6 Ways Invincible Season 4’s Hell Episode Rewrites The Comics

Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Invincible season 4, episode 4, “Hurm.”

Fans of the original Invincible comic book have praised the Prime Video series as a near-perfect adaptation, staying true to the story while improving on some of its earlier parts. Season 4 of Invincible is already using storylines directly from the comics, and it seems likely to continue doing so for the rest of the season.

It was expected that the animated series would differ from the original comics in terms of how things were presented and what characters said. However, this also gave the show an opportunity to refine certain elements. Because the comics began in the early 2000s, some topics were more sensitive at the time, and the TV series was able to address those moments with a fresh perspective.

Recently, a scene in Invincible featuring Mark and Atom Eve’s father was revised to better showcase the father’s imperfections, while toning down some of the more unpleasant details. Fortunately, the show wasn’t limited to just changes – Robert Kirkman was also able to include brand new storylines that he had previously cut from the project.

Mark’s journey to Hell in the “Hurm” arc felt brand new for fans of Invincible, but it ended up being incredibly significant. It deepened the main character’s story and greatly expanded the series’ backstory, even changing elements of the original comic book.

The Devil Protects Earth From A Powerful Breed Of Monster

Okay, so Damien Darkblood movies have always hinted at Hell being real, but in the latest one, we really get a look at what it’s all about. My jaw dropped when Mark got dragged down there! He immediately went for Satan, thinking he was supposed to fight him, which was hilarious because he couldn’t have been more wrong. It turns out there’s a bigger purpose to Hell than just being, you know, Hell, and Satan’s role is way more complex than just being the bad guy. It completely flipped my expectations!

Damien wasn’t interested in fighting; he needed Invincible to help him get back Satan’s crown so he could regain his power. Damien is actually the one tasked with protecting Earth. As revealed in Invincible season 3, demons live in Hell, but an even more dangerous race called the Vial also resides there. The Vial used to rule the planet before the demons forced them into the Under Realm.

Damien describes these beings as horrible and immortal. However, they weren’t destroyed, but instead contained and weakened within Hell, mostly through the Devil’s efforts. While demons enjoy inflicting endless pain, this imprisonment also protects the world above from these incredibly powerful creatures, suggesting that even Satan has some redeeming qualities in the Invincible story.

Volcanikka says she’s defeated Satan on two occasions, suggesting a long-standing conflict. However, the show uniquely reveals that despite this, the Devil ultimately holds power and is, surprisingly, partially responsible for safeguarding Earth.

Invincible’s Earth Is Currently In Its Sixth Age

A significant change from the comic books is the show’s confirmation that Earth is now in its sixth age. Though the characters in Invincible don’t usually dwell on the past, the presence of strange monsters has always seemed odd, and this new information offers a possible explanation: alien lifeforms.

Damien Darkblood believes these creatures aren’t monsters at all, but rather the descendants of those who lived during Earth’s second age—a time when even larger creatures roamed the planet. The Vial, a chaotic race, ruled during the fourth age and continued to exist into the fifth, where they began a war with demons.

Before humans (and likely animals) existed, demons ruled the Earth for a fifth age. It’s possible some were even present in earlier times. Interestingly, Damien has avoided discussing the third age, leaving a gap in the show’s history of Earth. We might learn more about this mysterious period later on.

The show expands on the world much more than the original comic did. The comic didn’t cover these details, likely because the creator, Robert Kirkman, decided to move away from that particular plotline.

Damien Darkblood Is Now Investigating Something For Satan

Even in its first season, the animated series Invincible showed it was taking the character of Damien Darkblood more seriously than the original comics. The show portrayed him as a skilled detective, a significant departure from his comic book version. He nearly uncovered Omni-Man’s attacks on the Guardians of the Globe before being sent back to Hell.

The demon was a small, mostly comedic character in the original story, so we thought that was the end of him. But surprisingly, he came back and became a key player, even getting his own story, ‘Herm,’ which sent him off on a brand new adventure.

After helping Satan reclaim Hell, he’s returned to the world, but his freedom comes with a condition. Instead of resuming his normal life as an impartial detective, he’s now tasked with figuring out what humans are doing to make Volcanikka so furious, suggesting this story isn’t over yet.

The Devil hinted at coming back to Earth, but Damien didn’t seem happy about it, admitting he was scared. Because this storyline wasn’t in the original comics, the possibilities are endless, which makes it even more interesting.

The Viltrumites Aren’t Earth’s Only Otherworldly Threat

The show Invincible has introduced weapons that can actually harm the Viltrumites, who were previously considered the most dangerous enemies. However, a recent development, hinted at by the character ‘Hurm,’ suggests Earth faces threats beyond just the Viltrumites. Characters like Battle Beast, Allen the Alien, and Tech Jacket have always been powerful, non-Earthling, non-Viltrumite fighters, and now it seems they represent a larger group of potential adversaries.

Now we know the Under Realm harbors a dangerous species called the Vial, capable of threatening the entire planet. While they didn’t feature prominently in season 4, episode 4, Damien Darkblood suggests they are incredibly powerful and pose a serious threat when at full strength.

As a huge fan, I was completely blown away by Volcanikka. She’s a total powerhouse, single-handedly taking down demons left and right, and even hurt Satan, which is incredible! It got me thinking – if she manages to bring her army, the Vials – a new addition not seen in the comics, by the way – to the surface, things could get seriously complicated for everyone.

The Immortal Isn’t Invincible’s Only Unkillable Character

Regarding Volcanikka, the recent animated show Invincible revealed she’s also unable to be killed, similar to the Immortal. Although Volcanikka appears in the original comic books, her part is much smaller, and the show expands on her character significantly. We now understand that neither she nor the Vial can be destroyed.

Even after taking devastating attacks, including one that seemed to completely destroy her head, Volcanikka quickly healed. Unlike the Immortal, who can be defeated by separating his limbs and preventing him from waking up, this tactic won’t work against Volcanikka because her body is made of lava.

Okay, so this villain is tough. Like, seriously tough. We’re probably going to find out she has a weakness eventually – the story practically demands it, considering she seems set to keep coming back. But right now, her ability to heal from anything makes her one of the hardest characters to put down in Invincible. It’s funny, because even the incredibly powerful Viltrumites, as scary as they are, can be killed. That actually makes them a little less terrifying in the long run, because at least there’s a way to permanently deal with them. This villain? She feels different. She feels… endless.

The show’s portrayal of Volcanikka suggests she’s effectively immortal, making her a much more compelling character than her relatively obscure comic book counterpart.

Damien Darkblood Is Much More Important In Invincible’s TV Show

The Invincible TV show not only developed Damien as a more intelligent and thoughtful character, but also changed the story from the comics by giving the demon a crucial role in Mark’s development. Mark’s experience in Hell was a turning point, showing him he could still do good even in a place of pure evil, which ultimately led to him returning to his classic costume in Invincible season 4.

He’s already demonstrated he can handle Omni-Man, making him a potentially great partner for future investigations. Plus, his recent experiences hint he’ll be caught up in the possible demon invasion on Earth, which will likely test his values and allegiances.

Even with limited appearances in the future, this character plays a far larger role in the Prime Video series Invincible than he did in the original comic books. Expanding his character has proven to be a good choice, and these changes have made him a more memorable figure.

2026-03-26 00:01