“Invincible” season three is, so far, everything fans could’ve hoped for.
Building off of its emotional setups and explosive action sequences, the series continues to push the envelope for what a superhero show can achieve.
Based on the comic series by Robert Kirkman, Cory Walker and Ryan Ottley, the newest season premiered on Feb. 6 on Amazon Prime Video.
The last time I wrote about “Invincible,” it was in a preview for the show’s second season. I am more than happy to report that season three continues to cement the series’ reputation in excellent character writing and worldbuilding, setting the bar even higher than its previous season.
Three months after season two’s finale, the story continues to follow Mark Grayson, as Invincible, and his newly strained relationship with Cecil Stedman, the director of the world’s Global Defense Agency.
The two disagree on rehabilitating supervillains to help the government, eventually leading to a falling out between them and the various superhero teams featured in the series.
The season’s other main plot point stems from the ever-looming threat of the Viltrum Empire, an army of superhuman warriors hellbent on galactic conquest and Earth’s heroes preparing for a possible invasion.
One of the main strengths of “Invincible” is its character-driven narrative. While every season continues to offer character development for Mark and the endless burdens he must struggle with when it comes to being Earth’s main defender, the series slows down occasionally to flesh out the other members of its extensive cast.
Every side character has their own goals and motivations, feeling realistic with plenty of emotional depth. This, combined with bringing back various antagonists from previous plot threads, creates an engaging and well-defined world.
The voice acting serves to enhance the emotional depth of these characters. “Invincible” has no shortage when it comes to its phenomenal casting choices.
Steven Yeun steals the show yet again as Mark, with an impeccable range, delivering a variety of powerful moments. Walton Goggins and J.K. Simmons also return to play Cecil Stedman and Omni-Man respectively – and to a great degree.
The new members of the voice cast are more than welcome additions to the show’s ensemble. Christian Convery is introduced this season, playing Mark’s younger stepbrother Oliver.
The two have a fun dynamic and a good back-and-forth as Mark takes Oliver under his wing. Playing the series’ latest antagonist, Aaron Paul gives a very emotionally charged performance for the character of Powerplex.
Three seasons in, the art style of “Invincible” still hails true to the original comic. My only real nitpick would be the slightly inconsistent animation. A few moments throughout can look stilted, along with various characters being over-lit, making them look a little flat.
It’s a minor detail that can be easy to miss. That said, as someone who isn’t an animator, I commend the crew’s effort in delivering action-packed fight sequences in every episode. It’s clear that a majority of the budget went to said fight scenes, with each second being incredibly fluid and fast-paced. Every impact can be felt, and each drop of blood spilled is incredibly detailed.
To me, and plenty of others, “Invincible” continues to be a breath of fresh air regarding the modern-day superhero genre. While the show provides an endlessly creative adaptation of its source material, it doesn’t back away from nuanced, mature themes that can be tackled only in superhero fiction.
With the continued mediocrity of the latest films from both Marvel and DC Studios, “Invincible” supplies a clear example of refined writing for the genre.
As of writing, the season is on its sixth episode, with one more to come before the season finale on March 13. If you were on the fence about whether to continue the series, I hope this review can serve as a reason to keep up with it. I know that I will be excited to review this season, specifically again on future rewatch.