The popular comic series Invincible from Image Comics both celebrates and takes apart the traditional superhero story. While it realistically shows how difficult and violent being a superhero would be, it also emphasizes that these heroes are fundamentally trying to be good people. Because the comic frequently twists common superhero ideas, many of its characters echo those found in comics from DC and Marvel. Even with similarities in costumes or powers, the heroes of the Invincible Universe remain unique, compelling, and truly impressive.
It’s not always clear when a creator intentionally references another work versus just having similar ideas, but it’s widely accepted that many of the characters in the Invincible Universe were inspired by existing superheroes.
7) Shapesmith
The original Guardians of the Globe featured a character called Martian Man, a green, shape-shifting hero clearly inspired by DC’s Martian Manhunter. After Martian Man unexpectedly died, he was replaced by Shapesmith, another Martian hero. While also echoing Martian Manhunter due to his origins, Shapesmith is remarkably similar to DC’s Plastic Man. Like the former criminal-turned-comedic hero, Shapesmith uses his stretching and shapeshifting powers, adopts a human disguise, and often acts selfishly. Essentially, Shapesmith blends the characteristics of both Martian Manhunter and Plastic Man into a uniquely entertaining character.
6) Immortal
The team, originally consisting of Immortal, Darkwing, War Woman, Red Rush, Green Ghost, Martian Man, and Aquarious, clearly drew inspiration from the Justice League. However, after Omni-Man quickly eliminated almost all of them, only Immortal received significant character development. Interestingly, Immortal wasn’t modeled after a Justice League hero, but rather one of their iconic villains, Vandal Savage. Like Savage, Immortal is incredibly long-lived, nearly indestructible, and has secretly played a role in numerous historical events – in fact, he was once Abraham Lincoln.
5) Monster Girl
Monster Girl is a member of the second team of Guardians of the Globe, and her powers are clearly inspired by the Incredible Hulk – she can transform into a huge, super-strong green monster. But unlike Bruce Banner, who sees the Hulk as a burden, Monster Girl’s transformation is caused by a literal curse. This curse has an unusual side effect: each time she transforms, she physically gets younger, making her appear as a child even though she’s an adult. Monster Girl is a well-developed character, and the story explores her relationship with her teammate Robot, as well as her struggles with her changing appearance.
4) Rex-Splode
Rex-Splode began as a deeply unlikeable character, but he experienced significant growth throughout the comic series, ultimately becoming a heroic figure who would put himself in harm’s way for others. His backstory and power share similarities with Gambit from the X-Men; both can imbue objects with energy to make them explode. While Gambit favors using playing cards, Rex-Splode utilizes batons and items he carries in his pockets. Like Gambit, Rex-Splode also evolved as a person, shedding his initial rough edges and embracing selfless heroism.
3) Atom Eve
Atom Eve, Invincible’s love interest, is incredibly powerful. She can control atoms, allowing her to build solid objects or change things into something else entirely. Her powers and look seem to be inspired by several well-known heroes. Like Jean Grey, she has red hair and can come back to life. She can also create things out of energy, similar to the hard light constructs made by Green Lanterns. Most notably, her ability to control and change matter is very similar to the powers of DC’s Firestorm. Because of these inspirations, Atom Eve is consistently one of the strongest characters in the series.
2) Omni-Man
We’ve seen many villains based on Superman, but Omni-Man stands out as the most complex and compelling. Like Superman, he’s an incredibly powerful alien who initially appears to be Earth’s greatest hero. However, a shocking twist reveals his true mission: conquering the planet for his race, the Viltrumites. What sets Omni-Man apart from other evil versions of Superman is his growth as a character. He transforms from a ruthless killer into someone filled with regret and shame over his actions. While he starts out pretending to be a hero, by the end, Omni-Man actually begins to embody many of the qualities that make Superman so admirable.
1) Invincible
Invincible, a teenage superhero who’s part human and part Viltrumite, is heavily influenced by Superman and Spider-Man. He shares Superman’s incredible strength and ability to fly, thanks to his alien background. But like Spider-Man, he’s also a young hero with a generally upbeat personality. Initially, Invincible tries to live up to both heroes’ hopeful outlooks and refusal to kill, but those beliefs are challenged by the brutal villains he faces. Ultimately, Invincible embodies the unwavering determination and desire to help others that define Superman and Spider-Man, combining their best traits with a gritty realism that makes him a complex and compelling character.
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2026-06-13 00:45