Why Invincible Fans Are Wrong About Mark’s Power Struggles

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In terms of its opening, Invincible Season 3 has been quite strong. However, a rising chorus of criticism among viewers, which I must admit, might not be completely justified.

Indeed, it appears that a particular segment of the fandom is quite troubled or concerned (to use a less dramatic term) by the inconsistency in Mark’s displayed powers.

Essentially, they believe that due to Mark’s Vilturmite lineage and the extraordinary abilities associated with it – such as super strength, invincibility, flight, and incredible speed – he should be able to effortlessly overcome the Mauler Twins and adversaries like Doc Seismic, much in the same way a toddler could tear through tissue paper or Omni-Man could dismantle the Guardians of the Globe (presumably deceased).

Over and over again, it seems like Mark faces opponents that he ought to effortlessly conquer with just a quick gesture. Yet, this critique might not be entirely justified when considering the quality of the superhero series.

Mark’s invincible, his enemies aren’t

Indeed, Mark possesses an extraordinary level of power. To put it another way, he’s almost indestructible (with a flourish of dramatic music). However, it’s crucial to note that despite his immense power, his goal isn’t to eliminate these villains; rather, he aims to see them brought before the law.

Considering this, it’s understandable that Mark could be taken off guard during fights as he tends to restrain himself against his adversaries. Although the term “he’s holding back” has gained popularity among Invincible fans, it holds truth: he does hold back, and being more powerful doesn’t necessarily make an opponent easier to handle.

Instead of using the analogy of battling a supervillain, let me illustrate with an example that’s more everyday and understandable. Have you ever tried putting a toddler into a car seat? It can be quite a challenging task! You may have ten times the strength compared to a wiggly baby, but persuading them to do something they’re resistant to is almost impossible.

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Even though you could be seen as “stronger” than them, it seems like you’re still locked in a struggle to get them under control – using merely a fraction of your power. This is probably what Mark experiences every time he confronts an odd supervillain such as the Sock Smuggler or Professor Laffy Taffy (you shouldn’t search for them online, like my editor did. I invented them). The situation is similar to dealing with a hyperactive child who doesn’t want to visit grandma’s house, but in Mark’s case, the children he’s facing are trying to harm him instead.

In another words, Mark possesses an extraordinary ability to transform his adversaries into liquid form, even without opening his eyes. However, he strives to act as a hero rather than a murderer, just like his father. Interestingly, it’s evident from many of Mark’s recent bouts that he has never been in any real peril.

King Immortal failed to cause any significant harm, while Doc Seismic might have knocked him out momentarily; however, Mark quickly recovered and resumed fighting. This implies that the villain’s attacks were relatively insignificant. Interestingly, this season, Mark has only been incapacitated on two occasions – when Cecil deployed his sonic weaponry and when the Maulers used a device to disrupt Viltrumite nervous systems, both of which are specifically designed to subdue Viltrumites.

Another more theatrical reason

Surely, this is one possible interpretation of Mark’s “setbacks” (in case the term “Watsonian” isn’t familiar to you, give Google a quick search and remember that TopMob always aims to educate), but there’s also another perspective known as the Doylist explanation.

It’s more engaging for our protagonist to face challenges, and although it may be frustrating to witness Mark being defeated by Omni-Man followed by battling a massive centipede, this is essential because it makes the story more exciting when the hero isn’t unbeatable (let’s bring on the applause once more).

If Mark keeps on winning every fight without being hurt, you might lose interest in the series faster than Red Rush after his morning cup of coffee. It’s not just this show that faces this problem; it’s a common issue in superhero comics and essentially every superhero film, TV show, or cartoon. The hero is usually portrayed as having to grapple with villains they should be able to easily overcome.

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2025-02-19 20:33