Invincible season 2 episode 6: 5 key differences between the comic and the TV show

The second half of Invincible season 2 began with an average episode. It lacked the flair and emotion the program usually has, especially for a midseason premiere. Thankfully, episode 6 is better. It helped that Mark Grayson (Invincible) improved as a hero. 

Mark had his first world-saving win when he helped defeat the Sequids, but that was just the beginning. He started that by standing up to Immortal. Before leaving for Thraxa, he would have stood down in a stiuation like this. The faith in himself came from his fight on Thraxa in season 2, episode 4. Despite losing the fight, Mark saw his potential. It’s a moment that the show didn’t change from the comics. 

Episode 6 changed things up from the source material. Unlike the previous episodes, some of these didn’t make sense. Here are the five biggest switches from Image Comics’ Invincible and whether the changes were good or poor. Hopefully, the weird alterations will connect as the story continues. 

*** WARNING! SPOILERS FOR POTENTIAL FUTURE SEASONS OF INVINCIBLE! ***

Rex the hero

In the comic books, Rex Splode is shot by the leader of the Lizard League (King Lizard) and he recovers. The same thing happens on the show. However, the scene on the Prime Video series was better.

Rex looked more heroic in the situation. It wasn’t him knocking King Lizard down and falling on him that suggested this; Rex knocked him out and stomped on his head. This was an improvement. Rex needed a moment like this and the creative team delivered.

Rudy, Eve, and the Sequids

In last week's episode breakdowns, I mentioned that Atom Eve and Rudy (Robot) weren’t controlled by the Sequids in Image Comics’ Invincible. However, they were during the show. It seemed like something big was going to happen here. Unfortunately, it didn’t. Mark pressed the button on Rudy’s device and the Sequids fell off them.

This added nothing to the episode or the story. There was no internal or physical struggle. If the point was to prove that the Sequids wouldn’t quit, that was shown towards the end of the episode when one came out of Rus Livingston’s mouth.

Shrinking Rae survived 

When Komodo Dragon ate Shrinking Rae in the comics, he died. In the Amazon Prime Video series, however, Shrinking Rae lived. This one was an unexpected change, and it's hard to know where the show is going to go with this alteration.

As of now, this doesn’t improve the story. Rae dying with Dupli-Kate made for an incredibly emotional moment. Knowing that she survives (and that Kate is still alive) takes away from the moment on the show. 

Angstrom Levy

The last part of Invincible season 2 episode 6 shows Angstrom Levy returning to his Earth. In the comics, his fight with Mark happened before his battle with the Sequids. On the series, it's happening after.

That may not seem like a big deal, but it is. Mark is about to get another bad beating after a huge win, and this could very well hurt the way viewers see Invincible as a hero. Can he afford to take a loss right after such a victory? Granted, it makes Angstrom Levy look strong so it’s not a total loss. 

Amber talks to Eve

When Mark and Amber decide what’s next in the source material, Amber doesn’t go to Eve. The creative team for the show decided to change that and it made the scene great.

Seeing Eve do what she thinks is best for Mark was a great moment - both for the show and the character. It shows that she loves him. At times, the comics made her look petty and selfish. Could this mean Mark and Amber’s breakup will be different on the series? Or maybe they won't separate at all. We'll have to wait and see.

Stay tuned to Bam Smack Pow to find out what’s next for Invincible.