For over a decade, we have been told by modern media that being a super hero is a dream; Invincible is the manifesto that proves it is actually a nightmare.
Invincible, created by Robert Kirkman, is a story of betrayal, overwhelming power, and the brutal realism of superhuman collateral damage.
Mark Grayson, the main character of the story and the series’ namesake, is a superpowered alien similar to characters such as Superman. His father, also known as Omni-Man, is the most powerful hero on Earth and teaches him how to use his powers.
It is later revealed that Omni-Man is an undercover evil agent for the planet Villtrum, whose task is to take over Earth. This causes a great divide between them, and ignites a fight that destroys entire cities and landscapes.
In most superhero universes and media, stories are often cyclical. Heroes die, they come back, villains get taken down, a new one appears.
Invincible is known for its intense gore and brutal fights that causes cities to be leveled, and civilians die. Heroes get majorly injured, such as arms being torn from their body, backs being shattered. Instead of being magically healed, they stay scarred and injured.
This lack of a reset button forces the narrative to evolve rather than repeat.
The characters also hold very intense emotional tolls about the pain and destruction caused by super hero responsibilities.
While traditional heroes might experience “movie sadness” for only a short part of the film, characters experience sustained, bone-deep psychological damage.
Mark Grayson’s main tension involves him fighting more than just aliens; he is fighting the realization that his entire identity is built on a lie.
The emotional toll is not just about losing: it is the terrifying realization that to be a superhero is to be a witness to constant, unavoidable tragedy.
“It’s such a cool story because a lot of us are conditioned to the heroes always coming out on top, but a lot of the time, heroes lose a ton. A lot of them actually get brutally killed in ways that can be hard to imagine,” says Craig Buress.
Invincible does an incredibly good job on breaking the norms of mainstream superhero stories by keeping the viewer on their toes.
“Invincible is one of my favorite shows because Mark always gets some crazy retribution and doesn’t hold back, and it’s kind of refreshing to see,” says AJ Mura.
If you love shows that keep you on your toes and conveys to you something refreshing to see, and even things that bring you shock, then Invincible is your show.
The Anti-Marvel Manifesto
