Invincible Season 1 Full Recap & Review

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Yes, the time is finally upon us. After two years of waiting, the Invincible series returns tomorrow with its second season. But in case you have forgotten the insane events of Invincible season 1, then no worries, we got you covered.

Note: Spoilers Ahead. So Skip to The Verdict If you haven’t seen Invincible Season 1.

Invincible is an animated series about Mark Grayson, whose father is the world’s most powerful superhero, Omni-Man. Being half human and half Vultrimite, Mark soon develops his powers, and this puts him on a journey of self-discovery with his dad as his mentor.

There is so much to love about the Invincible series. The soundtrack was great; the animation was impeccable, and the fights were amazing. But if I had to choose, I would say the best part of The Invincible TV show was its story and characters.

I loved that the show draws inspiration from Marvel & DC to create an impressive character roster. We meet Atom Eve, Monster Girl, Dupli-Kate, and Robot, all of whom are well-written and developed. I also loved the Mauler twins (or rather clones), as they lead to very interesting side stories. But you don’t have to have powers to be a badass, as characters like Cecil show they have methods of controlling the superhero community.

At the forefront, Invincible Season 1 focuses on Mark as he tries to find his footing as a hero while also being a normal teenager.

He joins the newly formed Guardians of the Globe (their Justice League) and faces threats from all over the universe. From fighting an alien species on Mars to facing street-level criminals protected by a ruthless alien bounty hunter, Mark has a busy year. But all his superhero activities affect his personal life (especially his love life). For most of the season, Mark struggles to live up to his father’s expectations, without disappointing his friends & loved ones. And slowly, the young hero realizes he is not as Invincible as he thinks.

But in the background, the real story of Invincible season 1 was about Mark’s father, Omni-Man (J. K. Simmons).

Invincible season 1 shocks us with its first episode, which sees Omni-Man brutally murder every member of the old Guardians of the Globe. This gruesome event kicks off the murder mystery that drives the entire season. While the show’s characters searched for the murderer, we were left wondering, Why Did Omni-Man Kill the Guardians?

Though the show does a good job of teasing Omni-Man’s real mission on Earth, nothing could have prepared Mark for the truth. Following his orders, we learn the Viltrum empire sent Omni-Man to weaken Earth’s defenses ahead of a full invasion. And with the Guardians gone, Nolan moves to make Earth submit to the will of the Viltrum empire.

Invincible Episode 7 & 8 was a rollercoaster of emotions for Mark, Nolan, The audience, and the rest of the Invincible world. While Cecil threw everything (including the kitchen sink) to slow Omni-Man down, Nolan did his best to Mark and explain his side of the story. But everything goes south when Nolan kills the immortal on National TV, and this begins the downfall of Omni-Man in his son’s eyes.

I think it’s fair to say Mark receives the worst beating of his life, along with years of psychological trauma and pain, while facing his father. Once Nolan realizes he cannot convince Mark with words, he switches to fists and uses him to lay waste to the world. I loved the contrast during the fight, as while the father kills civilians left, right, and center, the son tries his best to save at least one person.

Arguably the most ruthless deaths came when Nolan smashes Mark into a moving train killing everyone onboard. But despite being outmatched and mentally broken, Mark still bravely faces his father and endures punch after punch.

But Nolan can only run from his heart for so long, and the guilt from the horror he had caused soon catches up with him.

We witness his inner conflict between his duty as a Viltrumite commander and his role as a father. I think Nolan wished Mark would pick his side, so he wouldn’t have to choose between family and duty. But things don’t go his way. Horrified by his actions, Omni-Man flees the earth in tears, leaving behind a half-dead Mark.

It takes weeks for Mark to recover physically, but emotionally he and his mother, Debbie (Sandra Oh), remain shattered. But Invincible Season 1 ends on a hopeful note, with the series promising to continue several interesting side stories in Invincible Season 2.

Verdict