The second half of Invincible Season 2 needed to stick the landing to be worth the wait. For fans of the Prime Video original series, a multi-month mid-season break is already hard enough to bear. But the fact that this second season was split into equal halves, leaving only four episodes in each part makes the wait feel even longer. Luckily, Invincible Season 2 Part 2 delivers on all fronts. These latest episodes feature some of the most intriguing character work of the entire series thus far, perfectly complementing fast-paced action with quieter, touching moments shared between the show’s many superheroes.
Invincible Season 2 Part 2 picks up with Mark Grayson (Steven Yeun) pummelled into a paste from his first proper fight with Viltrumites, the defacto villains of the franchise. With his father, Nolan Grayson/Omni-Man (J. K. Simmons), now captured by the Viltrumites and the threat of an invasion on the horizon, Mark is left with no choice but to take time to recover from his grievous injuries. Time passes on Earth, eventually leaving the planet vulnerable while Invincible is away. The show may depict extreme levels of violence in its action sequences, but it also contends with the consequences of this. Mark’s cruel defeat at the hand of the Viltrumites is not brushed over or undervalued — the fights in this series prove to have weight and clear knock-on effects.
This is prominently felt throughout all of Invincible as a whole, the idea of balance and consequences. In Invincible Season 2 Part 2, specifically, character and action complement each other. Intimate moments shared between the cast are heightened by the knowledge of how life-changing fights can be if not on the winning side. At the same time, the action scenes are enhanced by the added stakes of the story. Similarly, there is a balance between changes from the comic books and the areas where the animated series adaptation sticks devotedly to the source material. Earlier in Invincible Season 2 Part 1, the biggest recipients of these differences were Debbie Grayson (Sandra Oh) and Amber Bennett (Zazie Beetz). These characters continue to show added depth, however, a new pair receives the benefits of changes from the comics in Invincible Season 2 Part 2.
Donald Ferguson (Chris Diamantopoulos) and Rex Sloan/Rex Splode (Jason Mantzoukas) have improved greatly from the comic books in these latest episodes. In the Invincible comics, Rex goes on an arc of improvement and self-realization. However, it admittedly felt rushed. The show recognizes this pacing issue and includes more scenes that flesh out his character, including some that expand upon his friendship with ex-girlfriend Samantha Eve Wilkins/Atom Eve (Gillian Jacobs) as they both work together in the Guardians of the Globe. Donald’s arc, though, is entirely created for this television adaptation, taking a tiny hint of a side story in the comics and making it a thrilling look into what it means to be a hero and the level of self-sacrifice required to be a shield of the world. It makes for a welcome addition to the narrative as it further raises the stakes at hand.
Another welcome change is in a scene that takes one of the funniest jokes from the comics, which breaks the fourth wall to mock the comic book industry, and brilliantly adapts it to mock the animation industry. One can already imagine it going viral on social media as soon as the episode goes live. This occasional humor helps elevate Invincible as the rare, yet savored levity is a vital part of the show.
Where the show continues to stay largely faithful to creator Robert Kirkman’s comics is with the character of Angstrom Levy (Sterling K. Brown), who was introduced in the first episode of this second season. His return in Invincible Season 2 Part 2 is fantastic, as Brown plays the role with outstanding menace and venom in his voice. Angstrom Levy’s storyline pays off huge in these new episodes, making the viewer’s investment in Mark and his family a core facet of the threat he is under. Invincible excels at depicting its villains as equal parts evil and understandable, where even the most insane characters have viable internal logic behind their wrongdoings. The viewer is allowed to recognize the flaws in their actions, but also see that they are driven by clear goals that rarely fluctuate or change.
Invincible Season 3 is set up to be an absolute blinder based on where the show leaves off and what is next in the comics. While the break for these next four episodes was worth it, it’s undeniable that it has caused a temporary pause in the momentum of the series as a whole. Fans can only hope that the third season faces a shorter break in between. Steven Yeun’s interpretation of Mark Grayson adds to this desire to see more. Too often with animation is the art of voice acting not fully respected by celebrity actors. Yeun is impeccable as the titular Invincible though. Fresh off his Emmy and Golden Globe wins for his leading role in Netflix’s Beef, Yeun nails Mark’s intensity and the weight of his responsibility in his voice, making every aspect of the hero believable and deeply engaging.
Invincible Season 2 Part 2 proves Prime Video’s original animated series to be an undeniable triumph of an adaptation. This is a show of creatives operating at the top of their game, taking one of the most beloved comic book stories ever written and elevating it to more glorious heights. With this second season smashing it out of the park and Invincible season 3 on the way, it has never been more clear that this could very well be one of the best comic book TV shows of all time.
Created by Robert Kirkman.
Based on Invincible by Robert Kirkman, Cory Walker, & Ryan Ottley.
Developed by Robert Kirkman & Simon Racioppa.
Main Voice Cast: Steven Yeun, Sandra Oh, J. K. Simmons, Zazie Beetz, Gillian Jacobs, Zachary Quinto, Walton Goggins, Sterling K. Brown, Kevin Michael Richardson, Grey Griffin, Jason Mantzoukas, Chris Diamantopoulos, Andrew Rannells, Clancy Brown, Khary Payton, Ben Schwartz, Grey DeLisle, Malese Jow, Ross Marquand, Phil Lamarr, & Seth Rogen.
Composer: John Paesano.
Episode Count: 4.
Invincible Season 2 Part 2 premieres on Amazon Prime Video on March 14!
