A Parent's Guide to Invincible: Is the Animated Series Suitable for Kids?

Considering its status as an animated superhero series, some might question whether Invincible is appropriate for a younger audience. In recent decades, adult animation has seen a surge in popularity, with shows like South Park, Family Guy, and Rick and Morty demonstrating the profitability of cartoons geared towards adults. Additionally, acclaimed hits such as Bojack Horseman, The Venture Bros, and Undone have shown that adult animation is not limited to lighthearted comedies. However, this flourishing of adult animation has left some viewers unaware of its recent rise to prominence.

For those unfamiliar with the source material, Invincible's second season may seem like suitable entertainment for children. The series follows the story of a seventeen-year-old boy coming to terms with his father's legacy as a superhero, presenting an animated coming-of-age tale. Invincible cleverly satirizes the typical tropes of the superhero genre, with the naive protagonist discovering that his father, a Superman-esque hero known as Omni-Man, may not possess the flawless reputation he appears to have. Simultaneously, the protagonist begins to develop powers of his own. While this premise could easily lend itself to a family-friendly superhero show, that is not the direction Invincible takes.

Invincible Has A TV-MA Rating On Prime Video

Invincible, an animated superhero series aimed at adults, competes with The Boys in terms of critical acclaim and success while also engaging in a battle for the title of the goriest and darkest show. As a result, Invincible is unsuitable for children. The show, based on a comic series co-created by Robert Kirkman, known for The Walking Dead, pushes the boundaries of onscreen gore beyond its predecessor.

From the very beginning, Invincible sets the tone with Omni-Man's savage murder of the Guardians of the Globe. The brutal deaths of the GDA's employees and the entire Flaxen race further demonstrate Omni-Man's willingness to massacre countless innocents. Even the fates of Robot and the Immortal make the deaths in The Boys seem relatively mild in comparison. The animated format allows Invincible to explore even more grotesque and horrifying visuals, while Kirkman's writing style adds an additional layer of darkness to the show's tone.

Why Invincible Isn't Suitable For Children

Invincible is replete with graphic violence, explicit sexual content, profanity, and the exploration of mature subjects, all of which are wholly inappropriate for young audiences. The culmination of these elements is witnessed in the season 1 finale, where Omni-Man ruthlessly employs Invincible as a tool to mercilessly slaughter numerous innocent individuals. Though this scene in itself is exceedingly brutal, its significance lies in the revelation that Invincible's own father is a genocidal creature, solidifying it as the most harrowing moment of the entire season. Regardless of how these themes are depicted, Invincible would never be suitable for younger viewers.