Invincible Is A Much Better Hero In Season 4

Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Invincible season 4, episodes 1–3.Prime Video’s Invincible has so many great elements that make it stand out in the superhero genre, and its protagonist is by far one of the show’s best qualities. While heroes like Superman and Captain America are layered and interesting characters, they don’t tend to face the same moral dilemmas as someone like Batman or Spider-Man, who have more complex journeys.

However, their conflicts feel almost tame in comparison to Mark Grayson’s. Sure, Marvel’s New York and DC’s Gotham can be brutal places, but the world of Invincible is relentless. Whether it’s basic Earth heroes or deadly Viltrumites, the series throws constant foes Mark’s way, who has the displeasure of fighting Invincible‘s strongest characters one after the other.

Having already thrown hands with the likes of Mister Liu, the Mauler Twins, Doc Seismic, and Powerplex, Mark had to battle numerous versions of himself and Angstrom Levy, only to be immediately tasked with Conquest in Invincible season 3’s finale. Harshly, season 4 continued this unforgiving trend in its opening episodes, but Mark just proved why he’s a greater hero than ever.

Mark’s Brutal Choice Was Morally Questionable, But Also Understandable

Out of context, killing an innocent civilian is the farthest thing from heroic and definitely isn’t worth celebrating, but this morally questionable decision was also understandable during the moment. After the chaos of season 3, Mark changed his philosophy on how he’d approach dangerous foes, vowing to kill anyone who put his loved ones in danger without hesitation.

This hasn’t translated to Mark going on a killing spree in season 4, but he has been more cutthroat, as demonstrated by his decision at the end of “Making the World a Better Place.” With the sequids emerging from the sewers and trying to take over Earth, Mark and the Guardians of the Globe were sent to stop them.

The fight took place inside a containment zone that was on the verge of breaking, which would put the entire world in danger of becoming overrun by these alien creatures. However, they are only deemed a threat if they have a host, and with just one other human (excluding the heroes) remaining inside this zone, Mark decided to kill him.

Despite Bulletproof being en route with a disrupter — the sequids’ weakness — Mark opted to execute the last remaining host since the containment dome was on the brink of collapse. Naturally, some of his fellow heroes were horrified by his choice, yet killing one innocent person arguably saved several billion, sparking debate about whether that justified his actions.

Regardless of what side of the fence you sit on, the protagonist’s decision was at the very least understandable, especially in the heat of the moment. On paper, it may feel rather sinister, but it shows Mark’s similarities to Cecil in Invincible, as he is now willing to make tough calls to protect the masses, a choice Cecil even agrees with.

Very Few Other Superhero Projects Would Allow Their Protagonist To Be As Morally Gray As Mark

One of the things that makes Mark a truly compelling hero is the fact he is so morally gray, something very few other superhero projects allow. Sure, Marvel has anti-heroes like the Punisher and Deadpool, while DC has Red Hood, but whereas their outlook on dealing with criminals rarely wavers, Mark’s mindset is always changing as Invincible progresses.

In season 1, he would never dream of taking a human life, let alone an innocent one. Instead, he always hoped for a peaceful resolution and usually tried to incapacitate his enemies. Even after Omni-Man’s rampage and fighting several Viltrumites, he tried to stay pure, hence scolding his younger brother for killing their enemies, despite them posing a constant threat.

However, after three grueling seasons, Mark has undoubtedly changed, as he has grown more violent and is now willing to kill when necessary. These outbursts aren’t his only questionable moments though, as his threat towards Cecil in season 3 bordered on villainous, while he has also refused to get involved in certain battles, despite lives being at risk.

At his core, Mark still wants to do good, but the trauma he has faced, alongside still being young, contributes to him often acting emotionally and irrationally. He wants to be a hero, even sacrificing his personal life to be one at times, yet his desire to protect his family and loved ones is frequently prioritized above the greater good.

While other superhero stories may give their leads a bit of an edge and put them in complicated situations, these protagonists aren’t tested nearly as much as Mark, who regularly divides the audience. All in all, these factors have contributed to the superhero show becoming an unexpected masterpiece, and Invincible being one of the most realistic heroes in recent memory.

Mark’s Mental Battle Is A Huge Part Of What Makes Him Invincible

The name Invincible often feels ironic for Mark given how often he is beaten within an inch of his life, yet he always gets back up, which his mental battle also reflects. Withstanding as much physical punishment as Mark does is already enough to earn him his alias, but his mental fortitude is what cements him as a true hero.

Even though his moral ambiguity provides reasons to question him, Invincible‘s protagonist continues to put himself on the line time and time again. Mark’s conversation with Oliver in episode 3 shows that he’ll almost always respond to danger, despite being tired, hurt, and borderline broken inside, making those few exceptions understandable considering everything he goes through.

He’s had to deal with villains like Powerplex blaming him for the Chicago incident and many others living in constant fear that he’ll end up just like his dad. Likewise, fighting some of Invincible‘s most powerful Viltrumites will only test Mark’s mental resolve more as time goes on, highlighting how crucial this internal conflict is to his journey.

Dealing with each obstacle that has come his way hasn’t been easy, yet Mark refuses to lose himself completely. Therefore, remaining a morally good person fighting for a good cause despite all he’s been through proves he is the ultimate hero, no matter how many cold decisions he makes in the process.

Invincible Has Been Building To This Since Episode 1

One of the things that makes Mark’s darker turn more effective is that it isn’t all of a sudden. Ever since the very first episode, Invincible has been carefully setting up the mental turmoil he would go on to endure and the effects it would have on him, as there is a desperation not to end up like his father.

Sure, Mark loved his dad in the pilot episode and thought he was Earth’s mightiest hero, but Omni-Man’s brutal attack on the Guardians of the Globe highlighted what the protagonist could become without his moral compass. He’s since clutched on to the fact he isn’t destined to be like Nolan, yet the more he goes through, the more similarities arise.

Fortunately, having strong connections around him has prevented Mark from embracing the Viltrum Empire or losing sight of what’s right and wrong, but he’s always been trying to escape his dad’s shadow while forging his own destiny. As a result, Mark’s moral crossroads have only made Prime Video’s Invincible better and better, especially ahead of the war against Viltrum.

With season 4 giving Mark such a dark start, seeing where his journey goes next and how it compares to his father’s remains fascinating, thanks to how well the show has crafted this character arc. Hopefully, Invincible continues to do the comics justice by continuing the protagonist’s emotional story that keeps on demonstrating why he’s such a memorable hero.

Release Date

March 26, 2021

Network

Amazon Prime Video