Invincible [Comic SPOILERS Discussion] - S01E01-03 - It's About Time, Here Goes Nothing, Who You Calling Ugly?

[u/SeacattleMoohawks]

This post is for Comic Spoiler Discussion, if you'd like to discuss the new series with comic book context please use this thread. If you don't want to be spoiled use the other thread.

• Link to regular (no spoilers) episode discussions for episodes 1-3

Official Trailer

Episode 1 - It's About Time

When Mark Grayson finally inherits powers from his superhero father, it's a dream come true. But there's more to being a hero than just choosing a name and costume.

Episode 2 - Here Goes Nothing

With his father out of action, Mark struggles to defend the city against an interdimensional invasion, joining forces with a team of teenage superheroes.

Episode 3 - Who You Calling Ugly?

Mark has to cut a study date short to help save Mount Rushmore from a crazed scientist. Robot deals with Action - Comic as he assembles a new team of world-saving superheroes.

Full cast, crew and characters

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[u/mmcintoshmerc_88]

The guardians fight at the end was fantastic, absolutely loved it. So brutal like the comics but I love how it slightly differed from it.

[u/[deleted] → u/mmcintoshmerc_88]

It's been awhile since I read the comics (and I know for sure it wasn't this long), but that fight felt more brutal than I remember it to be.

[u/MNight_Slam → u/[deleted]]

I think it's a combination of two things.

First, based on the eventual power scaling of the comic when Nolan and other Viltrumites are reintroduced, it would be totally imbalanced if a single Viltrumite can mow through the seven greatest heroes of Earth effortlessly. You could call it a flaw in the comic, but like many long-running comics things like that power scaling gradually adjusted. The show makes it clear that while Nolan could easily crush any individual Guardian, and ultimately is capable of killing them all, he still has to struggle with their tactical teamwork like any villain would, even the most OP.

Second, it's just the format. A comic absolutely lends itself to those kinds of panels that obscure the killer and brush through the fight quickly like that, but it would be awkward to animate. And making it a real fight lets the show really sell itself. Like it's not just a shocking moment to end the episode, it's also a really cool, well-choreographed fight that just happens to end with the heroes all dismembered and crushed. This is fully in keeping with Invincible's style. It's not Rick and Morty or The Boys where the notion of superheroes is being violently lampooned. It takes these heroes and their deaths very seriously, no matter how gruesome and undignified they are.

[u/remmanuelv → u/MNight_Slam]

it would be totally imbalanced if a single Viltrumite can mow through the seven greatest heroes of Earth effortlessly.

That's the point of the Viltrumites tho, Nolan specifically makes a list of shit that can put up a fight because it's so rare, and earth was never a stand out.

There are 50 (IIRC?) of them left and a single one of the is supposed to be able to conquer any world. They are not just villains, a single of them arriving on your planet is doom.

It's not an imbalance, the balancing factor was their short numbers, it's where the immense danger becomes manageable universe-wise.

Now it turns out 7 people of a single planet can take out one. I don't know, after the Flaxan scene I think he was really holding back.

[u/AspirationalChoker → u/MNight_Slam]

Very well said I agree

[u/Jrs6500 → u/MNight_Slam]

You hwve actually sold me on the fight. Initially i was concerned that it sold nolan short but now i agree with what you've said. Thanks