The Surprising Influence That Helped Robert Kirkman Perfect Invincible

Robert Kirkman, the mind behind The Walking Dead and Invincible, recently shared how his past mistakes have shaped the animated series Invincible for the better.

Speaking with Deadline, Kirkman explained that the rocky patches of The Walking Dead taught him how to make Invincible’s storytelling sharper and more cohesive.

Reflecting on The Walking Dead, Kirkman admitted that its later seasons, especially from Season 6 to Season 9, felt disjointed. The TV show made changes from the comic, but those tweaks caused problems down the line. “I didn’t properly plan for the butterfly effects that came from those changes,” he said.

Since the Walking Dead comic was still in progress during the show’s run, the lack of a finished story made it tough to adapt some plotlines. “You get to Season 6-Season 9, and you have entire storylines from the comic that don’t work anymore because none of the work was done to set those up beforehand,” he added.

Kirkman took those lessons to heart for Invincible. With the Invincible comic already complete, he and his team have a full roadmap to follow. This has allowed them to map out the series carefully, ensuring early seasons set up future ones. “There’s a lot of decisions that were made on Invincible Season 1-Season 3, that were made just in case we get to adapt the entire comic so that when we’re going Season 5-Season 6 if we’re fortunate enough to do those, we know the track has been laid, and things have been planned,” Kirkman noted.

Looking ahead, Kirkman teased big things for Invincible Season 4. Fans eager for more of the Viltrumite storyline will get their wish, as the season will dive deeper into the alien race. He confirmed the arrival of the villain Thragg, a major draw for comic fans. “Season 4 has more Viltrumite stuff that you might be wanting,”

Kirkman promised. The season will also ramp up the action and emotional depth, building on stories like Nolan’s arc, Anissa’s journey, and the battle with Conquest.

With Invincible, Kirkman is applying what he learned to keep the series on track, promising fans a thrilling and well-planned continuation.

Kirkman’s willingness to learn from The Walking Dead’s flaws shows his commitment to making Invincible the best it can be. The promise of Thragg and more Viltrumite action in Season 4 is exciting, and I appreciate how the finished comic gives the show a clear path. It’s refreshing to see a creator adapt and improve.

What do you think about Kirkman’s approach to Invincible? Are you hyped for Season 4’s Viltrumite focus? Share your thoughts in the comments below!