Invincible Creator Reveals the Shocking Reason the Hit Series Nearly Got Axed After 1 Year

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When Invincible first started at Image Comics, it wasn’t an immediate success. Sales were slow, it was unclear if people would keep reading, and those in charge were secretly wondering if the comic would even make it through the first year. Surprisingly, this now-famous series almost got canceled.

Robert Kirkman, the creator of the series, and Popverse report that a major story change saved the comic. What fans now consider a shocking twist – the betrayal of Omni-Man – wasn’t originally planned to happen so soon. The intention was to reveal it much later in the story, building suspense over several years.

A Last-Minute Creative Gamble Saved the Invincible Series

When Invincible first launched, it had a hard time gaining traction in a crowded comic book market. Despite the creators and Image Comics having faith in the series, initial sales were disappointing. Without a significant boost in popularity, the comic might not have survived long enough to tell the complete story it was planned for.

Image Comics executives privately asked Kirkman if he had any big plans to boost sales of the book. He did, but the major storyline wasn’t planned to launch for quite some time. The shocking reveal that Omni-Man was actually a villain, not a hero, was originally intended for around issue #25.

The comic wasn’t expected to last very long, and cancellation seemed likely. So, Kirkman took a big risk. He revealed a major plot twist much earlier than planned. The shocking scene of Omni-Man killing the Guardians of the Globe happened in issue #7, and it was a huge moment that completely changed the direction of the series.

The Invincible Twist That Changed Everything

The reveal of Omni-Man’s true nature had an instant effect. Readers who thought he was a classic, heroic figure were shocked by his violent actions. This change in tone proved that Invincible wasn’t a typical superhero story – it was something more complex, dangerous, and full of surprises.

That one bold choice didn’t just stop sales from falling—it completely changed what the series was about. By introducing the central conflict early on, Kirkman made the story’s emotional core about survival. Mark Grayson’s struggle shifted from trying to prove himself to simply enduring the challenges his father presented.

The impact went beyond just the comic books. When the series was turned into the animated show Invincible on Amazon Prime Video, the story moved even faster. The shocking reveal of Omni-Man’s betrayal happened right away in the first episode, showing how crucial that moment had become to the heart of the entire story.

Looking back, what initially seemed like a risky decision now appears to be a brilliant creative choice. By focusing on immediate impact rather than building slowly, Kirkman turned a comic that was failing into one of the most celebrated superhero stories of the 21st century. Without that early surprise, Invincible could have been a brief project instead of the widespread success it became.

It’s funny how things work out. That scene with Omni-Man – the one that absolutely crushed the Guardians of the Globe – actually saved the whole Invincible story, at least for me as a reader. Seriously, it was a turning point! It pulled the comic back from the brink of cancellation and launched this incredible legacy that’s still going strong today. I was hooked, and I know a lot of other fans were too!

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2026-02-26 16:08