Invincible is an adult animated superhero series that has heroes that share similar appearances and powers to the ones in DC and Marvel. So, is Invincible Marvel or DC? Is it set in the same universe with Marvel or DC? Here’s what we know.
RELATED: Who Does Mark Grayson End Up With in Invincible?
Is Invincible DC or Marvel?
Invincible is neither Marvel nor DC. Like Amazon’s The Boys, Invincible is a superhero parody series.
The Invincible animated series is based on a comic book series of the same name by Robert Kirkman, Cory Walker, and Ryan Ottley. The comic book series was published by Image Comics and is set in the Image Universe.
But while it is not Marvel or DC, Invincible did have a crossover with both the Marvel and DC Universes. In Invincible #33, Mark travels through the multiverse and meets Spider-Man and Batman.
Invincible began publication in 2003 and concluded in 2018, with 144 issues. The comic book series then got an animated television adaptation, the first season of which came out in 2021 on Amazon Prime Video.
And ahead of the first season’s finale, Invincible was already renewed for a second and third season.
READ MORE: MCU’s vs. DCU’s Multiverse: 5 Biggest Differences in Both Franchises
Invincible Characters and Their DC and Marvel Counterparts
Omni-Man, the most powerful superhero on Earth, is based on Superman. The original Guardians of the Globe was a parody of DC’s Justice League of America.
The original team included Darkwing (based on Batman), War Woman (based on Wonder Woman), Aquarus (based on Aquaman), Red Rush (based on The Flash), Green Ghost (based on Green Lantern), Martian Man (based on Marian Manhunter), and The Immortal (has some resemblance to Superman, while also having a background similar to Vandal Savage).
On the Marvel side, Rex Splode is based on the X-Men’s Gambit, Shrinking Rae is based on Ant-Man, and Monster Girl is based on The Hulk. War Woman of the Guardians of the Globe also has some elements of Thor.
The name “Guardians of the Globe” is clearly also a reference to Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy”, while the Teen Team is a reference to DC’s Teen Titans.
But again, while Invincible is filled with Marvel and DC references, it does not belong to either the Marvel or DC Universe.
Its differences from both franchises, anyway, are clear. Like The Boys, Invincible is darker, and it is filled with violent scenes. It is a superhero series, but it’s not one that is aimed at a younger audience.
READ NEXT: Invincible: Who Dies and Who Survives?
Explore new topics and discover content that's right for you!