Why recording Invincible season 2 brought creator Robert Kirkman to tears

When it premiered in 2021, Amazon Prime Video’s Invincible instantly became one of the most talked-about superhero shows in the world, standing high and mighty alongside series from giants Marvel and DC. Written by acclaimed The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman, Invincible sets itself up as a classic superhero story…but also subverts the genre in ways only The Boys has achieved so far.

Given the lengthy process of animation, fans have been waiting a long time for new episodes, but later this year Invincible season 2, Volume 1 — consisting of four episodes — will drop on Prime Video. The second half of season 2 will air in early 2024.

Speaking about the process of making season 2, Robert Kirkman revealed that some of the voice recording sessions brought him to tears. Specifically, new cast member Peter Cullen, who’s best known for voicing Optimus Prime in both the animated and live-action Transformers projects, took Kirkman out. In season 2, Cullen voices Thaedus, a former Viltrumite who breaks away and forms the Coalition of Planets, which aim to take down the Viltrumite Empire.

Peter Cullen, the voice Optimus Prime, brought Invincible creator Robert Kirkman to tears

“Working with Peter Cullen was a huge test for my professionalism,” Kirkman told Polygon. “Just flat-out, every fiber of my being was screaming, ‘Don’t ask him about Optimus Prime. Don’t talk about Optimus Prime. What are you doing? Just be a professional, come on.’”

The fact that voice recording sessions were held over Zoom helped Kirkman hold it together. “And that was a godsend, because — you know, to say there were tears is embarrassing, but whatever, I’ll say it. Optimus Prime, big part of my life, you know?” Sounds like he would’ve melted if it was in-person. “I’ve been hearing Peter Cullen’s voice since I was like 7 years old. So to have him voicing the character he voices — it’s crazy to have written dialogue that’s coming out of his mouth. It’s really something else.”

Invincible season 2 will teach us more about the Viltrumite Empire, expanding the show’s universe massively. It also has a neat multiverse riff, and of course, plenty of threats await Mark Grayson on his home planet of Earth, too! New episodes drop on Amazon Prime Video on November 3. In the meantime, a one-shot story, Atom Eve, is available for streaming on Prime Video right now!

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