Invincible Season 2 Part 1 Early Review

The following is a spoiler-free review of the first four episodes of Season 2 of Invincible, airing in two parts starting this Friday on Prime Video (the second half will air in early 2024)

Premiering back in the spring of 2021, Invincible, the animated adult superhero action series, based on the comic series of the same name by Robert Kirkman, Ryan Ottley, and Cory Walker, became one of the biggest hits of that year. Leaving its fans in a sort of limbo as they eagerly anticipated a follow-up season, the new season is within sight. This time, season 2 is being released in two parts (four episodes each). With that, one can’t help but wonder if that is by design, and it is. The departure of Omni-Man/Nolan Grayson, following his epic and emotional fight with Mark Grayson/Invincible that left a trail of bodies, chaos, and destruction in its wake and created a void within Mark and Debbie. Forced to try and pick up the pieces and move forward with their lives following the aftermath, it was just as if Nolan died and they were experiencing a form of grief which was not easy, not being on the same page while each dealt with it in their own ways.

Coming at perhaps the worst times in their lives, Mark on the verge of graduating high school and going to college with Amber, leaving Debbie alone to reconcile with some complicated feelings as she began to question herself following the reveal of the painful truth about her 20-year long marriage. Essentially defined by her marriage to Nolan, carving out a new path proved difficult as she still harbored feelings for her husband despite his actions towards her and her family and the baggage he left behind. Mark’s determination to prove to himself and others that he was not the same as his father nor would he become his father consumed him, much to the detriment of he and his relationships with his mother, girlfriend, and other friends. The remaining Grayson family arc was easily the best part of the first half of Invincible season 2 where, suffice it to say, they both had some soul searching to do. On top of that soul searching, Mark had the responsibility of being Invincible while the baggage left behind by his father was merely another layer for him to contend with.

While getting back into the superhero game presented its own set of challenges on top of those in his personal life, little did he know, that game has changed. The season definitely did not waste any time to get the wheels turning with plenty of subplots as the Graysons were not the only ones having to pick up the pieces. From Atom Eve to the new look Guardians of the Globe, the big question for many of the characters was what it truly meant to be a hero. Within that, came some strong character moments as that answer required some evolution achieved through adversity. However, in the end, the Grayson drama was rightfully at the forefront. Intertwined with much of the story, they served as one of its biggest driving forces. Meanwhile, in the background laid a bigger threat unlike what viewers have seen before. Mostly planting seeds across the first half of the season, letting character development take precedence, the fruit of that labor is sure to be fully realized come the second half.

For those wondering how the series was going to address the gap between season 1 and season 2, it does so in a way that adds more intrigue and depth to the story and the series world as it attempts to bring both seasons together. One would be remised talking about bringing both seasons together without mentioning the third main character of the story, Omni-Man himself who was gone but not forgotten. In the meantime, Cecil assumed a father-like role of sorts which left him conflicted in a way that saw him balance doing his job and doing right for Mark and Debbie. Ultimately, Omni-Man somehow playing a part in the final outcome of the season was inevitable. Eventually resurfacing, his return only further complicated the situation. Providing an outlet for Mark to process his feelings about him and what he did to he and Debbie, it became a cathartic experience, though one that would be short-lived. At the end of the day, offering viewers strong character work and well-executed action sequences, being only the first half of a season meant that for the most part, it essentially was a set of pieces of a larger story that has yet to come together.

Doing a lot of the heavy lifting was great writing and spectacular performances across the board, something that the series has consistently delivered up to this point. However, the first half of this latest season saw both taken to another level. Rounding out the thrills of the adult superhero series, it also features strong character work through the lens of heavy themes like love, grief, identity, growing up, and emerging from a parent’s shadow. Yeun and Oh were phenomenal as Mark and Debbie Grayson, the heart of the series. They were more than up to the task of carrying the roller coaster of emotion of their arcs. Simmons takes a similar path with Nolan/Omni-Man. Meanwhile, what more can be said about the animation? Its sharpness, vibrancy, and sheer level of detail of its range of characters (including costumes and superhero abilities) and environments, as the series continues to evolve, remains unparalleled. Paired with inventive fast-paced action, it does a good job overall at keeping viewers consistently engaged with its beauty and brutality.

After an abnormally long wait, the first half of Invincible season 2 delivers a winning half season offering strong writing and performances that is seemingly more interested in setting the stage for its upcoming back half.

still courtesy of Prime Video

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Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.