Invincible season 2, part 2 is an epic, action-packed rollercoaster of emotion

Last year, Amazon premiered the second season of Invincible, based on the superhero comic by Robert Kirkman. The episodes were solid, but we only got to watch four before the show went on break again. My biggest criticism was that while these episodes set up lots of Earth-shattering events that never really happened. We were left waiting for months for some kind of payoff.

The payoff is here. The back half of Invincible season 2 starts airing next week, and this is where things really begin to take off!

If we cast our minds back, you'll remember that the first half of season 2 introduced us to a few exciting storylines. Firstly, the superhero Omni-Man was captured by the Viltrumite aliens as punishment for his treason against his own people, and his son Mark inherited his mission to prime Earth for Viltrumite takeover. Meanwhile, the Sequids from Mars are preparing to invade Earth, a storyline that started back in season 1 after humanity stepped foot on the Red Planet for the first time. And then there's Mark's run-in with multiverse-hopping supervillain Angstrom Levy, his archenemy.

All of these ongoing storylines feature in the season 2 part 2, and each involves a spectacular, epic battle. I very much enjoyed Mark's encounter with Angstrom Levy. The show utilises the multiverse concept in a way that doesn't feel too jarring, keeping the focus solely on Mark and his enemy; although naturally, they do have some fun with playing around in different dimensions. Sometimes (without naming names), multiverse story arcs can be so ambitious that they distract from the overall plot. But not so here.

Plus, when the threat level increases, we get more Avengers-like situations where the Guardians of the Globe team up. The hive-minded, parasitic Sequids are a brilliant enemy, providing plenty of spectacular action sequences.

However, surprisingly, the show still has room to develop its characters. I particularly liked the interactions between Rudy and Monster Girl; comic readers will know that they have a larger story going forward. We also get a more grounded story about the mental struggles of part-human, mostly-android Donald as he tries to figure out his place in the world. A lot of superhero projects brush over the psychological aspects of their stories, and I have a lot of respect for Invincible for not glossing over these scenarios.

Another big part of the plot involves Mark's half-brother, the son of Omni-Man and his new Thraxan paramour Andrissa. Because Mark's brother has Viltrumite blood, he may live for thousands of years, as opposed to the mere months most Thraxans last. Since Omni-Man has been captured, Andrissa decrees that Mark takes his brother back to Earth so he can live a full life. Watching Mark trying to care for his rapidly-growing brother is a super fun aspect of the show.

The show doesn't get bogged down in tying up loose ends from the first four episodes, either. It moves forward at a rapid pace, constantly teasing and preparing itself for the next thing, keeping me invested. There always seems to be something bigger and more dangerous around the corner.

Verdict

Invincible season 2, part 2 is every bit the epic conclusion we all hoped for. After years of waiting, it most definitely lives up to expectations. It manages to squeeze every bit of story out of these characters while balancing a hell of a lot of plot devices and story arcs, and yet still feels cohesive. It doesn't hold back its punches, either. The world of Invincible is as brutal and surprising as its ever been!

Grade: A

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