Despite the constant warnings of potential “superhero fatigue,” studios are not curtailing their output anytime soon. In fact, February is a particularly heavy month in regards to animated superhero fare whether it’s the continuing adventures of Harley Quinn on Max, or the newest take on everyone’s favorite webslinger with Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man on Disney+. This week sees another contender enter the ring for the battle of superhero dominance with the release of Invincible Season 3 on Prime Video. While all aforementioned projects excel in their own right, there’s no question that Invincible remains a cut above the rest in the superhero game.
In the wake of his harrowing battle with the villainous Angstrom Levy and devastating breakup with his longtime girlfriend, Mark Grayson (Steven Yeun) better known as the eponymous superhero may be feeling down but he’s not out. More determined than ever to prove that he’s nothing like the monster his father Omni-Man (J.K. Simmons) was revealed to be, Mark finds his moral compass constantly put to the test . The season hits the ground running with a clash between Mark and Global Defense Agency head honcho Cecil Stedman (Walton Goggins) that’s been slowly brewing for quite some time.
For my money, the third season of a television series is the one that will make or break its future. Take for instance the most recent season of The Bear that started strong at the beginning but couldn’t quite maintain the same peak by the end. Regardless, I’ll still be watching next season. On the flip side, look no further than The Mandalorian that became a massive hit thanks in no small part to the appeal of Baby Yoda, but went completely off the rails in the third season losing so much fan goodwill in the process. Thankfully, none of that is the case with Invincible Season 3. I’d go far as to say the franchise is just as strong if not stronger than when the animated series first arrived almost four years ago.
The already stacked ensemble continues to grow this season with new characters voiced by all-star actors. Given the degree of talent the series has been able to attract, it comes as no surprise that all knock it out of the park. But without a doubt, the standout actor in Invincible Season 3 has to be Christian Convery who plays Mark’s alien half-brother Oliver Grayson. This season, just like in the comics, he adopts his own superhero identity as Kid Omni-Man, honoring their father, despite the chagrin of those around him. Convery perfectly straddles the line between adorable wide-eyed innocent and potential sociopath in the making that his brother fears he may become.
I’ve expressed frustration with shared universes for creating needlessly unnecessary and confusing continuity that only serve to drive away viewers. At a certain point, it basically becomes homework and nobody really wants that. In just under three seasons, Invincible has proven not only to be just as complex as any other shared universe but amazingly through just one television series and no spinoffs. It’s a one stop shop with a much more easily consumable viewing experience.
Since their inception, superhero stories are often considered escapist fantasies to distract us from the problems of the real world. For all its dark and heavy themes, to a certain extent I feel that holds true for Invincible. The one exception is the fourth episode this season that sees the titular character on a mission to overthrow a super-powered tyrant ruler. Considering the lengthy production time involved in animation and the fact that the storyline is lifted directly from the comics, it’s fairly safe to assume there is no intentional political commentary at play. That said, the episode does seem to tap into current fears and anxieties for many. In spite of its heavy themes and storylines, it shows no signs of taking a cynical stance anytime soon. Invincible manages to retain that sense of hope and optimism inherent in superheroes.
Likewise, the series is sill able to inject some much needed levity in a way that does not distract or upend its dramatic moments. My personal favorite gag may be the confusion that surrounds Mark’s superhero identity when he takes up a new costume and the resulting alternate name the media dubs him. If you read the comics you know what I’m talking about.
Last season featured perhaps one of the best meta moments of how the series, and animated projects in general, cut corners in order to make production manageable. The moments of limited animation will likely be noticeable for viewers paying closer attention to Invincible Season 3 as a result. Nevertheless, the caliber of quality still remains just as high as the previous seasons, if not even higher. It certainly never declines to a level of embarrassment that unfortunately befell the recent Uzumaki anime. Moreover, though only the first six episodes were made available to review, I’m willing to wager, based on how much Prime Video has been keeping certain aspects of Invincible Season 3 close to the vest, that the animation team put greater focus and energy on the last two episodes to try to top that epic first season finale Omni-Man and Invincible fight that took the internet by storm resulting in countless memes.
The soundtrack of songs featured throughout this season is once again compromised of an assortment of musical artists and genres. Though a topnotch compilation for the most part, it doesn’t quite measure up to the previous two seasons. I’d go far as to say very few songs make any kind of lasting impression. To be fair, after coming off the heels of Creature Commandos and its brilliantly Tarantino-esque curated soundtrack, it’s hard for any other television song soundtrack to compete.
By the end Invincible Season 3, the series will be approaching nearly the halfway point of covering the original comics. Based on this trajectory, I assumed that six seasons would be enough to reach the intended satisfying conclusion but apparently showrunners Robert Kirkman and Simon Racioppa have roughly mapped out Invincible for eight seasons. With a fourth season already greenlit and in production, time will tell if eight is indeed enough for Prime Video. In any event, I have a strong inkling it won’t be long until we get official word on a subsequent season renewal.
Invincible Season 3 premieres Thursday February 6th on Prime Video
