‘Invincible’ Season 4 Tells a Dark Story Robert Kirkman Cut From the Comics

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Spoilers for Invincible Season 4 are below!

Season 4 of Invincible started strong, with the first three episodes immediately raising the stakes. Mark makes a terrible mistake, causing an accidental death, and we finally learn the truth about Eve’s unstable powers – she’s pregnant. The season also revealed a shocking backstory for Nolan and the devastating Scourge virus, which nearly wiped out the Viltrumites, introducing the menacing Thragg and featuring some truly disturbing scenes.

Okay, so episode 4, “Hurm,” was seriously awesome! I was so surprised to see Damien Darkblood back – I thought he was gone for good after being banished to hell! They hinted at his return at the end of Season 3, and it looked like trouble was brewing. Seeing him summon a demon (with Bruce Campbell’s voice, no less!) and talk about reclaiming his throne was chilling. Everyone’s been speculating that the “powerful surface dweller” he mentioned is Mark, and it seems like we were right! What’s really cool is that this whole storyline is brand new – it never even happened in the original Invincible comics. It’s exciting to see them take the show in a completely fresh direction!

Mark Is Going Through Hell in ‘Invincible’s Latest Episode

The story begins with Damien Darkblood battling Volcanikka, a powerful villain who seems to be made of lava. The fight is incredibly difficult, so Darkblood unexpectedly summons Mark to hell. Mark is pulled into this dark world against his will, but he might be the key to defeating Volcanikka and even restoring Satan – or at least, the version of him from Invincible – to power. The demon introduced at the end of Season 3 is revealed to be the devil of this superhero universe, similar to Mephisto in Marvel comics. Interestingly, this devil might not be evil after all, if Darkblood’s story about the demon’s past sacrifice is true.

In addition to fleshing out the backstory of hell in Invincible – and confirming the absence of heaven – Mark finds himself in several intense fights. One notable battle with Darkblood involves facing Cerberus, the three-headed dog guarding the underworld, and recovering an artifact. This artifact empowers the devil to defeat Volcanikka and retake his throne. Mark then leaves hell to the devil and Darkblood, clearly hinting at a future confrontation. It’s currently unknown what role Darkblood will play going forward, but Mark’s journey to hell has been a significant development.

Robert Kirkman Always Wanted Mark To Go To Hell

The animated series Invincible has largely remained faithful to its comic book origins, making only minor adjustments. Changes like Machine Head’s takeover of The Order and an expanded role for Debbie were made for the Prime Video show, but the core story stayed true to Robert Kirkman’s original work. However, the ‘Hurm’ storyline marks the first completely new addition to the narrative. Though characters like Darkblood and Volcanikka appear in the comics, the plotline where Mark is pulled into hell was never actually part of the source material. Kirkman had originally planned to include this hellish journey for Mark, but consistently decided to focus on other storylines instead. He explained to Variety last year that he simply couldn’t find the right moment or way to integrate it into the overall story.

The character was always a fan favorite, and in the original comics, he never went to hell. Clancy Brown’s performance was perfect, and we always hoped to bring him back to the show. There was a particular storyline from the comics I hadn’t used yet – most superhero stories feature a trip to hell and a fight with the devil, something we never explored in “Invincible” due to timing and other plot points. However, we might be heading in that direction now, and that final scene in the episode could be a setup for it. Plus, we were incredibly lucky to work with Bruce Campbell – it was a fantastic experience.

After four seasons, Invincible has finally set the stage for Darkblood’s return, and it appears to be connected to what’s going to happen with Mark. It’s possible Darkblood was hinting at Mark when he spoke to Campbell at the end of Season 3, mentioning someone with a “blackened heart” who would serve him. Whether that’s true remains to be seen, but Darkblood and the devil are likely to play a significant role as the season progresses, hinting at a build-up to the Viltrumite War.

Mark’s Damnation May Not Be Over Yet

Kirkman is thrilled to finally share this story, which he’s been developing for years. As the first new story arc in the Invincible universe, ‘Darkblood’ promises a dark and impactful narrative that will shape future storylines, with surprises that even longtime comic fans won’t see coming. In an interview with RadioTimes, Kirkman suggested that the events of the ‘Hurm’ arc will play a role in the upcoming Viltrumite War, stating:

As a critic, I’ve seen this series evolve with changes big and small – storylines stretched, trimmed, and reshaped. But honestly, a truly original element? That’s been rare. This time, though, we’re getting something completely fresh, a story beat that feels genuinely new to the world of the show. I’m really intrigued to see how it connects to the larger Viltrumite War and adds another layer to the narrative. It’s a mystery, and I, for one, am excited to see how it all unfolds.

Simon Racioppa, a co-showrunner on the series, emphasized that Darkblood’s story and Mark’s descent into hell are crucial, and that every plot point will have consequences for the rest of the season, leading up to the finale. He explained that…

Every episode of Invincible is crucial – you really need to watch them all! Everything is interconnected, and each event impacts the characters and moves the story forward. So each episode, including this one, plays a vital role in the overall season.

Readers familiar with the comic books might have some idea of what’s coming with Thragg’s arrival and the hint of the Viltrumite War. However, Darkblood’s return introduces unexpected surprises, making it difficult to predict how things will unfold. For the first time in four seasons of Invincible, the story has a genuinely unpredictable element, leaving viewers wondering when and how it will impact future events – and creating a lot of exciting possibilities.

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2026-03-25 20:10