Invincible Season 3: Why Skipping Amber’s Dark Storyline is a Smart Move

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In the third season of Invincible, it seems they’re bypassing a crucial (and distressing) storyline about Amber from the source material – and that’s a positive decision.

In the initial season of Invincible, it became apparent that the show was deviating from the original comic book depiction, not just in Amber’s physical appearance and character traits, but also in her overall portrayal.

In Robert Kirkman’s initial narrative, Amber remains Mark’s primary significant love interest; however, she bears a striking contrast to the original character. While they share common plot points (Mark conceals his secret, Amber learns about it and accepts it, and eventually they part ways due to the stress of his superhero identity straining their relationship beyond repair), Amber seems less well-developed and appears more as an impediment in Mark’s path towards Eve.

Yet, several weeks following their split, Mark gets a worrying phone call from Amber. It seems that this plotline won’t be explored in the series, so brace yourselves.

Amber has an abusive boyfriend in the Invincible comics

In the Invincible comics, as Mark’s relationship with Amber deteriorates, Amber develops a friendship with a new acquaintance from college named Gary.

At a glance, he appears entirely innocent and friendly, even supportive; he’s not one to bail on plans at the eleventh hour because he has world-saving duties. However, in Issue #41, his persistence in questioning her loyalty towards Mark (“Where is this boyfriend of yours? And where am I?”) might seem a bit forceful. Yet, considering Mark’s tendency to be unreliable, it’s understandable.

In the game of life, I find myself in a situation detailed in Issue #56. Amber reaches out to me over the phone, seeking my assistance. Upon arriving at her place, I’m immediately struck by the sight of her eye – it’s swollen and bears visible bruises.

“My father died… [Gary] was so nice, but he’s got problems of his own,” she explains.

Gary was incredibly helpful, truly a wonderful individual with an empathetic nature. However, in my current situation, I found him to be the only person I felt comfortable confiding in. There are times when he gets upset, and I want to clarify that his anger wasn’t directed at me; it was just a momentary outburst, not intended maliciously.

In the heat of the moment, I’m seething with anger and swiftly dash towards him. Upon locating him, I hoist him precariously over the edge of a towering structure, making it clear that if he ever lays a finger on her again, there will be dire consequences.

Afterward, Mark returns to Amber’s residence. “I’ve just ended a call with Gary,” she tells him. “It seems you hadn’t managed to reach him, but there’s no need for you to address him at the moment. Everything is fine, actually,” she assures him.

As a gamer, I’ve seen his moves – there’s no denying he made a mistake, but it seemed like an isolated incident… I guess I’m willing to extend the benefit of the doubt and give him another shot.

It appears that Mark feels uncomfortable with Amber continuing to see him, yet Amber assures him not to fret. She offers a reassuring statement, “I believe things will work out just fine,” and offers him a comforting embrace as he prepares to depart.

Gary appeared in Invincible Season 1

Looking back at Season 1, do you recall a different character named Gary? It’s unconfirmed whether this character and the current one are the same individual, but there is an interesting similarity to note.

In Episode 5, we see him hanging off a skyscraper’s ledge, held by Titan by his leg. Since he owes money to Machine Head, Titan sets a deadline for him to pay it back. Regrettably, during Invincible’s battle against Omni-Man in Chicago, he becomes one of the casualties. His daughter discovers his body in Episode 8.

If nothing else, it’s probably just a small nod to a character from the comics we may never see.

Invincible repurposed a Mark & Amber moment from the comics in Season 2

Towards the conclusion of Invincible Season 2, Mark covertly observes Amber from a vantage point above her university. From this perspective, he witnesses her contentedly living with her companions, causing him to smile. Despite his inclination to greet her, he decides against it and departs. As she looks up, he has vanished already.

In a later issue of the comics, specifically number 117, there’s a scene reminiscent of the one I’m referring to. I won’t delve into the specific circumstances or timeline (as it contains spoilers you might not want to encounter just yet), but Mark is depicted floating above a street, overlooking Amber as she meets her boyfriend.

Fortunately, it’s not Gary – it’s another person altogether. We never learn his name, but they appear joyful, and Mark takes off with a grin on his face; she is now secure.

Familiarize yourself with the specific release dates for each episode in our “Invincible Season 3” schedule guide and stay updated on the show’s musical accompaniment. In the meantime, discover why Mark’s blue suit holds such significance and learn about how Episode 5 foreshadowed one of the most surprising events in the original comics. If you’re eager to catch up, you can read the “Invincible” comic books for free online.

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2025-02-27 03:20