Editor’s Note: This article contains spoilers for “Invincible.”
“Invincible,” which originated as a comic series written by Robert Kirkman and illustrated by Cory Walker and Ryan Ottley, has surged to the top of the superhero zeitgeist after receiving an animated show on Amazon Prime Video on Mar. 21, 2021.
“I have loved the show Invincible so far,” OH senior Dylan Matjea said. “It has taken the superhero trope and basically flipped it over its head. It’s a huge series.”
“Invincible” dumbfounded audiences with its mature storytelling, elaborate plotting, and (most of all) massive amounts of animated gore. It was a much-needed shock to the system that still exerts significant cultural influence.
“I have really enjoyed the show so far. It is really good, and I’m glad I got interested in it,” OH senior Brielli Zuardo said. “There is a lot of gore, but the character developments throughout the show have been really good, and each person’s story is interesting.”
The fourth and newest season of the show, premiering Mar 18, promises to continue the legacy of the show in both story and gore, as the comic’s greatest villain makes his introduction: Grand Regent Thragg, ruler of the Viltrum Empire.
As the supreme ruler of the Viltrumites (Invincible’s main antagonist), he represents the logical extreme of ruthless power, totalitarian leadership, and the stagnation of a race that values might over morality. He is a stark contrast to Mark Grayson’s empathetic, human-influenced growth, serving as his foil from his introduction until the end of the story.
Likely, the effect of Thragg and the contrast he presents to Mark will be even more effective this season than it would have been earlier in the show. At the end of Season 3, Mark vowed to start killing his enemies if he needed to.
“Season 3 also started to show more of Mark Grayson’s villainous side rather than his nicer side in the past seasons, and I think it’s cool to see another side of him after everything he has gone through,” said Zuardo.
Thragg’s arrival also signals the beginning of the show’s largest and most devastating arc: the Viltrumite War. Up to this point, Mark’s battles have been personal, focused on his father, his friends, and the safety of Earth. The Viltrumite War raises the stakes to a galactic scale, forcing Mark to fight not just for his home but for the survival of countless worlds living under the shadow of Viltrumite rule.
This brutal conflict symbolizes the ultimate clash between authoritarian brutality and the potential for empathy. It highlights that a culture built purely on power and the elimination of the “weak” (a hallmark of the Viltrum empire) is ultimately unsustainable.
“For [Mark], the Viltrumite War is like a reset. It’s like a restart… for him. It’s a reminder of … what he does and why he does it — to protect his people and protect his home,” Matjea said.
Thragg’s long-awaited arrival and the onset of the Viltrumite War mark a decisive turning point in the story. It’s evolving into a galactic struggle over whether power or morality will shape the universe. Whether Mark embraces the darker instincts or manages to hold onto his humanity, the battles ahead will determine what it truly means to be “invincible.”
I'm a senior at OHS and it's my first year as a journalist. I hope to go to school for directing and screenwriting. I plan on mostly writing about movies and video games, and most nerd stuff. You can contact me by emailing 42Fifty@sd308.org and putting my name in the subject line. We welcome comments on our articles and feedback on our publication!
Hello my name is Jydun Browder I am a senior at Oswego high school. This will be my first year on the 42fifty staff. You can contact me by emailing 42Fifty@sd308.org and putting my name in the subject line. We welcome comments on our articles and feedback on our publication!
