Invincible (TV Series) Season 1 Review (Spoiler-free) by Kyle Pritchard

Over the past decade superhero pop culture has erupted within our society, encompassing film, art, television, video games, books, and of course comics. Every year we are bombarded with superhero big-budget movies and television series, so unless you have a big "Marvel" or "DC" logo, it's hard to stick out. Superhero fatigue is in full effect with stories being rehashed and predictable story structures occupying a very "oversaturated" market. But even in this sea of superhero content, Invincible sticks out amongst the pack, delivering one of the most enjoyable superhero experiences in a long time.

On the surface, Invincible looks like a typical superhero cartoon with a generic plot and mimic-y cast of characters, but it quickly makes a point to stick out from the rest of superhero shows by the end of the first episode. The show has a smooth, simple animation style that only gets detailed when it is trying to prove a point, and the voice-cast has a respectable amount of recognizable voices, whether it be J.K Simmons as Omni-man or Steven Yuen as Invincible. Though the show is a "cartoon", it is most definitely not for children as it has a well-deserved TV-MA rating. Hyperviolent scenes are scattered throughout the series, but they aren't violent for the sake of being violent, they are meant to add detail to a point the showrunners are trying to get across. 

The show follows an ordinary high school senior, Mark Grayson, who finally develops superpowers that both he and his father, the most powerful superhero on the planet Omni-man, have been waiting for. Mark quickly attunes to his powers and dons the name Invincible, which is fitting due to him being (almost) literally invincible and a young man that doesn't understand danger yet. The show quickly gains its identity through a short string of events around the end of the first episode; an ending with a giant mysterious cliffhanger that encourages audiences to keep watching. Interesting characters and sub-plots run rampant as Mark tries to navigate his newfound abilities, balance home life, and have a girlfriend all at the same time. It plays with this dynamic flawlessly by making the characters react and interact in very human ways.

Invincible is a great example of a show that tackles an ordinary plot with great character development, writing, and mystery. Superpowers and global threats don't play a large role in the show, relationships and human nature take control. An excellent blend of action, humor, and plot makes Invincible a wholehearted recommendation. 

Invincible is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video, starting on March 25th, 2021