Outside of the obvious competitors, Prime Video is rapidly dominating the superhero streaming landscape with an illustrious array of success. Standout shows like Fallout and The Boys have provided Prime Video subscribers with tons of quality storytelling to escape into. Invincible Season 3, now absent of the thoroughly disliked mid-season break, greatly adds to this well-decorated streaming library. Comic book adaptations are rarely as fruitful as the original source material, yet Robert Kirkman’s magnum opus is describable as nothing less than comic panels brought to life. Invincible continues to be a series that is often so painstakingly accurate to the comics that even casual readers would notice minuscule changes like a miscolored cloud.
The Rise of Prime Video in the Superhero Streaming Landscape
Prime Video’s superhero programming usually boasts a no-holds-barred mentality, using volatile and shocking turns to deliver the kind of mature adaptations that can’t be produced anywhere else. Prior seasons of Robert Kirkman’s Invincible have leaned heavily on such narrative tools without becoming overly cumbersome. Those unfamiliar with the original Invincible comics will struggle to forget the show’s premiere episode, in which adored superhero Omni-Man (J.K. Simmons) unexpectedly slaughters Earth’s beloved team of protectors, The Guardians of the Globe, without breaking so much as a sweat. Since then, a string of varying events that have included multiversal villains, a potential Viltramite invasion, and a talking dog have graced the world of Mark Grayson/Invincible (Steven Yeun).
The Impact of Invincible on the Superhero Genre
This Prime Video original series is lauded for its natural ability to catch audiences off guard, landing gut-wrenching punches a split second before anticipated. Invincible Season 2 teased entire universes under Viltramite rule, where Mark Grayson, our titular hero in yellow and blue spandex, succumbed to his father’s invasive mission and became an ally of the galaxy’s fascist threat. Big bad Angstrom Levy (Sterling K. Brown) was fuelled by murderous rage and insanity, targeting Invincible and seeking what he believed to be retribution. Following a multiversal battle featuring a Spider-Man parody, Fortnite, and talking dinosaurs, Invincible killed the relentless villain.
Lost in a desolate future wasteland and soaked in blood, Invincible muttered the soon-to-be theme of the third season: “I thought you were stronger.” Taking place mere months later, Invincible Season 3 catches up with Mark battling his guilty conscience after crossing a line he defines as what separates the good guys from the bad — or Invincible from Omni-Man. Season 3 doesn’t tiptoe around this, depicting Mark in a more brooding and angrier manner than previously seen, but also aware of the consequences of his past mistakes. Former ally Cecil Stedman (Walton Goggins) recognizes the extreme expansion of Invincible’s powers and dramatically dishonors their relationship in a 3-episode long, heart-in-your-mouth opening event, upturning the established dynamic of the series.
The Evolution of Mark Grayson in Season 3
Each supporting character then finds themselves increasingly distanced from one another and, upon the reveal of dark secrets, upheaves the respect Cecil had previously earned. This is how Invincible Season 3 continues the show’s trend of being unafraid to pull any superpowered punches. Infused into every single line and fight sequence is a passionate respect for the original comic run, bordering emotional realism and thrills in an undeniably entertaining concoction. In an era where studio interference is rife, especially with comic book adaptations, showrunner Simon Racioppa has been granted the keys to creative freedom. A trust that successfully proves that one can find room to both honor the comics and craft innovative storytelling that fits a different creative medium.
