Robert Kirkman, Cory Walker& Ryan Ottley (Comic);
Simon Racioppa, Helen Leigh, Jay Faerber (Screenplays)

CAST

Steven Yeun
Sandra Oh
J.K. Simmons
Cleveland Berto
Christian Convery
Walton Goggins

Review

After the explosive events of last season, which saw Mark Grayson (Invincible) grappling with the weight of his Viltrumite heritage and the fallout of his rage-fueled confrontation with Angstrom Levy, Season 3 wastes no time picking up the pace. The three-episode premiere is a thrilling, emotionally charged, and thought-provoking. It dives headfirst into the show’s central themes of morality, power, and the cost of doing what needs to be done.

Season 2 left us with Mark struggling to reconcile his humanity with his alien lineage, while his relationship with Atom Eve deepened. But now, in Season 3, everything changes. Mark is forced to confront his past and his future, discovering just how far he’ll need to go to protect the people he loves. The stakes are higher, the threats are pretty much everywhere, and the moral dilemmas are murkier than ever.

Right off the bat, this season feels faster and more intense than the last. Mark is leveling up thanks to his training, and now has a superhero wannabe kid brother, Oliver, who adds an intriguing dynamic to the Grayson family. The voice work and soundtrack remain top-notch, the animation is very serviceable, but it’s the character work and thematic depth that truly shine in these first three episodes.

One of my favorite aspects of the premiere is the exploration of when the ends justify the means. Cecil Stedman, the ever-pragmatic head of the Global Defense Agency, – someone that I never really trusted – is back in full force, and his conflict with Mark takes center stage. Cecil’s willingness to give criminals like Sinclair and Darkwing a second chance in the name of the greater good raises fascinating questions about justice, reform, and the abuse of power. It’s a weirdly timely commentary, Cecil’s approach aligns with prison reform ideals, but his case it feels more like he’s using them as expendables making his unchecked authority and ruthless pragmatism terrifying. Mark, on the other hand, represents the moral absolutist, but his idealism often feels naive after the taste he’s had of the Vultrumites’ might.

The show does an excellent job of making you understand both perspectives. Cecil’s backstory, revealed in a poignant flashback, adds some layers to his character and explains why he’s become the cold, calculating man he is today. His line, “You can be the good guy, or you can save the world. You can’t be both,” is a heavy-hitting quote that encapsulates the season’s central conflict. Meanwhile, Mark’s hypocrisy is put under the microscope, particularly in his casual reaction to Oliver’s violent and sociopathic tendencies. It’s a stark reminder that Mark isn’t as morally pure as he likes to think, and the show showcases that beautifully.

The third episode’s opening sequence is a standout moment for me. Not a single line of dialogue but an emotionally resonant story using two minor characters. It’s peak visual storytelling that further elevates the season’s exploration of what makes someone a hero or a villain, though it could have been better if the animation was nicer.

The action in this premiere is as brutal and satisfying as ever, and while some plot points are predictable, the execution keeps me hooked.

Fans of the comic have already started buzzing about the foreshadowing of one of the most heartbreaking arcs in the Invincible saga, and if these first three episodes are any indication, we’re in for an emotional rollercoaster. Season 3 is off to an incredible start, balancing breakneck pacing with deep character moments and moral complexity. If this premiere is any indication, Invincible is shaping up to be its best season yet and I can’t wait to see where it goes next.

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