Warning! Spoilers for the Invincible comic and TV series!
The TV adaptation of Invincible has done a remarkable job of balancing faithfulness to the comics with a willingness to make changes to the source material when they offer a stronger story. This list looks at characters who could benefit from further reinterpretation of the comic arcs as the series progresses.
Some of these characters made only select appearances in the Invincible comic; the TV show offers a chance at expansion of their role. Others had longer arcs, but could be taken in a different direction by the series.
Creator Robert Kirkman has described the TV version of Invincible as a “second draft,” and a chance to do even better with his iconic franchise.
Conquest
Comic Debut: Invincible #61; TV Debut: Season 3, Episode 7 “What Have I Done?”
Conquest is considered to be one of Invincible’s most powerful characters, and has a reputation for being arguably the most uncompromising, dangerous foe Mark Grayson ever faced. He had a substantial impact on the trajectory of the Invincible comic, despite his appearances, from debut to demise, only encompassing a span of a dozen issues.
After being teased a handful of times over the course of Invincible’s first few seasons, the TV version of Conquest was officially introduced in the penultimate episode of Season 3. He is expected to take on the role of primary antagonist in Season 4, offering Robert Kirkman an opportunity to make him an even more devastating villain than in the comics.
Battle Beast
Comic Debut: Invincible #19; TV Debut: Season 1, Episode 5 “That Actually Hurt”
Battle Beast is one of Invincible’s greatest supporting characters; the character is a fan-favorite, and is the subject of the first Invincible Universe spin-off series launched by franchise co-creators Robert Kirkman and Ryan Ottley. Battle Beast’s arc unfolded over much of Invincible’s run, and ended with his honorable death in battle at the hands of Viltrumite General Thragg.
Naturally, Invincible fans are eager to find out if TV Battle Beast will share his comic counterpart’s fate. The character’s comic arc will be hard to top, though, and it’s possible Robert Kirkman and the show’s creative team might choose to diverge from the source material, especially if there is potential for a Battle Beast animated spin-off, to follow suit with the comics.
Dupli-Kate
Comic Debut: Invincible #2; TV Debut: Season 1, Episode 2 “Here Goes Nothing”
Image via Prime Video
Dupli-Kate is one of Invincible’s most compelling side characters, one whose comic book storyline the TV adaptation has already started to elaborate on. Kate was notably a major character death in Season 2, before Season 3’s big reveal that she was still alive. Now, with the new season expected to include more original storylines, Kate’s future is a big question mark.
Dupli-Kate is the kind of character who could benefit from the Invincible series going in a different direction from the comics; Robert Kirkman could deliver a more memorable arc, and greater character growth, for Kate, which could prove to be a satisfying swerve on the source material for fans who think they have her figured out.
Rex Splode
Comic Debut: Invincible #2; TV Debut: Season 1, Episode 2 “Here Goes Nothing”
One of Invincible Season 3’s most devastating moments was its adaptation of Rex Splode’s self-sacrifice during the “Invincible War” storyline. Rex’s death played out on screen much in the same way that it did on the page, but whereas that was it for comic Rex, the door is still wide open to his TV counterpart’s return.
Invincible takes place in its own Multiverse, meaning it has a built-in mechanism for resurrecting characters without having to resort to mysticism, or advanced science. Rex certainly left unfinished business with his demise; it’s part of the tragedy of his character. But it could also be the impetus to bring the TV version back to continue his story.
Kid Omni-Man
Comic Debut: Invincible #26; TV Debut: Season 2, Episode 4 “It’s Been Awhile”
Kid Omni-Man, aka Oliver Grayson, is Invincible’s half-brother, and proves to be one of his most stalwart allies in the comic series. Ultimately, this leads to his tragic death at the hands of General Thragg. His death would make for a gutwrenching moment in the TV series, just like in the comics.
Yet, if the show were to subvert any of its biggest character deaths, this would likely be the one. The Invincible TV series is a chance to chart a less fatalistic course for Kid Omni-Man, perhaps letting him live in order to leave the door open for a spin-off or sequel series, if the character proves as popular with TV viewers as with comic readers.
Damien Darkblood
Comic Debut: Invincible #8; TV Debut: Season 1, Episode 2 “Here Goes Nothing”
Image via Prime Video
Damien Darkblood was an early Invincible supporting character who quickly faded from prominence as the series established itself and its universe. Still, Darkblood was well-received by fans, and factored into the early episodes of Invincible Season 1 in a similar role to the comic version, before likewise winding up on the shelf.
That said, the character popped back up in the TV series’ Season 3 finale, suggesting that Invincible’s creators haven’t forgotten about him. Compared to many Invincible characters, Damien Darkblood’s future is a wide-open canvas, a blank slate that the TV adaptation can make the most of with the definitive version of the character.
Allen the Alien
Comic Debut: Invincible #5; TV Debut: Season 1, Episode 2 “Here Goes Nothing”
Allen the Alien is high up on the list of Invincible’s most beloved characters; Allen is also among the few allies of Mark Grayson who survived to the end of the comic’s run. With the Invincible Universe expanding through new comics, readers are once again clamoring for an Allen the Alien spin-off.
Allen is considered to be Invincible’s most powerful individual character, or at least close to it. He is an unequivocal hero, and the TV series can only stand to make him more iconic. As much of a great supporting character as comic Allen was, the Invincible show should make sure to put the spotlight directly on him before its run concludes.
Dinosaurus
Comic Debut: Invincible #6; TV Debut: Upcoming, Season 4, Episode 1 “You Gave Me No Choice”
Dinosaurus is set to make his first TV appearance in the upcoming Season 4 premiere of Invincible. In the comics, Dinosaurus proved to be a formidable and long-running antagonist; with the TV series, creator Robert Kirkman has the chance to deliver a “second draft” of the villain’s arc. To take what was already great and make it even better.
Invincible fans are excited to see Dinosaurus in action as a TV villain, but there is a lot of room to maneuver when it comes to the details of his story. If the TV series can serve up something even more memorable than the original Invincible comic, few will argue against it.
- Video Game(s)
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Invincible: Guarding the Globe
- Character(s)
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Invincible, Debbie Grayson, Atom Eve, William Clockwell, Omni-Man
