# Invincible season 2

The second season of the American adult animated superhero series Invincible, created by Robert Kirkman for Amazon Prime Video, the series was released in two parts. The first four episodes streamed from November 3 to 24, 2023, and the final four episodes from March 14 to April 4, 2024, after an extended production break that began due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The season focuses on Mark Grayson, who struggles to rebuild his life while encountering new allies and adversaries. At the same time, he grapples with his deepest fear—becoming like his father, Omni-Man. The second season of Invincible explores themes of loyalty, family, and redemption, featuring high-stakes conflicts and intense action sequences that build upon the mature storytelling established in the first season.
The season sees the return of Steven Yeun as Mark Grayson / Invincible, J. K. Simmons as Nolan Grayson / Omni-Man, and Sandra Oh as Debbie Grayson, along with supporting cast members Zazie Beetz, Gillian Jacobs, Walton Goggins, Jason Mantzoukas, and Mahershala Ali. New characters, voiced by Sterling K. Brown, Tatiana Maslany, and Daveed Diggs, are also introduced, further expanding the Invincible universe with its array of heroes, villains, and interdimensional threats.
The season received generally positive reviews, with praise for its voice performances, character development, and adherence to its comic book source material, though some criticism was directed at its episode structure. The season's success, along with award nominations for its cast and crew, reinforced Amazon Prime Video's commitment to adult animation, with a fourth season already confirmed.

## Episodes

| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date |
| Part 1 ||||||
| 10 | 1 | "A Lesson for Your Next Life" | Sol Choi | Simon Racioppa | November 3, 2023 (2023-11-3) |
| On a devastated alternate Earth where Mark sided with Nolan, scientist Angstrom Levy escapes through a portal. One month after Nolan's departure, Mark continues to struggle with his father's betrayal while performing his duties as Invincible. Cecil appoints the revived Immortal to succeed Rudy as the Guardians' leader and adds a new hero called Bulletproof to their ranks. The Maulers escape prison with help from Angstrom, who tasks them with building a device capable of transferring the memories of various alternate universe variants of himself to him so he can use their collective knowledge to advance Earth's technology and save other planets. Cecil sends Mark to stop the Maulers as they begin the process, forcing Angstrom to use his multiversal powers to summon variants of the Maulers, who nearly kill Mark against his wishes. Angstrom stops the transfer prematurely, causing an explosion, with one Mauler, Mark, and a mutated Angstrom surviving. Driven mad by his variants' memories of their versions of Invincible and Omni-Man, Angstrom vows revenge on Mark and escapes. ||||||
| 11 | 2 | "In About Six Hours, I Lose My Virginity to a Fish" | Ian Abando | Matt Lambert | November 10, 2023 (2023-11-10) |
| While graduating, Mark defeats Doc Seismic and his Magmanites. Over the summer, tension grows between him and Debbie after she realizes he is only continuing his work as Invincible and working for Cecil to avoid Nolan's legacy. She confronts Cecil, during which she learns Donald is alive and later has a breakdown over continuous reminders of Nolan. After converting a vacant lot into a park, Eve argues with her father, believing he cannot accept that she can help with her powers. However, the park collapses due to being built on unstable ground, though no casualties were sustained. The stowaway Martian, who had taken the place of astronaut Rus Livingston, becomes inspired by original Guardian member Martian Man to become the superhero Shapesmith and join the current Guardians. After encountering and defeating Darkwing II, Mark is assigned by Cecil to appease the Atlanteans for original Guardian member Aquarus' death. Amidst a trial by combat, Mark battles a kaiju, but is injured by its roar. Nonetheless, he saves the Atlanteans from it against Cecil's orders. Angstrom travels to an alternate Earth where Mark was captured by the GDA to gain information on how to defeat his own. ||||||
| 12 | 3 | "This Missive, This Machination!" | Tanner Johnson | Adria Lang | November 17, 2023 (2023-11-17) |
| In flashbacks, Allen's homeworld of Unopa is attacked by the Viltrumites, leading to his people joining the Coalition to stop them and breeding him to become the strongest Unopan. In the present, Allen discusses his findings from Earth with the Coalition, explaining that Mark is unaffiliated with Viltrum and Nolan left Earth. Over several members' skepticism, Coalition leader Thaedus supports Allen, believing they possess an advantage, before secretly tasking him with rooting out a Viltrumite mole within their ranks. Later, Allen is attacked by three Viltrumites demanding information on Mark, Earth, and Nolan. While recovering, Thaedus secretly ends his life support. Concurrently, Mark attends college and meets a shapeshifting insectoid alien from the planet Thraxa who claims his people are in danger. Upon arriving on Thraxa, Mark is unexpectedly reunited with Nolan, who has become Thraxa's ruler. Debbie joins a support group for superhero spouses, only to be accosted by original Guardian member Green Ghost's widower Theo for being previously married to Omni-Man, and leaves in shame. ||||||
| 13 | 4 | "It's Been a While" | Jason Zurek | Helen Leigh | November 24, 2023 (2023-11-24) |
| In flashbacks, Nolan flies aimlessly through space after abandoning Earth. While contemplating suicide at a black hole, he instead saves a Thraxan ship from it and is made their ruler. In the present, Mark's lingering anger towards Nolan is worsened when he learns of Nolan's new wife Andressa and their child. Understanding his son's feelings, Nolan nonetheless asks for his help in protecting Thraxa, but three Viltrumite soldiers arrive. As he takes Andressa and her son to safety, Mark learns from her that Nolan truly regretted his actions and loves him. The Graysons defeat the soldiers but are grievously wounded. Nolan is subsequently captured and taken back to Viltrum to be executed while Kregg, a high-ranking Viltrumite general, tasks Mark with finishing Nolan's original mission of preparing Earth for their invasion or else they will destroy it. Meanwhile, Debbie accepts that her relationship with Nolan was a lie, stops accepting his income through Cecil, and throws out his books. Elsewhere, Donald discovers evidence of his death. Suspicious that he might not be human, he stabs himself in the forearm as a test. Initially relieved to draw red blood, he then notices that he has bent the knife's tip. ||||||
| Part 2 ||||||
| 14 | 5 | "This Must Come as a Shock" | Haylee Herrick | Helen Leigh | March 14, 2024 (2024-3-14) |
| Following the Viltrumites' attack, Mark spends two months helping Thraxa rebuild before returning to Earth with his brother. At the GDA, Donald confronts Cecil about his body. Cecil reveals he successfully recovered Donald's brain and placed it in a robotic endoskeleton. The Guardians discover a Martian ship bound for Earth, prompting Shapesmith to reveal his identity and the impending Sequid invasion. After Eve recommits to heroism with Rex's encouragement, she and Mark are recruited by Cecil to join most of the Guardians in thwarting the invasion, but they are overwhelmed. Concurrently, remaining Guardian members Rex, Dupli-Kate, and Shrinking Rae confront the Lizard League after they capture a military base to ransom its nuclear missiles, resulting in Kate's apparent death, Rae getting devoured by Komodo Dragon, and Rex losing a hand and getting shot by King Lizard. Despite Thaedus ending his life support, Allen recovers from his injuries and has become as strong as a Viltrumite. Thaedus reveals he is a rebel Viltrumite and tasks Allen with recruiting Mark to aid the Coalition against the Viltrum Empire. ||||||
| 15 | 6 | "It's Not That Simple" | Sol Choi | Vivian Lee | March 21, 2024 (2024-3-21) |
| Rex survives being shot and defeats King Lizard before he and Rae are recovered and treated for their injuries. The Guardians narrowly escape the Sequids and rescue the real Rus. Debbie decides to raise Mark's half-brother and names him Oliver. Despite her suspicions of Cecil, she accepts a nanny he hired to help take care of him. Rick recovers from being a Reaniman, but remains traumatized by the ordeal. Mark and Amber's relationship becomes strained when both realize the toll that Mark's work as Invincible has taken on their lives. Eve's feelings for Mark begin to resurface. While Amber speaks to Eve, Mark talks to Rosenbaum, who reveals that Nolan previously wrote several unsuccessful sci-fi novels, which Mark learns potentially reveal Viltrumites' weaknesses. He relays the information to Allen, who tells him about Thaedus and the Coalition's stand against the Viltrum Empire. Rus returns home, but is attacked and re-possessed by a Sequid hidden inside him. A healed and imprisoned Nolan is interrogated by Kregg for his loyalty to Earth. Angstrom returns to his native Earth. ||||||
| 16 | 7 | "I'm Not Going Anywhere" | Ian Abando | Simon Racioppa | March 28, 2024 (2024-3-28) |
| Mark and Amber attend a comic convention, but he leaves to help Rex. After Cecil puts the Immortal on temporary leave, Rudy returns as the Guardians' leader. Donald discovers that he has died numerous times and that the original ordered the memories to be erased. Nonetheless, he later overcomes the trauma while dissuading Rick from committing suicide. While on a date, Mark is confronted by a Viltrumite named Anissa, who tries to remind him of his mission. When Mark abruptly leaves to save a cruise ship from a kaiju, Anissa joins him and effortlessly kills it, saving the passengers. Despite proving Earth's weakness, Anissa fails to convince Mark and grievously beats him before ultimately sparing him and leaving to report back to Kregg. Amidst this, the Viltrumites confront a passing Allen, who feigns defeat and allows himself to be captured. After breaking up with Amber, Mark is called by Angstrom, who has taken Debbie and Oliver hostage. ||||||
| 17 | 8 | "I Thought You Were Stronger" | Tanner Johnson | Robert Kirkman | April 4, 2024 (2024-4-4) |
| Mark returns home to confront Angstrom, who sends Mark across the multiverse to weaken him. Debbie tries to convince Angstrom to let Mark go, but he refuses. She attacks Angstrom, who breaks her arm and beats her. Mark returns and, enraged by his mother's injuries, battles Angstrom across multiple dimensions before furiously pummeling him, accidentally stranding himself in a desolate dimension. Distraught by his actions, Mark is eventually found and sent home by a future incarnation of the Guardians from his own dimension. Before Mark leaves, the future Eve confesses her feelings to him. The Immortal discovers that the original Kate is alive and in hiding and reunites with her while two archaeologists uncover the tomb of Ka-Hor. At the urging of Eve's future self, Mark meets with Eve, but is unable to admit his feelings for her. Allen is sent to a Viltrumite prison where Nolan is being held and proposes he join the fight against them. Nolan admits guilt for his actions and that he misses his wife Debbie. ||||||

## Production
### Casting

The second season of Invincible features a blend of returning characters and new additions to its voice cast. Steven Yeun reprises his role as Mark Grayson / Invincible, with Sandra Oh as Debbie Grayson and J. K. Simmons as Nolan Grayson / Omni-Man. Gillian Jacobs returns as Samantha Eve Wilkins / Atom Eve, and Walton Goggins continues as Cecil Stedman.
The season introduces new characters, notably Sterling K. Brown voicing Angstrom Levy, a villain with the ability to traverse dimensions. Jay Pharoah joins as Bulletproof, a superhero with invulnerability and flight capabilities, while Ben Schwartz voices Shapesmith, a Martian shapeshifter. Additional cast members include Clancy Brown as General Kregg, a high-ranking Viltrumite, and Shantel VanSanten as Anissa, a Viltrumite warrior. Seth Rogen returns as Allen the Alien, and Michael Dorn reprises his role as Battle Beast.

### Writing

The second season expands on the narrative established in its first season, exploring complex character arcs and introducing new storylines that challenge protagonist Mark Grayson. Led by showrunner Simon Racioppa, the writing team aimed to balance action sequences with emotional depth, ensuring that each episode contributes to character development and overarching plotlines.
The season examines themes of identity, legacy, and moral ambiguity, with Mark confronting the aftermath of his father Omni-Man's betrayal and his fears of inheriting his violent tendencies. This internal conflict is reflected in his external battles, particularly with the new antagonist Angstrom Levy, whose introduction brings a multiversal element to the story and serves as a catalyst for Mark's growth, presenting both physical and psychological challenges.
The season also focuses on evolving relationships, especially between Mark and his mother, Debbie, whose trauma and resilience after Omni-Man's departure are explored in depth. The series further examines Mark's relationships with Atom Eve and Amber, highlighting the challenges of balancing personal connections with superhero responsibilities. While remaining faithful to its comic book origins, the series takes creative liberties by reordering events and expanding certain plot points to enhance narrative depth and emotional impact for both new viewers and long-time fans.
The writing process involved collaboration among writers, voice actors, and directors to create a cohesive narrative. Racioppa emphasized the importance of portraying characters as real individuals, allowing their genuine emotions and reactions to drive the story, despite the series' fantastical superhero setting.

### Filming

The production faced challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused delays and required the team to rebuild and restart the "factory" of the show. On November 1, 2023, following the conclusion of Invincible''s first season, co-showrunner Simon Racioppa talked about how it differs from the source comics. and announced that a second season was going to be different, that fans should not expect to see in the season, saying "hope[s] our fans get to see everything they're looking forward to in the new season."

### Character development

The season's R-rating, received some criticism from viewers, which showrunner Simon Racioppa addressed in a November 2023 interview with The Direct.
   We're always like, 'What are the real reactions?' or 'What really would happen in the scenario if you had these super-powered characters ... fighting someone who's not superpowered?' Like, they would explode, if [they] got hit. If Superman punched you, you would explode. That's just kind of like what would happen. So we try to proceed from there.
Racioppa explained that the increased violence and gore compared to Season 1 were intentional but not gratuitous, emphasizing that character development and narrative conflict remained the primary focus. He noted that this approach allowed the action scenes to escalate naturally, with emotional stakes driving the intensity of the violence.

### Animation style and techniques

In the second season, the production team reduced the use of CGI, opting for more traditional hand-drawn animation methods. This shift aimed to enhance the series' visual authenticity and align it more closely with classic animation aesthetics. Marge Dean, Head of Animation at Skybound Entertainment, noted, "Quite a lot [of CG animation] was used in Season 1... We still use an element of CG... but, ultimately, the background is drawn into the animation."
The transition to traditional animation, while artistically significant, introduced challenges due to the labor-intensive nature of hand-drawn techniques, contributing to the two-year gap between the first and second seasons. Series creator Robert Kirkman noted that producing hour-long animated episodes with numerous characters and settings added to the complexity and extended production timelines.

### Sound design enhancements

Season 2 features an emphasis on immersive sound design, with the sound team at Boom Box Post creating audio elements to enhance both action sequences and emotional moments. The team incorporated sound effects, such as blending cannon blasts with 808 kick drum samples, to heighten the impact of fight scenes aimed to add depth to the storytelling and enhance the overall viewing experience.

### Music

Raveena Aurora returned to compose the score for the second season. In 2023, The Royals and Radiohead were also confirmed to contribute to the soundtrack. The season's soundtrack features several artists, including Chair Model, Speelburg, Mac Albrecht & Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg, RF Shannon, Julianna Barwick, Nick Cave, Blondshell, Zoe Boekbinder, Run the Jewels, N3W N3W & SYDNY, Olivia Wendel, Bad Nerves, Aidan Knight, Woolly Music, That Kid CG, K-Lab,d4vd, Ethel Cain, Fatboy Slim, and Michael Kiwanuka.
All music is composed by Various artists

## Release

The second season of Invincible was released in two parts on Amazon Prime Video. The first part premiered on November 3, 2023, with subsequent episodes released weekly until November 24, 2023. The second part began on March 14, 2024, and concluded on April 4, 2024.
Co-showrunner Simon Racioppa stated that while this was not the initial plan, production challenges, including delays related to the COVID-19 pandemic, led to the decision in order to avoid further postponing the release of episodes. Creator Robert Kirkman also indicated that the mid-season break was scheduled to coincide with the holiday season, providing viewers time to reflect on key plot developments and helping the series maintain visibility during a period with numerous competing releases.
At San Diego Comic-Con in July 2024, Invincible creator Robert Kirkman announced that Amazon Prime has officially renewed series for a fourth season. This announcement came shortly after the conclusion of the two-part second season in April 2024. Kirkman also unveiled a new blue-and-black costume for the protagonist, Mark Grayson, which is set to debut in Season 3, symbolizing a darker phase in the character's journey.

## Reception
### Audience viewership

Viewership data for the second season increased substantially compared to its first season, with reports indicating that the season premiere attracted approximately three times the opening weekend audience of the first season.

### Critical response

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes calculated that 100% approval rating based on 42 reviews were positive and the average rating for the season was 8.4 out of 10. The website's critics consensus reads, highlights the show's vivid world-building and its ability to deliver impactful storytelling.
Critics have praised the series for its compelling character development, enhanced animation quality, and intense action sequences. Logan Moore of ComicBook.com notes, "Invincible continues to be one of the best and most unique superhero shows around." Similarly, Cooper Hood from Screen Rant emphasizes that the season "re-establishes itself as the best superhero show." However, some critiques have emerged. Valerie Ettenhofer of Film School Rejects mentions that while the season remains engaging, it occasionally feels "aimless" without a central antagonist like Omni-Man driving the narrative.
The season received a five-out-of-five-star rating from Leila Latif of The Guardian. In her review, Latif lauds the season as "far and away the best superhero show on television," highlighting its complex character development and intricate plotlines. She emphasizes the series' ability to balance "unhinged chaos" with moments of genuine emotional resonance, particularly in its exploration of family dynamics and personal growth. Latif also commends the show's satirical approach to traditional superhero narratives, noting its success in both critiquing and embracing genre conventions. She praises the voice performances, especially those of Steven Yeun, Sandra Oh, and J.K. Simmons, and appreciates the series' willingness to delve into darker, more mature themes while maintaining a sense of humor and wit. Overall, Latif's review underscores Invincible's triumph in delivering a fresh and compelling take on the superhero genre. Saloni Gajjar of The A.V. Club characterized the four new episodes of Invincible Season 2, Part 2 as containing notable action sequences and plot developments, suggesting they may appeal to both new viewers and fans of the original comic series. Gajjar highlighted the show's animation for its portrayal of action scenes and discussed its balance between graphic violence and character-focused storytelling. She also noted the development of central characters, particularly Mark Grayson, as they navigate moral dilemmas and personal challenges. Gajjar concluded that the second part of Season 2 maintains the series' combination of action and narrative complexity. Charles Pulliam-Moore, of The Verge, reviewed the second season of Invincible as a thoughtful step toward a bigger universe." In his review, Pulliam-Moore discusses how the season aligns with Hollywood's current interest in multiverse narratives, while staying true to its comic book origins. He notes that the series expands its universe thoughtfully, introducing new characters and plotlines that enrich the overarching story. Pulliam-Moore also comments on the show's animation quality and its approach to balancing action with character development. Overall, he views the second season as a significant progression that sets the stage for future developments in the series. Sam Stone, of Comic Book Resources (CBR), gave the season a score of 9 out of 10. In the review, Stone discusses the series' return after a two-year hiatus, noting that the new episodes delve deeper into the emotional complexities of the characters, particularly focusing on Mark Grayson's trauma and guilt following the events of the first season. Stone observes that the season explores themes of responsibility and the personal toll of superhero life, comparing Mark's journey to that of Spider-Man. The review also highlights the show's balance between intense action sequences and character-driven storytelling, as well as its expansion of the ensemble cast, giving more depth to fan-favorite characters like Atom Eve. Stone concludes that Invincible's second season maintains its high-quality animation and voice acting, successfully continuing the series' blend of superhero spectacle and emotional depth. Siddhant Adlakha of IGN reviewed Invincible Season 2 positively, noting its emotional depth and character-focused storytelling. He emphasized the season's balance between action and introspection, especially as characters like Mark Grayson face internal struggles. Despite occasional narrative disarray, Adlakha highlighted the show's strongest elements, particularly the compelling dynamics between Mark, Debbie, and Nolan. He concluded that while the series sometimes gets overwhelmed by its scope, it excels when focusing on its central family's complexities.

### Accolades

Sterling K. Brown received a nomination for Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance at the 76th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards for his portrayal of Angstrom Levy in the episode "I Thought You Were Stronger".
Additionally, the season was nominated for Best Animated Series at the 2025 Critics' Choice Television Awards. The series also earned a nomination for Outstanding Achievement for Storyboarding in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production at the 2025 Annie Awards.