Invincible Creator Reveals Plans for Unseen Comic Arc in Season 4

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Summary

  • Invincible‘s success lies in exceeding superhero genre expectations outside Marvel/DC.
  • The show’s upcoming season hints at a significant plot deviation from the source material.
  • Creator Robert Kirkman suggests a storyline involving Damian Darkblood that wasn’t explored in comics.

Unbeatable has consistently proven itself as one of the most triumphant comic book adaptations ever made, and the upcoming season on Prime Video appears poised to surpass its predecessor significantly by introducing an impressive new element that promises to set it ablaze.

Invincible surpassed all predictions within the superhero TV genre, becoming successful as an animated series outside of the usual Marvel/DC dominance. This was a time when superhero fatigue ruled the industry. Yet, it managed to rank among the best TV-MA superhero shows. The adaptation has been a significant triumph for Amazon’s Prime Video alongside The Boys, securing two and now three seasons. With the latest season concluding dramatically on the streaming platform, both fans and executives eagerly anticipate the show’s next chapter, as its success makes completing the source material inevitable.

Apart from potentially revising all the original content, the Invincible series now has an opportunity to surpass it. Although there have been certain variations between the Invincible comic and show, the upcoming departure from the source material might be the most intriguing and fitting yet. In a recent interview with Variety discussing various aspects of the show’s just-concluded third season, Invincible creator Robert Kirkman was questioned about the post-credits scene in episode three featuring Damian Darkblood, a character who was marginalized early on in both versions of the story. “We’ve always wanted to find a way to reintroduce Damian Darkblood into the show, and then – oh, should I reveal this?” Kirkman ponders before disclosing. “There’s a plotline from the comic that I never managed to execute. Every superhero narrative includes a chapter where they journey to hell and confront the devil. This occurs in DC and Marvel comics. It’s significant. I never implemented anything similar in Invincible. I kept getting distracted, and there was never an appropriate time. So it’s conceivable that we might be doing something like this in the show, and that scene at the end of that episode could be setting it up.

As a movie critic, I’ve always felt that the Damian Darkblood character in the Invincible comics didn’t quite live up to its potential, often serving as a caricature of other DC heroes such as The Question and Rorschach. His sudden exit from the storyline, after he solved the mystery of the Guardians of the Globe murders, was met with more laughter than fanfare, especially since everyone else had already discovered the truth.

However, one of the most intriguing alterations between the comics and the show was Darkblood’s exile, a decision that added an element of mystery and coolness to the narrative. Yet, his sudden return was far from what anyone expected – neither longtime comic readers nor new viewers were prepared for this twist.

Robert Kirkman’s recent expressed admiration for the character is indeed surprising, as he seemed to be treated rather poorly in the comics. The show, however, afforded him a second chance and an opportunity to leave a lasting impact on Invincible’s storyline – a pun intended, of course!

Kirkman hasn’t explicitly confirmed it yet, but given that the next season is already in production, it seems quite likely that we will see more of Darkblood. After all, he wouldn’t have hinted at his possible return if it wasn’t happening.

Excitedly speaking as a film enthusiast, I can’t contain my anticipation! Kirkman himself has assured us that the upcoming seasons of Invincible will arrive swiftly and without those lengthy mid-season pauses we’ve grown accustomed to. The next season was already shaping up to be thrilling, thanks to the arrival of some formidable characters from the Viltrum empire. Now, fans of the comic books have an additional reason to rejoice, as Kirkman himself is crafting a brand-new story arc exclusively for the series.

Though it may not significantly alter the narrative’s course, this fresh storyline should still prove to be an exhilarating ride, much like Damien Darkblood’s tribute to comic book classics of yore.

Invincible is available to stream on Prime Video.

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2025-03-14 19:33