Invincible Series Review (Season 2)

Released: November 3rd 2023 to April 4th 2024 (Two Halves)

Number of Episodes: 8

Where to Watch: Amazon Prime

Created by: Robert Kirkman

Starring: Steven Yeun, Sandra Oh, J.K Simmons, Gillian Jacobs, Andrew Rannells, Walton Goggins, Ross Marquand, Zazie Beetz, Djimon Hounsou, Khary Payton and Kevin Michael Richardson

In 2021, Robert Kirkman’s Invincible made a smashing debut on Amazon Prime, boasting a different take on superhero tropes with some stellar animation to boot. It’s been a long wait for the second season, but this adaptation is still best-in-class.

Some time after Omni-Man left Earth, Mark Grayson (Steven Yeun), his mother Debbie (Sandra Oh), girlfriend Amber (Zazie Beetz) and other heroes struggle to come to terms with the oncoming assault of the Viltrum Empire. Humanity is doing its best to prepare, but deep down things don’t look good for those leading the charge. The first season of Invincible introduced us to this world and built up to a superb twist; the second is all about the aftermath, bringing on a more introspective feeling. It’s a great direction to take as we’re encouraged to feel a lot of empathy; Mark tries to carry on with his life, but is constantly unable to do so. Debbie slips into a drunken depression at one point and even the Guardians of the Globe struggle to contain the latest threats. Season 2 strikes a seamless balance between action and heart, swapping between both without losing sight of the lead characters. The one element that does feel somewhat tacked on is the multiverse; while the set pieces are presented brilliantly, it doesn’t really factor into the wider plot. The moment does take Mark to his darkest place yet, but you could remove this element and still have the major confrontation that unfolds in the final episode.

The voice cast is once again excellent, while also expanding greatly for the new season. Steven Yeun leads the way with a deeply emotive performance. Without giving anything away, Mark takes a serious battering on an emotional level; watching him try to come to terms with his place in the world while attempting to cling onto his humanity is the most important part of season 2. Omni-Man only makes a couple of appearances this time, but J.K Simmons still does a great job of conveying a sense of inner turmoil. Debbie and Cecil have trouble steering Mark in the right direction and the performances from Sandra Oh and Walton Goggins are always on top form. Many of the characters often spend time alone to contemplate their situations, allowing the voice cast to convey all the nuances. Some of the newcomers include Djimon Hounsou, Peter Cullen and Sterling K. Brown who all deliver strong work in their smaller roles. This second round succeeds at expanding the world as well as emphasising some growing downturns.

In the seventh episode, Invincible has a cheeky wink at the audience by going over the complexities of 2D animation when Mark visits a comic convention. It puts the technical details into perspective with the second season once again boasting a vibrant and colourful canvas. Every element is richly detailed, though in keeping with the more introspective tone the shots are often more static, homing in on the character’s emotions. The one exception is the entrance of multiple dimensions; in the first and last episodes, we’re treated to a fast-moving display where characters fly through the multiverse on both a physical and mental level. We never lose sight of Invincible and his opponents as they venture through time and space, making these moments another excellent showcase of animating talent.

Every bit as memorable and investing as the original, Invincible Season 2 turns inwards and delivers some truly gut-wrenching moments. The pressure really piles on for every main character and the series continues to make us care about the individual struggles. On occasion a plot element doesn’t quite fit into the bigger picture, but this IP still sits at the peak of the superhero genre.

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars (Brilliant)