon Prime has for “Invincible.” However, much of the show’s budget goes to its star-studded lineup of voice actors, who have been credited with creating incredible, dramatic moments to supplement the animation.
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Episodes five and six, “Give Us a Moment” and “You Look Horrible,” are where “Invincible” truly shows its incredible writing. The Coalition of Planets, along with Invincible, Oliver and a changed Omni-Man embark on a long-shot mission to take out the Viltrumites while they are weak. These pieces of art include unbelievable scenes that constantly leave the viewer amazed, disgusted and reeling throughout.
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The seventh episode, “Don’t Do Anything,” is a culmination of the battle, or at least it seems that way until the end. A humongous battle between the Coalition and the remaining Viltrumites finally shows the true power of Thragg, the Viltrum leader. Following the destruction of the planet Viltrum, Mark discovers Thragg’s endgame, taking the battle to Earth.
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Based on the season so far, episode eight, the season finale entitled “Don’t Leave Me Hanging Here,” is sure to impress. It will be available on April 22 at 3 a.m., also on Prime Video, and will be the last new episode “Invincible” fans get before season five airs sometime in early 2027. According to the creator of the series, Robert Kirkman, the show will need to last seven to nine seasons to fully adapt the 144-issue comic, with the production team aiming for a yearly release schedule. This doesn’t include any original storylines they could introduce in the animation, which is a real possibility, having been done in small sample sizes throughout the first four seasons.