Invincible has become known as an animated superhero behemoth that beholds a variety of fascinating characters, many with superhero powers or tendencies. With the sometimes absurd story and the wealth of intriguing characters, the protagonist Mark Grayson, known by his superhero alter ego, Invincible, acts as the lifeblood of Invincible, giving space for all characters to exist and thrive.
As a protagonist, Mark has many qualities that make him stand out in the genre. In particular, Mark’s engrossing dual life as a young adult exploring romantic endeavors, family conflict, and facing off against villainous threats sees the half-human, half-Viltrumite superhero display his starring traits while overcoming the many challenges that come his way.
Cares Deeply For His Family And Friends
Mark Always Commits To Those Closest To Him
While the superhero life uproots his family dynamics with the tyranny of his father, Omni-Man, and the addition of his younger brother, Oliver Grayson, Mark tries his best to support those closest to him. Like Mark, his mother, Debbie Grayson, endures hardship and pain, with her son supporting her throughout their tumultuous situation. When it comes to friendship, Mark has always tried his hardest to keep William, Amber, and Atom Eve safe from the villainy that affects Mark daily.
Despite his superhero work seeping into his complicated personal life, Mark moves heaven and earth to protect those whom he loves, even at the risk of his own life. Even after his father betrays the planet and pulverizes his son, Mark still has some affection in his heart for his father, showing Mark to be a considerate and compassionate kid underneath all the baggage.
Not The Finished Article As A Superhero
Still Learning And Developing As Invincible
By Season 3, Invincible has become recognized as Earth’s mightiest hero, the planet’s best hope against the Viltrum Empire. However, despite his status, Mark has a long way to go to overcome the looming threat that has already shattered Mark and the planet’s spirit. While essentially being overpowered due to being part Viltrumite, Mark is significantly a ways off from taking on and defeating his father’s people, with his duels with Omni-Man and Anissa showing the gulf in class and experience.
Even against non-Viltrumites, Mark has had trouble against the likes of the Battle Beast and Angstrom Levy, among others, illustrating at this point in Invincible that Earth’s greatest hope is still developing his trade.
Good-Hearted Hero
The Superhero’s Heart Is In The Right Place
Ever since Mark was first introduced, it has been clear the young protagonist has always been kind and good as gold at the core of his being, even as the development of being a superhero takes its toll on the character. Blessed with a pleasant upbringing that saw his mother and father being there to guide him, Mark always tries to do right in most situations.
Whether it’s defending the earth from intergalactic species or being a responsible big brother to Oliver, Mark’s sweet and protective attitude becomes apparent throughout the three seasons as he grows into an adult. While fighting villains threatening peace, Mark often tries to understand their grievances, showing empathy toward antagonists such as Powerplex and Titan, with the superhero’s innate sense of care coming through in many circumstances.
4Relatable Young Adult Who Tries To Live His Life
Mark Has Been Involved In Love, Friendships, And School, All Experiences That Make Him Relatable Despite The Disturbances Of Being Invincible
Despite living the superhero life, Mark undergoes many experiences audiences can relate to as he tries to stay grounded. Mark’s attempts to live an everyday adolescent life prove difficult. However, Mark engages in many quintessential teenage experiences, such as romantic relationships filled with awkward moments and a sense of innocence, cultivating a reliable friend group, and dealing with the transition from high school to the daunting world of college.
While all these experiences Mark tries to enjoy are often negated by his Invincible activities, Mark’s daily struggles with his work-life balance and the self-doubt that surrounds him make Mark appear more human, relating to the masses despite his impressive superpowers.
5Emotional Immaturity Allows For Growth
Mark’s Adolescence Years See The Superhero Not Always Making The Right Call, Allowing The Character To Have Depth
Due to Mark only gaining his powers in high school, the superhero prodigy starts developing his abilities and persona in a period that often sees teenagers becoming emotionally immature, with Mark not being an exception. Thanks to his chaotic lifestyle that sees romance, family troubles, and constant violence revolving around Mark, the character becomes easily frustrated and emotionally vulnerable, often leading to incorrect decisions that cloud his judgment.
Despite the brilliant similarities between characters from the Invincible comic to the show, the latter does make some improvements.
For his character growth, many of Mark’s mishaps only serve to make the character stronger, with his many good and bad experiences, such as his failing to protect William and Rick from D.A. Sinclair and his choice to stay with Eve instead of fighting the different variants of Invincible, giving the compelling character more depth. In Season 3, Mark’s current predicament with Cecil Stedman over his freedom and superhero activities sees an enraged Mark lose control, adding another dimension to the protagonist as he navigates complicated relationships that intervene with his life dramatically.
6Traumatic Events Only Make Invincible Stronger
Mark Has Always Bounced Back From Turmoil And Defeat
Throughout Invincible, Mark suffers a tremendous amount, whether it’s physical or mental pain or his friends and family being victims of attacks linked to him. While many protagonists may fail to recover from such traumatic situations that continually plague their lives, Mark, while struggling emotionally, always manages to fight on despite the despair that often comes his way.
After such devastating losses to Battle Beast, Anissa, Omni-Man, and a taxing battle against Levy, Mark perseveres, depicting remarkable resilience in the face of adversity that the character has become accustomed to in his arduous journey. Even at such a young age, Mark returns to the fold more determined than ever to do his superhero duties, stronger than before, to bring justice and goodwill to the world and the universe.
