[Amazon Original] Invincible

[Smoove_B]

S2 started last night and it was a great episode. I should probably start reading the comics at this point as I'm really enjoying the premise of the show. I wasn't exactly sure where it was all going last night, but the ending was...something.

[hepcat]

You should check out Alan Moore’s Miracleman too. You can see where Invincible comes from in so many ways.

Mark Waid did a similar story called Irredeemable years after Invincible started that’s pretty derivative of both, but still highly entertaining.

[Smoove_B]

You should check out Alan Moore’s Miracleman too.

I think you mean "The Original Writer" - he's pulled his name from it. I also have it on my list, but thanks.

[hepcat]

Jesus, is there ANYONE crankier than Alan Moore?

Edit: and I just looked back a page and realized I’ve wrote all this before. God, I hate getting old.

[Blackhawk]

I'm about 20 issues from the end of the comics right now. There have been a few slow spots, but for the most part it has been a fantastic series. And every time it starts to get a little slow, Kirkman changes it up. And when I say "changes it up", I don't mean adding a new villain or having an identity go public. When Kirkman changes it up, he doesn't pull punches.

Once I'm done, I think I'll rewatch season 1 and continue straight into 2.

[Blackhawk]

S2 started last night and it was a great episode. I should probably start reading the comics at this point as I'm really enjoying the premise of the show. I wasn't exactly sure where it was all going last night, but the ending was...something.

I finished the comics last night - 144 issues, plus a 0 issue 'prequel', plus one issue from another series that tied in to it. Other than that one issue, I have not read any of the other 'in universe' titles/spin-offs - Brit, Capes, Tech Jacket, Astounding Wolf-Man, Invincible Universe, Guarding the Globe, etc. Although to be accurate, Tech Jacket and Brit came first.

It was one of the better series I've read, possibly just ahead of the Marvel Civil War run, and if you're not bothered by the mature content (mostly blood and gore, but also some horrible people), I have no hesitation in recommending it.

One thing to note: There are quite a few appearances by other characters that are under the Image brand, including...

Spoiler:

Youngblood, Spawn, and Savage Dragon.

I went and did some digging - those are, in fact, those characters, but they're alternate versions of those characters that exist in Invincible's version of the universe, not the versions that exist in their own comics.

[Punisher]

Jesus, is there ANYONE crankier than Alan Moore?

Edit: and I just looked back a page and realized I’ve wrote all this before. God, I hate getting old.

If it's helpful, I don't remember you writing about itcearlier either.

[Smoove_B]

S2 Pt. 2 coming 3/14/24

[Smoove_B]

Just some news about Season 3:

Invincible season 3 is well underway, and we're all wondering the same thing: Will it take a page from season 2 and be split into two parts? Creator Robert Kirkman isn't sure yet, but he's well aware of the fan reaction.

"All I can say is that we are well aware of the fact that that was not popular," Kirkman says at a roundtable attended by GamesRadar+ at San Diego Comic-Con. "It is what it is. So you know, we're exploring things and that's something that we'll definitely be talking about. So, you know, maybe we'll do a manual. I don't know. We'll just have to see."

Count me among the group that did not enjoy the split - I really feel like it killed the show's momentum.

[YellowKing]

Incidentally there is an Invincible board game out now that has been getting really good reviews. I almost picked up this past weekend, but I wasn't familiar with the IP so I didn't understand the art style and it looked like of lame. Now that I've done some research on the show/comics, it's back on the list.

It's a cooperative deck builder/bag draw game with push your luck elements. From a gameplay perspective, it reminded me a lot of a mix between Marvel Champions and Marvel United.

[Smoove_B]

S3 news:

The third season will launch with the first three episodes on February 6 exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide, with subsequent episodes dropping every Thursday through March 13.

Looks like they've learned that cutting an 8 episode series in half with a prolonged break is a bad idea.

[hepcat]

That whole trailer was just fantastic.

[Scraper]

That whole trailer was just fantastic.

It was. I liked the part when they showed Steven Yeun in the studio. It was a good idea holding the show until the complete season is ready, breaking it up into 2 parts for an 8 episode season is just silly.

[Smoove_B]

Hell yeah! Seems like there's some potential spoilers in the trailer so watch at your own risk, if you care.

[hepcat]

Just a reminder: the first three episodes of season 3 are up on Amazon Prime as of yesterday. And yes, it includes an animated J.K. Simmons.







CALLBACK!

[Smoove_B]

I'm not sure if anyone else is watching but I believe S3 ends next Thursday (3/13).

I'm not at all familiar with the actual comics (but I do want to read them) so I really wasn't expecting what happened in the penultimate episode last night ("What Have I Done?"). What a great show - really like how they're still playing with classic comic book tropes but it still feels fresh. Probably the hyper violence.

[hepcat]

My favorite bit from this last episode?

Spoiler:

Doug Bradley, the original Pinhead from Hellraiser, was the voice of the Technician.

My least favorite?

Spoiler:

Johnathan Banks not even trying for an English accent while playing a character named The Brit.

[Smoove_B]

I didn't pick up on either one of those.

[hepcat]

I’m an old horror fan, so I immediately recognized Doug Bradley’s voice. It makes sense they’d go to him for that character. That voice is just iconic.

The other I had to use Amazon X-ray to figure out as I was wondering why the character didn’t even have a shred of a British accent. I mean, there was zero attempt on his part.

[Blackhawk]

Spoiler:

Johnathan Banks not even trying for an English accent while playing a character named The Brit.

In regards to the character with the lack of an accent...

Spoiler:

His name is Brit, short for Brittany. It's not The Brit (or even A Brit.)

He's not British.

[Smoove_B]

Huh. That'll show me for trusting hepcat!

[hepcat]

I read through the entire invincible series and always assumed the character named Brit was supposed to be British. Go figure.

Also, trusting me got you to watch Raised by Wolves. After that much insanity, why would you trust me again?

[Blackhawk]

If my name was Brittany, I'd go by Brit, too.

[Isgrimnur]

But what if you were names Theophania?

[hepcat]

The Canuck?

[Isgrimnur]

So sorry, the correct answer is Tiffany.

[Punisher]

If my name was Brittany, I'd go by Brit, too.

Can't be worse than a boy named Sue.

[TheMix]

If my name was Brittany, I'd go by Brit, too.

Can't be worse than a boy named Sue.

I almost posted the same thing.

[Smoove_B]

What a ending to the third season! I didn't pick up the voice actor for Conquest last week, but it was pretty obvious for me during the finale

Spoiler:

Jeffrey Dean Morgan

I thought that was a fantastic choice and he did a great job making that character even more menacing. Either way, I really enjoyed S3 and the finale was awesome. Looking forward to even more, whenever that happens...

[hepcat]

The only part I didn't like was that the character named Sam didn't speak with a Samoan accent.

Edit: okay, watched it. For the most part, it followed the comic so I wasn’t surprised by anything. But I loved it all the same.

But I’m definitely looking forward to a new story for next season that doesn’t follow the comics.

Spoiler:

I loved seeing Darkblood again. I wasn’t expecting that. I hope he’s part of season 4 in some meaningful manner.

[disarm]

Damn...what a finale!

JDM as Conquest was the perfect choice, and that entire fight was incredible. I can't wait to see where the series goes next...just a shame that I'm sure it will be a long time before we get another season.

And the Nine Inch Nails song at the end was an epic choice...Every Day is Exactly the Same...

[Scraper]

For the most part I thought this season wasn't as good as prior seasons. For the first 6 episodes the main storyline didn't seem to advance at all. But damn did they turn it around with the last two episodes. It made you realize that episodes 1-6 were largely about Mark getting stronger and coming into his own and then the last two episodes really drive it home. The animation for the Conquest fight scenes is top notch as well.

I just wish they had shown more of Omni Man and Allen this season, I don't think they show up at all after that extended end credit sequence in the early episodes. (Other than flashbacks).