Invincible season 3 review: "Bigger, better, faster, stronger"

Invincible season 3 is bigger, better, faster, stronger. But don't take my word for it. The new season of the animated Prime Video series tells us this immediately with a lightning-quick training montage as Mark, fresh off the twin shocks of Angstrom Levy's death and Anissa's sudden arrival on Earth, sets about becoming the best version of himself. The mission statement, then, is clear from the outset: this isn't a year creator Robert Kirkman and company want to waste.

But it's Mark's bloodsplattered disposal of his nemesis, not any Viltrumite threat, that sets in motion a terse, paranoid season that sees Invincible's situation souring quickly on some fronts. As friends rapidly turn into foes, he becomes more erratic and aggressive.

Unlike other Amazon superhero series The Boys, it's immediately noticeable that Invincible doesn't pull any punches this year with shaking up the status quo. Case in point: Mark (Steven Yeun) frequently butts heads with Global Defense Agency director Cecil (Walton Goggins) as their warring philosophies threaten to tear apart more than just a frosty working relationship, while the season's underlying theme – metamorphosis – is only further pushed forward by the exponential growth of new half-brother Oliver.

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"You can be the good guy or the guy who saves the world. You can't be both," Cecil spits during the show's electric opening three episodes (a towering tone-setter, wisely batched together for release this week on Prime Video).

It's not an especially new thread for superhero stories to pull on, but it's helped immensely here by two things: Mark ditching the yellow costume and entering his blue suit era (comic fans know only too well what a portent of doom that is) and a far more distinct, refined approach to its storytelling.

Power play

This season, every single episode either comes bundled with a great villain-of-the-week that meaningfully progresses Mark's arc or involves a killer high concept hook. They include dealing with Powerplex (Aaron Paul, whose presence only swells Invincible's roster of incredible talent), a new figure who holds a personal vendetta against Invincible. There's even development to be found as Mark battles against the power vacuum left behind by Machinehead in Chicago, the sort of scenario that would often feel isolated and skippable in previous seasons.

Everything here is in service of Mark's struggles – and occasional failures – in juggling being a brother, son, and a hero. That's not to say other supporting characters fade into becoming background noise, but the creative team's decision to rein everything else in slightly so it can properly tell Mark's story is only a net positive for Invincible in season 3.

The show's renewed focus on its main story means that when Invincible does take narrative detours, they feel more impactful – such as the surprisingly powerful and risky dialogue-free cold open charting the rise and fall of two villains, or the standout second episode that delves into Cecil's backstory in a frenetic 45 minutes to understand what makes the shadowy GDA director tick.

The only downside to the scattershot approach is that there are several plotlines that could have warranted multiple episodes, with Mark's brief foray away from his usual surroundings into completely uncharted territory – one we aren't at liberty to spoil here – being something that could have been explored further. However, that fast-moving attitude ensures nothing outstays its welcome: Invincible season 3 is all killer and no filler.

Art Attack

If the first season was about Mark's first tentative steps as a hero and the second season was about flying as far away from his father's long shadow as possible, season 3 finally digs into the person Mark wants to become – and it's all the better for it. Every interaction with Eve (Gillian Jacobs), The Guardians, and a rogues' gallery filled with fresh and familiar faces alike carry more emotional weight because of how increasingly comfortable the show gets in poking away at Mark's flaws.

Despite its step up in storytelling, however, there are still some nits to pick when it comes to Invincible. Yes, the animation still doesn't stack up when placed alongside best-in-class examples such as Demon Slayer's furiously-drawn cacophonies of color. But there is a marked improvement this year, with a handful of big set-pieces being evidence enough of a real step up in quality. At some point, viewers will have to admit defeat on this front: the style is ultimately chained to the comic book aesthetic, even if it's at the expense of allowing its artists to cut loose and treat viewers to a real spectacle.

The main thing that sticks in the craw is the show's continued lack of urgency in some areas. While nothing ruinous, the six episodes we were given for review still features Omni-Man tiptoeing towards an inevitable escape and return to Earth, while Anissa is a surprise non-factor. While understandable given how closely it's following parts of its source material, Invincible failing to capitalize on her devastating debut last season is a slight disappointment.

Invincible season 3, though, is a show operating at the peak of its powers. The rapid pacing, improved animation, and Mark's own development has supercharged the Amazon series beyond even its formidable first two seasons. A full, uninterrupted run of episodes does wonders, too – and ensures whoever was responsible for splitting the second seasons across two calendar years won't be making that same mistake again.

Now, if it can stick the landing in the final two episodes (and hopefully feature Omni-Man finally heading back to Earth), we could be looking at an early contender for one of the year's best shows. Forget leaping buildings in a single bound, the sky is the limit if Invincible continues on this trajectory.

Invincible season 3 is streaming weekly on Prime Video from February 6. Never miss an episode with our Invincible season 3 release schedule.

For more, check out our picks for the best shows on Prime Video and best movies on Prime Video.