Warning! MAJOR spoilers for Invincible ahead!Few adaptations are as faithful to the source material as Amazon Prime’sInvincible. Thanks to the heavy involvement of Invincible’s writer and co-creator, Robert Kirkman, the show is as close to a 1:1 adaptation of a superhero property as there’s ever been.
Three seasons in and the show has already nailed some of the most important moments, suchas Omni-Man’s betrayal, the Invincible War, and Mark Grayson’s battlewith the powerful Conquest. But there’s a lot of story left for the show to tell and if it really wants to excel, it’s imperative that Invincible make these 10 moments as faithful to the comic as possible.
10Invincible’s Reboot
Late in theInvinciblestory, Mark is on an alien planet when he falls in a cave and encounters a mysterious entity that sends Invincible five years into the past, back to the beginning of the story. However, Mark retains all his knowledge of the future and uses it to make things better.He confronts Omni-Man andhelps him realize he loves humanity, avoiding the senseless destruction from Nolan and Mark’s fight. In just a few days,Invincible saved more lives than he ever thought possible.
And yet, Mark is completely miserable. He doesn’t have Eve (who is still with Rex thanks to Mark’s invention) and worse, this new timeline means Invincible’s daughter will never be born.Seeing Invincible sacrifice all the good he could do in exchange for Terra’s life is a heavy, but must-see moment.
9Invincible Teams Up With Dinosaurus
Mark Goes to a Dark Place
Fans of the show have yet to meet Dinosaurus, but he plays a crucial role in Invincible’s character growth. Dinosaurus wants to help heal the world, but by causing extremely destructive global events. Invincible is initially opposed to what Dinosaurus is doing, but starts to see that the villain may actually have a point and that the villain could actually help the world in the long-term. Of course,Dinosaurus’ plans involve massive destruction and cost thousands of lives.
Show-only watchers just saw how Mark refused to compromise when he discovered Cecil was using assets like Darkwing and D.A. Sinclair for the greater good. But this arc flips the script and has Invincible forge a partnership for the same reason. It’san arc that really builds on Invincible’s character journey and expands his perspective.
8Invincible’s Battle with the Scourge Virus
Mark Loses His Powers
It’s known that there aren’t as many pure-blooded Viltrumites in the universe as their Empire would like the universe to believe. But the reason for the Viltrumites winnowed numbers is actually because of a disease known as the Scourge Virus, a virus created by the Coalition of Planets to destroy the Viltrumites. While the Viltrumites developed an immunity,an improved virus was created, only to later infect Invincible.
It was a harrowing moment in Invincible’s life. Not only did he nearly die from a virus that should have killed him, it briefly caused him to lose his powers. This arc could make for a really greatepisode or two that sees Invincible grappling with the effects of such a devastating disease.
7"The Viltrumite War"
Invincible’s Rematch with Conquest
Fans just got to witness one of the most devastating fights between Invincible and Conquest, but the powerful Viltrumite comes back for round two during the “Viltrumite War” arc. And joining him in this battle is a character fans haven’t met yet, but who serves as the series’ ultimate antagonist, Grand Regent Thragg. But that’s just half the story as this cosmos-spanning battle takes place fromplanet to plant, including on the home world of the Viltrumites.
If there’s one thing the animated series has gotten right, it’s the big, meaningful fights.Last season had the Invincible War and Conquest’s arrival, confrontations that left fans stunned. But those battles pale in comparison to the Viltrumite War, so hopefully, when its time comes, the show will get it right.
6Robot and Monster Girl’s Time with the Flaxans
A Major Growth for Both Characters
One of the most engaging parts of the Invincible series is watching Robot and Monster Girl’s relationship develop. However, the duo go through one of their most trying experiences when they are trapped in the Flaxan dimension, a realm where Rudy and Amanda are stuck for centuries. It’s during this time that cracks finally form in their relationship asMonster Girl cheats on Robot, while the years radically change Robot’s perspective on life.
They make it home, of course, but their time in the Flaxan dimension lays the groundwork for some major moments in Invincible. If the show really wants to capture the best moments of the comic,many of them hinge on Monster Girl and Robot’s detainment in another realm.
5Anissa’s Assault on Invincible
The Most Shocking Moment from the Series
Admittedly, this is a moment that has had comic book fans debating. Anissa, a Viltrumite warrior, decides that Mark is a suitable candidate for procreation and approaches him with the intent of having a child with Invincible. But Anissa isn’t asking, and she assaults Mark, raping him and leaving him to process his trauma. It’s a shocking moment andone that takes Invincible several issues to come to terms with.
Some have argued that maybe the show should avoid that particular moment, while others believe it’s important as the child Anissa has with Mark plays into the later part of the story. While it’s uncomfortable (and it’s absolutely meant to be),Invinciblewould undoubtedly treat the storyline sensitively and not use it as a moment of cheap exploitation.
4Battle Beast vs. Thragg
A Fight That Actually Lasts Days
Battle Beast is just starting to shine in the animated series and everyone knows there’s just one thing he wants more than anything: A satisfying fight. Thankfully, the warrior strikes a deal with the Coalition of Planets to give him exactly what he wants by pitting him against Grand Regent Thragg.Battle Beast finds Thragg’s hiding spot and fights him, but the deposed leader is more than ready for the challenge.
Fans have gotten to see a lot of great fights, but no battle in the series is as hard-fought or long-lasting as the one between Thragg and Battle Beast. Heck, there’s enough material in the battle to spend an entire, hour-long episode on just the two of themas they fight to the death to truly satisfyInvinciblefans.
3The Final Fight with Thragg
Invincible Lets Loose on His Most Hated Enemy
Speaking of battles with Thragg, it’s absolutely critical that when Invincible faces off against Thragg for the final time and that it hits every beat possible. It’s not just a good fight fans need to see here, it’s the emotional intensity that viewers are going to want to feel. This is also the moment whenOmni-Man is fatally wounded by Thragg and Mark Grayson unleashes absolute hell on his enemy.
It’s easy to lose sight of the importance of particular fights in a series with so much combat and bloodshed. But this last battle is everything. It’s Invincible fighting for his humanity and his Viltrumite heritage against a man who despises both.This fight was a great payoff in theInvinciblecomics and if there’s one battle the show needs to treat with reverence, it’s this one.
2The Ending
The Story Goes On Even Once the Story Ends
The final issue ofInvincibleis jam-packed with a lot of elements: Mark teaching his son about his heritage, Marky venturing out as a hero for the first time, and Invincible heading out into the universe to lead a new era for the Viltrumite Empire. It’s a wild finale as what could be major plot points are glossed over,such as Angstrom Levy’s son arriving to avenge his father, or Terra’s tumultuous childhood in space.
But in a way, it’s kind of perfect. It’s a montage that lets fans know that just because the story is ending, that doesn’t mean the world is.Invincibleis merely a brief glimpse into this universe. Hopefully, the show will end on a similar optimistic and open-ended note.
1Robot’s Betrayal
The Biggest Heel Turn inInvincible
Of all the things inInvinciblethat should be faithfully adapted, it’s Robot’s heel turn into a villain. After his time in the Flaxan dimension, Robot decides the best way to establish peace on Earth is by taking complete and total control of everything. He neutralizes any threat (including Cecil) and creates an authoritarian regime.Robot’s actionsdocreate a peaceful world, but it’s not a pleasant one at all.
This is a major switch up for the latter half ofInvincible, but its sudden twist leads to some of the best scenes in the series, including a couple of major battles between Invincible and Robot.Invinciblefans will undoubtedly be shocked or angered by the unexpected turn of events, but the payoff is well worth it.
