Invincible Season 4 Plot Twist Inspired James Gunn’s Superman

Image: Prime Video

The transition of Omni-Man from celebrated hero to genocidal antagonist in Invincible draws so heavily from Superman that series creator Robert Kirkman nearly christened him “Supra-Man” during early development. Fearing litigation from DC Comics, Kirkman pivoted, yet the season 4 premiere—which adapts the seminal Viltrumite War saga from 2010—proves that the creative influence has come full circle. Striking thematic parallels have emerged between the Viltrumite agenda and the Kryptonian heritage depicted in James Gunn’s Superman.

[Editor’s Note: The following contains significant plot spoilers for the Invincible season 4 premiere and the 2025 Superman film.]

Omni-Man (voiced by J.K. Simmons) has masterfully manipulated his history since his arrival. Initially, he portrayed the Viltrumites as a philanthropic race dedicated to mentoring emerging civilizations across the cosmos. This fabrication allowed him to embed himself within the Guardians of the Globe, acting as Earth’s premier protector. However, the visceral season 1 finale unmasked his true objective: to dismantle Earth’s planetary defense systems and prepare the human race for assimilation into the Viltrum Empire.

Season 4 unveils an even deeper layer of desperation behind the invasion. It is revealed that the Viltrumite population was nearly annihilated by a pathogenic agent known as the Scourge Virus. With their numbers dwindling to a critical few, the survivors dispatched agents like Nolan to identify genetically compatible species capable of ensuring their racial continuity. Once Mark’s powers manifested, Omni-Man realized his mission was a success—not just as a conqueror, but as a progenitor. The source material is even more blunt, characterizing Earth as a prospective breeding ground for the dying empire.

Image: DC Studios

This biological imperative mirrors the hidden intentions of Jor-El (Bradley Cooper) in James Gunn’s Superman. Kal-El (David Corenswet) initially interprets his arrival as a benevolent calling to serve as Earth’s champion. However, Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) eventually deciphers Jor-El’s true directive: Kal-El was sent to exert dominance over humanity and initiate a Kryptonian restoration through procreation, a stark departure from the traditional “Selfless Savior” narrative.

The exploration of complex paternal legacies and subverted superhero archetypes continues to dominate the genre. Invincible shares this headspace with The Boys, which returns for its fifth and final season to showcase its own dark reflection of the Man of Steel. This latest chapter in Invincible underscores how the mythology of the Last Son of Krypton remains a fertile ground for reinvention, influencing both DC’s official canon and the independent stories it inspired.

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The inaugural three episodes of Invincible season 4 launch March 18 on Prime Video.

 

Source: Polygon