Invincible
Invincible is an American superhero comic book series written by Robert Kirkman, with primary artwork by Cory Walker and Ryan Ottley, published by Image Comics from 2003 to 2018 across 144 issues.[1][2] The narrative centers on Mark Grayson, a teenager who develops superhuman strength, flight, and invulnerability inherited from his father, the alien superhero Omni-Man, and adopts the heroic identity of Invincible while navigating adolescence, family secrets, and escalating threats to Earth.[3] The series distinguishes itself through unflinching depictions of violence and power's consequences, deconstructing superhero archetypes by emphasizing realistic physical trauma, moral ambiguities, and long-term relational fallout rather than idealized triumphs.[4] As a creator-owned title under Image Comics, it achieved commercial success with collected editions and spin-offs, culminating in a 2021 adult animated adaptation for Amazon Prime Video that earned widespread critical praise for its fidelity to the source material's intensity and voice acting, including Steven Yeun as Mark and J.K. Simmons as Omni-Man, while renewing interest in the original run.[5][6] Defining controversies stem from its graphic content—featuring dismemberment, mass casualties, and familial betrayal—which critics have alternately lauded for subverting sanitized genre norms and faulted for potential desensitization, though empirical sales data and viewer metrics indicate strong audience reception prioritizing narrative depth over restraint.[7]Fictional media
Comics and graphic novels
Invincible is an American superhero comic book series created, written, and co-plotted by Robert Kirkman, with initial artwork by Cory Walker and primary artwork by Ryan Ottley, published by Image Comics.[8] The series follows the adventures of Mark Grayson, a teenager who inherits superpowers from his father, Omni-Man, and navigates heroism amid escalating threats from interstellar conquerors known as Viltrumites.[9] It debuted with Invincible #1 on January 22, 2003, and concluded after 144 issues on February 14, 2018, spanning 15 years of monthly serialization.[10] Cory Walker provided character designs and illustrated the first seven issues, establishing the visual style before transitioning to other projects; Ryan Ottley then took over as primary artist from issue #8 through the finale, contributing to over 130 issues with his detailed, dynamic linework.[11] Kirkman's narrative deconstructs superhero tropes through prolonged character development, moral dilemmas, and graphic violence, drawing comparisons to earlier works like The Boys but emphasizing generational heroism over cynicism.[12] Spin-off miniseries expanded the universe, including Invincible Universe (2013) featuring characters like Battle Beast and Invincible VS. (2010), a crossover with Kirkman's Tech Jacket.[13] The series has been collected in 25 trade paperbacks, 12 hardcovers, five deluxe hardcovers, and three compendium volumes reprinting all 144 issues; the first compendium covers issues #1–47 across 1,136 pages.[14] Initial print runs were modest for an independent title, but sales surged post-2021 animated adaptation, with over 100,000 graphic novel units sold in the U.S. that year alone and spin-off Invincible Universe: Battle Beast #1 (2025) achieving nearly 400,000 copies ordered.[15] Critical reception praised its mature storytelling and art, though it garnered no major industry awards like Eisners during its run, with acclaim focusing on its longevity and influence on creator-owned superhero comics.[16]Television and animation
The Invincible animated television series is an adult-oriented superhero program produced for Amazon Prime Video, adapting Robert Kirkman's Image Comics series of the same name.[17] [18] The show follows teenager Mark Grayson, who inherits superpowers from his father Nolan (Omni-Man) and navigates heroism amid escalating threats and family secrets, emphasizing graphic violence, moral ambiguity, and subversion of superhero conventions.[7] [19] Kirkman serves as creator, co-showrunner, and executive producer, with the series developed by Skybound Entertainment's animation division in collaboration with Amazon MGM Studios and Image Comics.[18] [20] Season 1, consisting of eight episodes, premiered on March 26, 2021, with the first three episodes released simultaneously followed by weekly installments.[6] [21] [22] Animation for the initial season was handled by Wind Sun Sky Entertainment, employing a 2D style to accommodate intense action sequences and mature content unfeasible in live-action without significant budget or censorship constraints.[23] [19] Subsequent seasons continued the eight-episode format, with Season 2 debuting on November 3, 2023, and Season 3 on February 6, 2025, the latter spanning February to March 2025.[24] [25] The series has been renewed through a fifth season, with Season 4 scheduled for March 2026.[26] [27] [18] Voice acting features Steven Yeun as Mark Grayson/Invincible, J.K. Simmons as Omni-Man, and Sandra Oh as Debbie Grayson, alongside supporting performers including Gillian Jacobs, Jason Mantzoukas, and Zazie Beetz.[28] [7] The ensemble delivers performances noted for emotional range, particularly in scenes exploring betrayal and trauma.[6] Critics have acclaimed the series for its faithful yet expanded adaptation of the source material, high-stakes storytelling, and uncompromised depiction of consequences in superhero conflicts, earning a 99% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and 8.7/10 on IMDb.[29] [6] Reviewers highlight the voice cast's intensity and the animation's ability to convey visceral combat, though some note pacing inconsistencies in multi-part releases.[6] [30] The program's explicit gore and themes of imperialism and patricide distinguish it from family-friendly superhero animations, aligning with Kirkman's intent for an R-rated exploration of power's costs.[7] [19] No other major animated adaptations of Invincible exist beyond this series and minor promotional shorts tied to it.[23]Film adaptations
A live-action film adaptation of Invincible was announced in June 2017 by Skybound Entertainment and Point Grey Pictures, with Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg set to write, direct, and produce alongside Robert Kirkman.[31] The project aims to adapt elements of the comic series but has not entered production as of October 2025, with no confirmed cast, release date, or studio distribution.[32] Kirkman expressed confidence in March 2025 that the film would eventually materialize, stating he would be "shocked" if it did not, though he noted ongoing challenges in aligning it with the animated series' timeline and narrative fidelity.[33] Earlier attempts at film adaptation include a 2005 deal where Paramount Pictures acquired rights and hired Kirkman to pen the screenplay, but the project stalled without progressing to production.[31] No other feature-length films, animated or otherwise, have been produced from the Invincible comic property, which has instead seen success through its Amazon Prime Video animated series debuting in 2021.[32] Discussions around the live-action film have included potential casting considerations, such as J.K. Simmons declining to reprise his animated role as Omni-Man, emphasizing the need for distinct portrayals across media.[31]Music
Albums
Invincible is the tenth and final studio album by American singer Michael Jackson, released on October 30, 2001, by Epic Records.[34] The album comprises 16 tracks, blending pop, R&B, and hip-hop elements, with production contributions from collaborators including Teddy Riley, Rodney Jerkins, and Dr. Freeze.[35] It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, selling over 366,000 copies in its first week in the United States, and achieved similar success internationally, topping charts in several countries including the United Kingdom.[35] Despite commercial performance, the project faced production challenges, reportedly costing over $30 million, which contributed to disputes with Sony Music over promotion and distribution.[34] Invincible is also the debut public album by the production music group Two Steps from Hell, released on May 3, 2010.[36] Composed primarily by Thomas J. Bergersen and Nick Phoenix, it features 22 epic orchestral tracks designed for film trailers and advertisements, including cues used in campaigns for films such as Star Trek (2009), Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010), and 2012 (2009).[37] The album marked the group's transition from custom trailer music to publicly available releases, emphasizing hybrid orchestral styles with choir, percussion, and electronic elements for dramatic effect.[38]Songs
"Invincible" is the title of multiple songs across various genres. Pat Benatar's rock anthem "Invincible", released on June 24, 1985, as the lead single from her album Seven the Hard Way, was composed specifically for the soundtrack of the film The Legend of Billie Jean. The track, co-written by Benatar, her husband Neil Giraldo, and Holly Knight, peaked at number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance.[39] The instrumental composition "Invincible" by Two Steps from Hell, primarily composed by Thomas Bergersen and released on the group's 2010 album of the same name, gained prominence in trailer music for major films, including campaigns for Star Trek (2009), Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010), and Twilight: Eclipse (2010). This epic orchestral piece exemplifies the production music style used to evoke heroism and intensity in promotional media.[37] Kelly Clarkson's pop-rock song "Invincible", featured on her seventh studio album Piece by Piece released in 2015, was co-written by Sia, Jesse Shatkin, Steve Weinstein, and Chloe Angelides. The lyrics depict a journey from vulnerability to empowerment, drawing on themes of emotional resilience and self-worth, and the track received an official music video with over 17 million YouTube views as of 2025.[40] Other notable recordings include Tinie Tempah's hip-hop track "Invincible" featuring Kelly Rowland from his 2010 album Disc-Overy, which charted in the UK Top 40, and Eddie Vedder's folk-influenced "Invincible" from his 2022 solo album Earthling, noted for its introspective lyrics amid orchestral arrangements.[41][42]Naval and military uses
British Royal Navy vessels
The Royal Navy has commissioned seven ships named HMS Invincible, spanning from the mid-18th century to the late 20th. Despite the name's connotation of resilience, four of these vessels were lost at sea during active service, highlighting the hazards of naval warfare and operations.[43] The first HMS Invincible was originally the French 74-gun ship of the line L'Invincible, launched at Rochefort in 1744 and captured by the British at the First Battle of Cape Finisterre on 3 May 1747. She served as a third-rate ship until grounding on a sandbank in the East Solent near Portsmouth on 17 February 1758, where she broke up in a storm with the loss of four crew members. Her well-preserved wreck, discovered in 1979, has yielded significant archaeological finds, including cannons, rigging, and personal artifacts, offering detailed evidence of mid-18th-century warship construction and daily life aboard.[44] [45] [46] A second 74-gun third-rate HMS Invincible was launched on 9 March 1765 at Deptford Dockyard during a wartime expansion of the fleet. Commissioned in 1776, she saw service in the American Revolutionary War, including blockades and engagements, before being wrecked off the Norfolk coast on 16 March 1801 during a voyage from Jamaica.[47] [48] The third, also a 74-gun third-rate ship of the line, was launched on 15 March 1808 at Woolwich Dockyard. She supported British forces during the Peninsular War, including troop transports and shore bombardments, and later served as a receiving ship before being broken up at Plymouth in 1861.[49] [50] An Audacious-class wooden-hulled ironclad central-battery battleship, the fourth HMS Invincible, was laid down in 1866, launched on 29 May 1869, and completed in 1870 with both sail and steam propulsion. Disarmed and renamed HMS Erebus in 1904 for use as a depot ship, she was further redesignated Fisgard II in 1906 and served as a training hulk until sinking in 1914 after a collision or grounding incident off Devon, with some casualties reported among her anchored role.[51] [52] [53] The fifth, lead ship of the Invincible-class battlecruisers, was laid down on 2 April 1906, launched on 13 April 1907 by Armstrong Whitworth, and commissioned in March 1909. Displacing 17,250 tons with a top speed of 25 knots and armed with eight 12-inch guns, she participated in the Battle of the Falkland Islands in December 1914 before exploding and sinking at the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916 after a magazine detonation triggered by German shellfire, resulting in 1,026 deaths out of 1,031 crew. Her loss underscored vulnerabilities in battlecruiser design emphasizing speed over armor.[54] [55] [56] The sixth HMS Invincible (R05), lead ship of her class of through-deck cruisers reclassified as light aircraft carriers, was ordered in 1973, laid down in 1975, launched on 3 May 1977, and commissioned on 11 July 1980. Displacing 19,500 tons with a length of 677 feet, she operated Sea Harriers and Sea King helicopters, serving as flagship in the 1982 Falklands War where she launched air strikes and endured Argentine Exocet threats without direct hits. She also deployed to the Adriatic in 1993 for NATO operations and was decommissioned on 3 August 2005 after 25 years of service, subsequently scrapped in Turkey despite preservation efforts.[57] [58] [59]| Ship | Type | Launched | Fate | Key Service |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HMS Invincible (1747) | 74-gun third-rate (ex-French) | 1744 (as L'Invincible) | Wrecked 17 February 1758 | Captured 1747; archaeological site.[44] |
| HMS Invincible (1765) | 74-gun third-rate | 9 March 1765 | Wrecked 16 March 1801 | American Revolutionary War.[47] |
| HMS Invincible (1808) | 74-gun third-rate | 15 March 1808 | Broken up 1861 | Peninsular War support.[49] |
| HMS Invincible (1869) | Audacious-class ironclad | 29 May 1869 | Sank as hulk 1914 (renamed Fisgard II) | Training depot ship.[53] |
| HMS Invincible (1907 | Invincible-class battlecruiser | 13 April 1907 | Sunk 31 May 1916 | Jutland; 1,026 lost.[54] |
| HMS Invincible (R05) | Invincible-class carrier | 3 May 1977 | Decommissioned 2005 | Falklands War flagship.[57] |