As a reader of Robert Kirkman, Cory Walker, and Ryan Ottley’s INVINCIBLE comic series I always thought it would be the perfect series to adapt into a live action movie. Amazon Prime Video’s new INVINCIBLE series is not a live action adaptation, but it’s the next best thing.
The series tells the story of Mark Grayson, whose dad is a member of a superhero team. He eventually develops his own powers, and off we go. INVINCIBLE has always impressed me with its world building and the ability to put a fresh spin on superhero tropes. The superhero team is an analogue to the Justice League, complete with its own version of each hero, Mark’s dad being the equivalent of Superman (I actually prefer the comic book’s take on Aquaman).
The show is animated, and the creative team behind the show deserve credit for staying faithful to the comic. The animation looks like the characters leapt off the comic page. The comic is an interesting contrast in style, with bright coloring coupled with extremely graphic violence. The show takes the same approach. If bloody violence makes you squeamish, I recommend watching with your remote in hand.
The pilot largely establishes the INVINCIBLE universe and the Mark Grayson character. It can be a bit slow, especially for readers of the comic who know what is coming. However, the last fifteen minutes kick into overdrive and will likely be a shock to anyone who is unfamiliar with the source material. This is where INVINCIBLE sets itself apart from the typical superhero story.
Amazon Prime Video’s adaptation of the comic admirably stays true to the source material and fans of source material will not be disappointed. For those unfamiliar with the comic, the pilot does a great job establishing the universe. I’m excited to see if other characters and plotlines from the comic are incorporated into the series. The comic manages to depict gory violence while maintaining an optimistic tone. I’ll be curious to see if the show can maintain that balancing act as well.
The first three episodes of INVINCIBLE premieres on Amazon Prime Video on Friday 26th of March, 2021, followed by a new episode every Friday.
Do you plan to watch the series? Let us know in the comments!
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