WARNING: The following contains spoilers for current and potential spoilers Invincible, streaming now on Amazon Prime Video.
Over the course of its first season, Amazon Prime Video’s Invincible has made many changes made from the Image Comics title that help update it for a modern audience. The way the Guardians of the Globe are initially killed, then rebuilt, is a prime example, as well as Robot’s sinister intentions or changes to make Mark Grayson and his world more diverse.
In its adaptation of Robert Kirkman and Cory Walker’s early Invincible tales, the show also made a key alteration to how Mark got his superhero name. While seemingly innocuous, this a particularly interesting one as it makes sure the series’ signature betrayal will sting even more.
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In Invincible #1, Mark struggled with not being popular in school and anxiety over not having powers. Thankfully, they did when he accidentally tossed the trash away at his restaurant job miles into the sky. Eventually, Mark’s dad, Nolan/Omni-Man, started training him and took him to Art for a costume fitting.
However, Mark didn’t like his suit that much and he didn’t have a nickname in mind. But the next day at school, he got inspiration for the moniker when he spotted a bully at school. Mark intervened and slammed him into a locker, only to get caught by a school official. He was reprimanded by Principal Winslow, who did like Mark as he was a good kid. He commended him but warned Mark to stay out of trouble because as principal, he had to protect all the kids at school. More so, he told Mark don’t intervene in such bullying cases, as he’s not “invincible.” Hearing this, Mark decided who he wanted to be, which resulted in Art crafting him his iconic blue and yellow suit so he could go stop some robbers.
Mark comes about his name very differently on the cartoon, and Winslow has nothing to do with it. Instead, it comes when Mark and Nolan are catching a baseball high up in the sky. Nolan wants him to keep his composure as he uses his powers, making it clear kids his age think they can do anything and this could backfire. The father then says, in Mark’s case, he actually is invincible, which is why he needs to be careful. Mark’s eyes open wide and he rushes over to Art later on with the name, which is then followed by him in the suit overlooking the city and waiting for trouble.
This is a more emotional spin on the big moment because there’s a lot more sentiment in his dad giving him the moniker, even if by accident. Nolan as such a key part of his career kicking off also will make it difficult for when Mark has to fight him whenever he realizes that his dad killed the Guardians.
At that point, Mark would know he has to stop his dad to save the world and he might then be under the impression everything he is may well mean nothing due to the betrayal and shattered trust. In other words, it’s more than just a name coming from Nolan, and if his dad’s evil, then maybe Mark might think he’s meant to be the same too.
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