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Managing editor & film and television critic with a Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Minor from the University of Guam. Currently in graduate school completing a Master's in English Literature.
Following last week’s mid-season premiere, Robert Kirkman’s Prime Video television adaptation of Invincible finds its main roster of characters in a new chapter of their lives. Deborah “Debbie” Grayson (voiced by Sandra Oh) deals with a new addition to her household, while her son Mark Grayson (voiced by Steven Yeun) struggles to regain a hold of his life upon returning to Earth. Everyone else has their own story to tell, and although small, each of them carries a weight that results in yet another heavy narrative by the end.
The second season’s sixth episode is titled, “It’s Not That Simple”. It is written by Vivian Lee (Epix/ MGM+’s FROM) and directed by storyboard artist Sol Choi.
In this review, I will discuss Invincible Season 2 Episode 6. As the title of this article suggests, there will be no spoilers present here. References to previous series episodes and the graphic novel source material may be made!
Invincible Season 2 Episode 6 Logline
According to Amazon Studios Press, here is the logline for Invincible Season 2 Episode 6—“It’s Not That Simple”.
After two challenging missions, The Guardians of the Globe struggle to work as a team. Meanwhile, Mark tries to balance his hero duties, personal relationships, and his future as a college student.
Amazon Studios Press
Discussion
“It’s Not That Simple” adapts Invincible Issues 35 as well as 40 to 44 in a way that showcases its arrangement of details. This episode balances gravity with intensity, allowing for some scenes to aim for extraordinary heights, whereas others are grounded and give some time for prominent figures to actually breathe. Because of this, it is not so much about how the story is told in one specific manner. Rather, it seems there are different angles and perspectives in the episode, whether it is the artwork, the soundtrack, or the screenwriting.
First and foremost, music supervisors Gabe Hilfer and Henry van Roden bring in a short yet impactful few artists to the series’ soundtrack. Bad Nerves supplements the opening scenes’ thrilling narrative beat. This offers much-needed levity, given the distressing atmosphere of what happens at the beginning of the episode. By comparison, Aidan Knight is included for the morose tone, also calming the nerves a bit. The inclusion of That Kid CG at the end sheds light on the disparity between what it means to be human—wild and free—and what it means to be beyond human—in other words, living the secret life of a superhero.
For Your Eyes
Some of the Sequid character designs are intriguing work, especially in bringing the sequences involving alien-possessed Rus Livingston (voiced by Ben Schwartz) to life. There are some new designs that are unique to the lore of the Invincible series, e.g. the brief moment where Atom Eve (voiced by Gillian Jacobs) and Rudolph “Rudy” Connors (voiced by Ross Marquand) are left unprotected from the Sequids. The conclusion to the Lizard League subplot is as graphic as can be expected, from the certain appearance that Rex Splode (voiced by Jason Mantzoukas) takes on—including a bloodshot right eye—to all the blood and gore that comes with it. These are interesting sequences for the midseason, adding more from Image Comics and Skybound’s source material pages that solely could not be achieved from mere panels alone.
Just as striking is the “unstoppable energy wave” scene towards the end. The sequence blends an array of hues from the animators’ color palette, amplifying the explosive background sure to captivate pretty much any viewer. Next to that is Mark’s unmasking following the introductory action sequences. It’s used as a neat scene transition, with the character reacting to the outcome of these pressing events and then entering reality when returning to his girlfriend. It juxtaposes what superheroes face and what civilian human beings should not always have to deal with.
The “relationships aren’t easy” scene comes off as awkward, almost as if it knows it is taking a page out of sitcom programs. A larger purpose is at play here, yet how that message is delivered is unusual. Nonetheless, the episode features character designs from four Rooster Teeth animators, which is a commendable achievement in itself.
Adapting the Comics
The Sequid subplot’s conclusion is almost identical to how it is depicted in the source material. Possessed Rus’s monologue at the end of Issue 40 is cut down and reworded for the series. It gets rid of some expository dialogue, paving the way for the action to take over. The minute changes are nice, such as the pulse wave device that Rudy rigs up for the Guardians of the Globe or the switch in who catches Rus when he falls. The Lizard League end of things does not play things safe compared to the comics, and that’s all for the better. Rex puts up more of a fight against King Lizard (voiced by Scoot McNairy) than he did in the source material. Not only that, but the different fate for Shrinking Rae (voiced by Grey DeLisle) works in the writers’ favor here.
The episode doesn’t cut corners and instead cares to convey the consequences of heroism. The Immortal’s (voiced by Ross Marquand) eventual acceptance of Invincible via handshake is more meaningful than the comic book version of the character simply saying, “You did a remarkable job”. If anything, this contributes to the layer of humanity that the former character welcomes. Having him spend more time on screen was a wise choice. It further fleshes out his development and self-expression throughout the season.
Smaller Beats
Rudy and Amanda/ Monster Girl (voiced by Grey DeLisle) have an interaction in the depths of outer space. This is a new moment for the show to develop their relationship. While they did embark on the mission in the comics, their speaking roles during the Martian fleet subplot were minimalized. Out of all the dynamics in the episode, Rudy and Amanda do not get enough screen time. It would be interesting to see where this goes during Season 3.
The arrival of April Howsam (voiced by Calista Flockhart) at this point in the season’s story arc is an odd narrative decision to make. She comes without much time for Debbie to prove her worth as a mother figure to her step-son. In the comics, April enters the story as a result of a life-threatening incident at the Grayson household. With that in mind, it’s weird that she is introduced this early on in Invincible.
The Crew Behind Invincible
Invincible is based on the comic book of the same name by Robert Kirkman, Cory Walker, & Ryan Ottley. Kirkman also serves as a co-showrunner alongside executive producer Simon Racioppa (Mr. Meaty). Walker serves as a co-executive producer.
Invincible series producer Dan Duncan also serves as the supervising director.
Luke Asa Guidici is the supervising editor. Lea Carosella and Liam Johnson are the assistant editors.
John Paesano scores the music. Gabe Hilfer (Venom, Birds of Prey, Ozark, Halloween Ends, The White Lotus, Renfield, White Men Can’t Jump) and Henry van Roden (The Walking Dead, Fear the Walking Dead, The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live) serve as the music supervisors.
Brad Meyer is the supervising sound editor. Meyer, Katie Jackson, Noah Kowalski, and Mia Perfetti are the sound FX editors.
Meredith Layne (Castlevania, A Tale Dark & Grimm) is the voice director. Linda Lamontagne (BoJack Horseman, The Boys Presents: Diabolical, Close Enough) is the voice casting director.
Animation Team
Shaun O’Neil serves as the art director. Kofi Fiagome serves as the animation/ storyboard supervisor. Invincible comic book artist Ryan Ottley serves as the creative consultant.
Luke Ashworth, Nate Bellegarde, Dou Hong, Nick Lombardo, Tim Nicklas, Johnathan N. Reyes, Charles Tan, and Alex Wilson are the character designers.
Additional character designs from Rooster Teeth Productions are credited to Claire Bridges, Matthew Dean, Minji Yoon, and Vivian Ly.
Catherine Agor, Tsu-Wei Chen, Jon Finch, Kelly Mai, James T. Robb, and Yoshi Vu are the background designers.
Adrian Barrios, Sol Choi, Karl Savage, and Christopher Staggs serve as the storyboard artists. Vickie Chau and Dan Quiles are the storyboard revisionists.
Guidici serves as the episode’s animatic editor. Samantha Schnauder is the visual effects editor.
The Voice Cast Behind Invincible
Steven Yeun (The Walking Dead, Sorry to Bother You, Minari, Nope) voices the series’ protagonist and titular character, Markus Sebastian “Mark” Grayson, also known as Invincible. Sandra Oh (Big Fat Liar, The Chair, Umma, Quiz Lady) voices Deborah “Debbie” Grayson, Mark’s mother.
J.K. Simmons (the Spider-Man film franchise, Whiplash, Palm Springs) briefly appears as the voice of Nolan Grayson—Mark’s father and Debbie’s husband—, also known as Omni-Man.
Supporting Voice Actors
Zazie Beetz (Deadpool 2, Atlanta) voices Amber, Mark’s girlfriend. Gillian Jacobs (Community, Minx, The Bear) voices Samantha Eve Wilkins, also known as Atom Eve. Andrew Rannells (Adventure Time: Fionna & Cake) voices William Clockwell, Mark’s best friend.
Grey DeLisle (She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai) voices Monster Girl, Helga, and a nurse. Jason Mantzoukas (John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Big Mouth, Close Enough) voices Rex Splode.
Khary Payton (Teen Titans, Young Justice, The Walking Dead) voices Black Samson and a Martian leader. Jay Pharoah voices Bulletproof.
Chris Diamantopoulos (Silicon Valley, The Boys Presents: Diabolical, Made for Love Season 2) voices Donald Ferguson and a GDA med tech. Walton Goggins voices Cecil Stedman.
Ross Marquand (Avengers: Infinity War, Robot Chicken, The Walking Dead) voices The Immortal, Rudolph “Rudy” Connors, and a proprietor.
Mark Hamill voices Arthur “Art” Rosenbaum, a costumer and tailor for superheroes.
Sterling K. Brown (Black Panther, Frozen II, Big Mouth, Solar Opposites, American Fiction) voices Angstrom Levy.
Kevin Michael Richardson (Family Guy, Young Justice, M.O.D.O.K.) voices a monster and tech trooper #1.
Additional voice performances come from Nyima Funk, Robert Kesselman, Dan Navarro (The Cleveland Show, The Boys Presents: Diabolical), and Ami Shukla.
Guest Voice Actors
Lincoln Bodin voices Oliver. Calista Flockhart voices April Howsam.
Luke Macfarlane voices Rick Sheridan, an upperclassman from Upstate University, replacing Jonathan Groff from Invincible Season 1.
Clancy Brown (SpongeBob SquarePants, Thor: Ragnarok, John Wick: Chapter 4) voices General Kregg, a Viltrumite who had hunted down Nolan.
Ben Schwartz (BoJack Horseman, DuckTales, Hulu’s M.O.D.O.K., the Sonic the Hedgehog film franchise, The Boys Presents: Diabolical) voices Shapesmith, Rus Livingston, and tech trooper #2.
Scoot McNairy (Argo, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, True Detective, Pantheon) voices King Lizard.
Seth Rogen (Sausage Party) guest stars as the voice of Allen the Alien, a champion evaluation officer for the Coalition of Planets.
Character Developments
Thankfully, Debbie Grayson with her stepson is a lovely dynamic that cleanses her spirit of grief. The arrival of the Thraxan-Viltrumite infant on Earth is a special one. It offers the human the option to cope with the loss of her husband through means that aren’t alcoholism. What I adore about this bond is it comes from a place of pure heart. It is two living beings in the cosmos that are currently vulnerable, whether emotional or physical. That is all the more reason for Debbie to be protective of somebody she has to accept as family.
By comparison, the series continues to handle Mark and Amber’s relationship as one that is mature and human, not something to liken to a generic teen flick. It’s reminiscent of the relationship between Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man films. These two characters go through the motions of early adulthood, navigating responsibilities to the planet. The love interest reminds the protagonist that who he is—what he was born into—is a gift not to be wasted. The series’ writers develop this relationship more intelligently. In the comics, Mark cheats on Amber with Eve and Amber emotionally cheats on Mark with a college peer. Season 2 sets them off in a more reasonable direction.
Rex’s humanity is a stronger narrative element to the series. In the comics, there wasn’t a rueful side to him, so he came off as if destined to be an unlikable character. However, in the series, Rex is one such person who is filled with regrets. With enough time in the future of Invincible, we could perhaps peel away at the character’s background. Although, that is up to the writers to do.
Final Thoughts on Invincible Season 2 Episode 6
Interestingly enough, “It’s Not That Simple” resumes Invincible Season 2’s theme of loss and grief. While it is a messy clutter of subplots, there is something appreciative about how they are all brought together. Characters treat those closest to them like family, even if the circumstances for some are not necessarily ideal. Allen the Alien (voiced by Seth Rogen) sees Mark Grayson as a friend, and Mark finds new father role types in both Cecil Stedman (voiced by Walton Goggins) and Arthur “Art” Rosenbaum (voiced by Mark Hamill). Judging from what the future of the series holds, it seems better for these themes to play out a little longer. Brilliant times are headed for our characters, but the path to this is a step-by-step process.
Invincible Season 2 is now streaming via Prime Video!
Have you seen the series yet? If so, then what are your thoughts on it so far? Let us know! For more action, adaptation, adventure, animation, comic book, drama, fantasy, science-fiction, and thriller-related news and reviews, do not forget to follow The Cinema Spot on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!
Managing editor & film and television critic with a Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Minor from the University of Guam. Currently in graduate school completing a Master's in English Literature.
