10Invincible Is A More Faithful Adaptation (So Far)

Based on the Image Comics series of the same name, Invincible is being adapted for the screen by one of its co-creators: Robert Kirkman, who knows the source material pretty well. While there have been some changes in the jump from page to streaming, Invincible‘s first two seasons remain pretty faithful to the comics. In Invincible season 1’s ending, Mark (Steven Yeun) learns that his super-powered father, Omni-Man (J.K. Simmons), was actually sent to Earth to colonize the planet. The show’s sophomore outing makes a few tweaks — and hints at some changes to come — but largely proves that it’s working with stellar source material.

9 The Boys’ Source Material Allows For A More Unique TV Show Adaptation

With plenty of differences between The Boys‘ show and comics, the Amazon Prime Video series sets itself apart from its beloved source material. For starters, Vought International is the machine-turned-brand-manager behind the Supes’ day-to-day exploits as well as a multimedia corporation bent on monetizing its heroes’ every move. The show also changes some of its characters and their backstories, from Black Noir to Soldier Boy, in order to craft a more compelling ensemble cast. It’s clear that the changes from page to screen leverage the new medium’s strengths, allowing The Boys to feel fresh, inventive, and current, even for long-time fans of the comics.

8 It’s Easy To Root For Invincible’s Protagonist

At the start of Invincible season 1, 17-year-old Mark Grayson is just learning how to navigate his newfound superpowers. With a strong sense of justice and more compassion than the average person, Mark is an easy-to-root-for young hero. That likability is also a substantial part of the show’s draw. Invincible‘s supporting cast of characters are equally compelling, mainly because they feel incredibly grounded in the face of larger-than-life stakes. For example, Mark’s mom, Debbie (Sandra Oh), weathers her husband’s long-simmering betrayal in a completely realistic manner. Meanwhile, Mark’s fellow hero, Atom Eve (Gillian Jacobs), grapples with how best to help people.

7 The Boys Makes It Hard To Root For Anyone

In The Boys, the titular vigilante group, led by Karl Urban’s Billy Butcher, aims to end the world’s leading Supes, including most of The Seven. Homelander (Anthony Starr), the Superman-like leader of The Seven, is perhaps the most cruel and sinister of them all. Of course, Butcher also goes to hard-to-stomach extremes to serve what he perceives as justice. It’s difficult to root for anyone in The Boys; characters constantly dip into moral gray areas in order to survive, which is what makes the show so compelling. In The Boys‘ spinoff, Gen V, the franchise cleverly flips the script by centering on a group of wronged Supes.

6 Invincible Focuses On A Few Significant Characters

By taking its time with a few central personalities, Invincible really digs deeply into certain dynamics, especially when it comes to the fraught relationship between Mark and Nolan, a.k.a. Omni-Man. At the end of the first season, Omni-Man reveals his true purpose: to conquer Earth for the Viltrumite Empire. Instead of joining his father, the ever-heroic Mark stands against him, prompting Omni-Man to tearfully flee the planet. In season 2, the father-son duo are reunited — and pushed to team-up once more thanks to their dire circumstances. That said, the focus on just a few characters only strengthens Invincible‘s narrative.

5 The Boys Is A More Ensemble Series

While The Boys certainly differentiates between its core and supporting cast, the show is more willing to spend time with side characters — even if they wind up dead after a one-episode stint. By introducing a slew of minor Supes, The Boys fleshes out its unique setting. Of course, the ensemble effort does more than just strengthen the show’s world-building. By shifting focus between various character, from Starlight (Erin Moriarty) to Hughie (Jack Quaid) to Homelander to Butcher, The Boys keeps viewers on their toes, and opens the door to the unexpected. No character is safe; a wayward dose of heat vision could end someone’s compelling tale prematurely.

4 Invincible Tones Down The Violence

Although Invincible season 1 proved that it wasn’t afraid to get its hands dirty (and very, very bloody), Invincible season 2 has viewers split over one key difference from the source material: the allegedly tampered violence. It’s hard to imagine, since Invincible season 1 was packed with brutal moments, but there does seem to be less over-the-top gore. On one hand, this plays into the fact that many of the show’s superheroes are invulnerable; when they do take a hit that culminates in a bloody nose, it’s more deeply felt. For other viewers, however, the lack of violence isn’t so much grounded as it is a let-down.

3 The Boys Does Over-The-Top Violence Well

There’s a high probability that some viewers’ disappointment over the more “tame” violence in Invincible season 2 stems from comparisons to The Boys. The live-action series proves that Amazon Prime Video has no issues with portraying truly horrifying, comic book-inspired violence. After all, the series opens with A-Train (Jessie T. Usher), The Boys‘ version of The Flash, plowing through another character. However, while the violence is shocking, it isn’t all about shock value. Since The Boys is first and foremost a parody of Marvel and DC Comics, the over-the-top brutality — and penchant for the grotesque and raunchy — only underscores its point.

2 Invincible Explores A Coming-Of-Age Superhero Story In A Fresh Way

Robert Kirkman’s Invincible show translates the source material’s key component well: it’s a coming-of-age superhero story — not unlike something from the annals of Marvel or DC Comics. The difference, of course, is that Invincible isn’t afraid to go there. Not only is it a more bloody, brutal take, but a more grounded one. If a superhero coming-of-age story were to play out realistically, it’d probably look more like Invincible than Spider-Man. Instead of straight up parodying superhero stories, Invincible takes a searing, sharp look at the genre’s tropes and redefines them. This approach makes it more of a love letter to the genre than anything else.

1 The Boys Perfectly Parodies Superhero Culture

Instead of putting its own spin on a tried-and-true superhero narrative, The Boys aims to upend and mock just about every aspect of the genre. Of course, it does so with the kind of awareness that only a lover of superhero stories could bring to the table. In parodying superhero culture, The Boys also tackles our real-world obsession with superhero movies and franchises. Vought, for example, has its own cinematic universe (the aptly titled VCU), and pumps out merch and entertainment even faster than its real-life counterpart. At a time when superhero stories feel a bit stale, The Boys keeps things fresh by turning the tables.