Jumping the Gun: Invincible

Welcome to Jumping the Gun, a series for TV show fanatics who always find themselves fashionably late to watching shows. That could mean months, but in my case, it’s usually years late.

A friend recently put me onto Invincible, an animated superhero series based on the comic book of the same name by Robert Kirkman. With shows like The Boys and Gen V ranking among my favorites, I knew it was time to dust off my Amazon Prime subscription and lock in for 49 minutes.

Now, after watching a single episode of Invincible, I’m kicking off this series by jumping the gun and sharing my thoughts and predictions for the rest of the show. (And hopefully, I’ll write a follow-up once I finish the series!)

At first glance, Invincible looks like a classic superhero animated show in the vein of Justice League or Young Justice. The colors are vibrant, the character designs are sleek, and the fight choreography is fluid. I love how this familiar aesthetic serves as a tool of deception, because when the action ramps up, it really ramps up. The animation doesn’t shy away from brutal, bone-crunching violence, especially in the post-credits scene. That brutal fight is shocking not just for its gore, but for how well it flips the script on what you think the show is going to be. It’s a brilliant way to pull the rug out from under the audience.

So far, the writing does a great job of making the characters feel real. Mark is instantly relatable as a protagonist. And Omni-Man? He’s basically Superman with a mustache (I’m getting cancelled for this, I can feel it). That classic father figure persona quickly becomes unsettling as the episode progresses, and we start questioning whether his motives are truly noble or something darker is at play, making it easy to get invested from the get go.

I already like Debbie, Mark’s mom, and I have a feeling her role will be hugely important in shaping Mark’s character as the episode progresses. I recognized J.K. Simmons’ voice from a mile away, and the subtle details in Omni-Man’s animation—his quiet intensity and the slight tension in his interactions with Mark—are top-notch. 

Now, about that massacre (rest in peace, Guardians of the Globe—I barely knew you). The episode ends with a brutal killing spree that shows us what I’m guessing is the true nature of Omni-Man. With the Guardians gone, there’s obviously room for new protectors to step up. But here's the thing: I don't think Omni-Man’s actions are simply a villainous move to eliminate the competition. I’m hesitant to make a bold claim this early, but I’m leaning toward the idea that Omni-Man has multiple families scattered across Earth, and he’s secretly planning to assemble a super-team made up of his own superpowered children. Take this prediction with a grain of salt, considering I’m only one episode in, but either way, that premiere was a solid 9.5/10 in my book. 

Let me know if you want more additions to the Jumping the Gun series—I’ll definitely be back to update my thoughts once I’ve watched more episodes!