Robert Kirkman was inspired by DC Comics, but now DC seems to be following his lead
The superhero turned mass murderer Omni-Man in Invincible is so closely inspired by Superman that creator Robert Kirkman originally wanted to call the character Supra-Man. (Kirkman only backed off because he was afraid of legal action from DC Comics.) But a reveal in the show’s season 4 premiere, which adapts the Viltrumite War comic book arc originally published in 2010, reveals how that inspiration now seems to be going in the opposite direction. There are big similarities between the motives of the Viltrumites in Invincible and the Kryptonians in James Gunn’s Superman.
[Ed. note: This article contains major spoilers for the Invincible season 4 premiere and 2025’s Superman]
Omni-Man (J.K. Simmons) has changed his story about why he was sent to Earth several times in the series run. He originally claimed the Viltrumites were a benevolent people who send delegates throughout the universe to protect less advanced civilizations. That tale earned Omni-Man acceptance from the members of the Justice League-like Guardians of the Globe, and he proved his value by defending humanity from numerous threats. But at the end of Invincible season 1, Omni-Man reveals he came to Earth to prepare the planet to be integrated into the Viltrum Empire by weakening its defenses, which he did by killing all the Guardians.
In season 4, Omni-Man reveals that wasn’t the full story, either. Turns out, almost all Viltrumites were wiped out by a biological weapon called the Scourge Virus. There were so few survivors that the remaining Viltrumites sent out representatives to look for genetically compatible species to ensure their own survival. Omni-Man killed the Guardians right after Mark manifested his powers because he discovered his mission was successful. The comic makes the plans for Earth even more explicit, with Omni-Man explaining that it will be turned into a Viltrumite breeding camp.
That plot has a lot in common with the goal Jor-El (Bradley Cooper) had in mind when he sent his son Kal-El (David Corenswet) to Earth in James Gunn’s Superman. Kal/Clark doesn’t get the full message his father sent him and assumes Omni-Man’s surface level mission of protecting Earth as Superman. But Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) discovers that Jor-El wanted his son to use his power to take over Earth and start a harem to birth more Kryptonians.
Super-daddy issues and evil Superman stories have a long history in comics and comic book adaptations. Invincible isn’t even the only show exploring those themes this spring as The Boys also returns for its fifth and final season with its version of evil Superman reuniting with his dad. The new season of Invincible just shows how the mythology surrounding the Last Son of Krypton keeps evolving in both official DC projects and the comic book stories the character inspired.
The first three episodes of Invincible season 4 premiere March 18 on Prime Video.
