r/Invincible • u/mwthecool Omni-Mod • Nov 24 '23

Invincible [Episode Discussion] - S02E04 - It's Been a While EPISODE DISCUSSION

Episode 4 - It's Been a While!

Mark answers the call to save an alien species, but the mission has unexpected personal consequences.

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871

u/IIDeftEndII Nov 24 '23

Fuck man I'm trying really hard to not start reading the comic. I just want more RIGHT NOW. I need to know what happens to Nolan, I don't want him to die and I want to see what his books are all about. Waiting a whole week for one episode is bad enough..

aaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA WHY DO WE EVEN HAVE TO FUCKING WAIT UNTIL NEXT YEAR WHYY FUCK

183

u/[deleted] Nov 24 '23

[removed] — view removed comment

76

u/IIDeftEndII Nov 24 '23

I can't take it anymore LOL I'm reading it from the start.

49

u/Buffalkill Allen the Alien Nov 24 '23

Get a library card and download the hoopla app they are all on there for free if you log in using your library card.

3

u/maledin Allen the Alien Nov 24 '23

Oh shit, for real? Do they have all the spin-off comics too, like Brit and the Wolf-Man?

34

u/FourFootDangler Nov 24 '23

It starts a little slow but really picks up around this episode (issue 26 iirc). Enjoy!

5

u/nicegary604 Nov 27 '23

That’s what I’m doing bro gonna read the comics. Cause we are gonna have to wait 7 years to find the whole story if we wait for the show

9

u/BattleScones Nov 24 '23

Don't do it bro

2

u/IIDeftEndII Nov 24 '23

I read up until this point in the episode and stopped. I can't do it. I will control myself. Aaaah just a few more months.

9

u/BackstageKiwi Nov 24 '23

If I want to pick up from the end of the last episode, which chapter should I start from?

12

u/m_briggs Nov 24 '23 edited Nov 26 '23

You'd be better off starting at the beginning. The show moves certain characters and stories around, so there is no clean 1-to-1.

1

u/BackstageKiwi Nov 26 '23

Thanks. I was afraid you would say so, haha. I read some chapters that happened at the beginning so I guess I should get back to them.

6

u/y_Gwynbleidd_y Nov 24 '23

May you provide a link for "gratuitous" reading? I'm poor...

8

u/FunkyFiasc0 Nov 24 '23

Go to the library. Someone else mentioned using Hoopla app with a library card to read it all for free

9

u/y_Gwynbleidd_y Nov 24 '23

I'm in Brazil lol

4

u/schnazzums Nov 24 '23

How different is the comic compared to the show? Would it be okay to pick up around here in the comic, or should I start over?

7

u/LeTooniverse Nov 25 '23

It's pr different ftmp since they condense, switch around and outright change a bunch of stuff for the show. To compare it to another show, it's like how the recent One Piece live action changes stuff from the manga/anime. It's big moments are accurate, while switching up a lot of the build up and context.

You'd be better off starting from the beginning

1

u/Askefyr Nov 28 '23

You need to start over - afaik all the storylines are the same eventually, but the order in which they happen is wildly different. The show tends to move later plotlines in earlier, then abandon them for a while. Pick and mix.

1

u/Draymond4Prez Dec 06 '23

It’s similar enough that you wouldn’t really miss a lot, but also different enough that I’d recommend reading it.

I’d just start from the beginning, that’s what I did a week ago. I caught up to the show in like a day or two. The show is only like a third - half of the way through the first compendium. The story/show has multiple plot lines so stuff that occurred in the show may not appear in the story at the same point or vice versa as it’s not a 1 to 1 replica.

I’d recommend reading it though, I finished all 3 compendiums in a week and can’t wait for the next season. It also made me appreciate minor changes the shows made

1

u/[deleted] Nov 24 '23

Did you get the compendiums 1-3 or are you reading it a dofferent way? I wanna buy them on Amazon but they are pricey

1

u/sundreano Nov 25 '23

Do you think it's worth starting the comics from the beginning since they've changed things around a bit, or is it better to just pick up from around where these events take place? Just curious what your approach was lol

3

u/FourFootDangler Nov 25 '23

Like you said the comics are structured differently from the show; same events, different order. Therefore I think its best to just start from the beginning to have the intended experience. And also, comics don't take long to read so going through a couple dozen issue to catch up is no big deal.

54

u/Kraznodarize Nov 24 '23

I'd try to wait until Season 2 is over then read the comic personally. You'll get more out of the show if you don't know what's happening and it shouldn't be TOO long until part 2 is out. But I'd definitely read the comics after that, it could be a decade or longer before the show is finished at current pave and the comic is soooo good. The show is still very enjoyable too even after reading the comic, they're changing quite a bit (almost all for the better) so it's still very engaging and it's cool seeing all the stuff they're setting up for the future. There are so many teases and setups this season so far that you would probably miss if you haven't read the comics.

15

u/lnfernandes Nov 24 '23

That's the thing I've started reading the comics and had to stop for a bit because I felt more enjoyment from the show and knowing the events even with the changed details felt suboptimal. I'll be definitely waiting for season 2 to finish before getting back to it

35

u/jyok33 Nov 24 '23

I’ve done this watching animes before and in my opinion it’s never worth it to read ahead. You don’t get the best possible experience when learning important plot points and you let preconceptions affect your enjoyment when the new episodes come out.

5

u/Aggressive_Plan_616 Dec 02 '23

I respectfully disagree, reading manga to get ahead on Anime has turned me into an avid reader. Like I'm so happy that I read Chainsaw man. Everytime an anime hypes me up I'll just read what happens next, I've never been disappointed so far, and I still enjoy watching the episodes that come out because I can pay attention to other things, maybe catch clues or whatnot

2

u/Albreitx Dec 08 '23

Depends. Reading Attack on Titan a couple of years ago was the right decision since I spared me two years of hyping up the ending to end up being dogshit lol

Same with Boruto. The story is so mid (recently picking up) that watching the anime is a huge waste of time (and the animation sucks so bad)

5

u/RecoveredAshes Dec 08 '23

The anime ending was better than the manga ending. This is actually a perfect example of why you shouldn’t read ahead. the ending worked so much better in the anime and they learned from the mangas mistakes. They fleshed it out more and changed a couple minor things for the better. Also The ending isn’t dog shit, if you didn’t like it you didn’t like it. Personally loved it. I read the manga ending after finishing the anime and it’s so much worse of an experience. It’s more rushed, and the lack of music, animation, and VA waters down the experience so much.

1

u/Albreitx Dec 08 '23 edited Dec 08 '23

"Thank you for being a mass murderer" ☠️

There are also a few plot holes post time skip

1

u/TehAnimeHQ Dec 18 '23

I know this is 9 days ago but thankfully the " Thank you for being a mass murderer" doesn't happen in the anime version.

18

u/RealJohnGillman Nov 24 '23

It’s late November now, and it’s back in January.

One will simply be waiting a month.

5

u/Leafs17 Nov 28 '23

Source?

13

u/armyofbeees Nov 24 '23

My advice is to read the comic from chapter one and keep going until you get to where it ends at the show. Then you can stop there knowing you’d rather wait for the show, or you can keep reading knowing it’s worth it

10

u/EndlessKillz Nov 24 '23

I read all of the compendiums after season 1. It’s worth it. Honestly, knowing what happens doesn’t reduce my enjoyment of the show one bit.

8

u/maledin Allen the Alien Nov 24 '23

Just read it dude, it's totally worth it. I did so after season 1 and I'm still enjoying the hell out of the show — catharsis from when they represent something perfectly 1:1 from the show to the comic, surprise when they change some things up. I'm not at all upset that I'm "spoiled."

(That said, I hope not everyone reads it, because I still like to come to these show-only threads to see peoples' initial reactions and zany theories lol.)

6

u/[deleted] Nov 24 '23

Lmao kirkman is gonna be rolling in it

4

u/Automatic_Tip2079 Nov 24 '23

Do it. Join us on the other side. Enlighten yourself.

4

u/[deleted] Nov 24 '23

Read it after s1. It’s really good. I’d recommend it.

1

u/Ok_Buffalo6474 Nov 24 '23

Same here. Didn’t change my enjoyment of the show one bit.

2

u/Murder-Machine101 Nov 24 '23

Yea I think I’m going to start reading the comic now esp cuz there’s a break smh

2

u/Comprehensive-Fig838 Nov 24 '23

Bro i am reading berserk in meantime to stop myself from reading invincible comic. I have to quench my thirst with some dark fantasy comic.

2

u/LeTooniverse Nov 25 '23

Do it

Comics are an extremely underrated medium, especially nowadays; They're seen as a lesser medium for whatever reason

But Invincible is one of the pinnacle of the genre, and it's art is something the show doesn't do justice at all imo

2

u/homogenic- Atom Eve Nov 27 '23

I've always hated Nolan but they made me feel bad for him in this episode, that first scene of him where that Nick Cave song was playing, it got me.

4

u/IIDeftEndII Nov 27 '23

Seeing him so broken and attempting suicide felt like getting a brick thrown at my face. I just wanted to hug him so badly😭

2

u/Mordin_Solas Dec 01 '23

I was looking forward to a new episode this week then went to see wtf happened and saw they split a tiny little 8 episode season that was already YEARS after the first season into two parts...

​

It's unbelievable how little content they want to drop. I get not wanting to use it all up too soon, how about make more content instead of stretching one thing 5 times longer than it needs to be stretched!

2

u/CheckTheSubreddit1 Nov 24 '23

Just wait until this season final episode and then read the comic

Its better to experience it this way whetever your watching anime or any show

watch until the whole sseason is over and then read the source material

1

u/Adam87 Nov 24 '23

Well we got like 4-6 months at least for end of season 2.

1

u/derpaderp Nov 24 '23

They gotta keep you signed up on the plan. This is an extra incentive, sprinkled throughout dozens of other reasons. They are learning your drug, and keeping you hooked.

1

u/_TheMeepMaster_ Nov 24 '23

I just wrapped it up for the first time a few weeks ago. I honestly don't think it would harm your viewing experience at all if you read through them. They change enough and move things around enough that I think it actually enhances the experience a bit.

1

u/xThunderDuckx Nov 24 '23

Read. When s1 came out I read the whole series over a week. Then I read TWD because kirkman is a good writer.

1

u/mattpit Nov 26 '23

where did you find all the comics? short of paying through my ass i’m stumped how to access them.

1

u/RealReevee Nov 28 '23

I went ahead on youtube during season 1 but forgot most of the info but if you have the self control stay strong king!

1

u/ZakKa_dot_dev Nov 28 '23

I read the comic during season 1 and don't regret it. The shows changes some details and adds upon the comic in very meaningful ways, and I forgot a lot since I read them. The comics have amazing looking art and are fun to read, so I highly recommend them.

1

u/happntime Nov 29 '23

I went ahead and started reading because I could not stand to wait after this episode. I’m already on issue 50 or something lol

1

u/JE_SUIS_BLUBBER Dec 02 '23

Bro Nolan killed thousands of people! He needs to die 😤

1

u/RecoveredAshes Dec 08 '23

If it helps, the show so far is better than the comic. It’s more fleshed out, it’s more developed, there’s more care given to the characters, and the medium itself elevates it quite a bit (animation, music, VA, etc.).

Reading the comic would just be knowing the plot for the sake of knowing it, it’s not worth it.

1

u/LaeLeaps Invincidrip Jan 11 '24

well they showed you the book covers, you already know what they're about. just think it over a bit 😉