Not All Heroes are Invincible
by Alexa Barralaga
In my freshman year of college I discovered Invincible (2021-). At first, it seems like a typical superhero show where a kid discovers he has powers and has to learn how to grow into them so he can save the world. However, in just a matter of time, the plot shifts drastically. Invincible portrays a superhero and narrative that is unique from all the others.
Invincible’s main character, Mark Grayson, is a teenage boy who is half-human and half-Viltrumite, an alien species with a mysterious past. His father, Nolan Grayson, is a Viltrumite and the most powerful superhero on Earth, Omniman. Mark reaches the age where his powers suddenly kick in and Nolan steps up as both his father and a hero to teach him the Viltrumite ways of using these new abilities responsibly. Through this guidance, Mark gradually learns that being a hero means more than just fighting villains. Over the course of the show we witness him grapple with what he really wants: to be a hero like his father? Or live a normal human life? A growing cast of heroes and villains affect that decision and spark a fire inside him to decide which one is more important to him, and quickly.
Invincible encourages the viewers to decide for themselves what they believe a true superhero story should be. Unlike other heroes whose first priority is fighting villains, Mark truly doesn’t have it all figured out. After all, he is only a teenager. The series shows the “human” side of these superheroes and how even they have everyday struggles like the rest of society. The show also focuses on how there will always be consequences for your actions, and sometimes as a superhero, you will have to go against what others believe is right to do what’s necessary.
The animation is many things, but it is not cartoonish. Its graphic and gory fight scenes and other visual choices make it a show that can be taken seriously. The animation portrays various emotions, and the dramatic music that plays during fight scenes, especially when the Invincible title card appears, makes me anxious with anticipation to find out what happens next.
My favorite thing about Invincible is how action isn’t its core focus. The characters struggle with more than just villains, and we see how the emotional distress and obstacles that they go through lead to decisions that drastically affect the direction of the plot. All of these components allow the audience to think about Mark’s development on a deeper level. So if you’re looking for a superhero show to watch that’s different from what you’ve seen before, this one’s for you.
