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Managing editor & film and television critic with a Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Minor from the University of Guam. Currently in graduate school completing a Master's in English Literature.
Following last weekend’s long-awaited premiere of Invincible Season 2, the series’ characters attempt to heal by keeping themselves busy with different life matters.
The second season’s second episode is titled, “In About Six Hours I Lose My Virginity to a Fish”. It is written by Matt Lambert (Into the Badlands, Netflix’s Wednesday Season 1 Episode 7) and directed by storyboard artist Ian Abando.
In this review, I will discuss Invincible Season 2 Episode 2. As the title of this article suggests, there will be no spoilers present here. References to previous series episodes and the graphic novel source material may be made!
Invincible Season 2 Episode 2 Logline
According to Amazon Studios Press, here is the logline for Invincible Season 2 Episode 2—“In About Six Hours I Lose My Virginity to a Fish”.
It’s summer break for Mark and his friends, but supervillains don’t take a vacation. Mark is forced to face the consequences of Omni-Man’s double life.
Amazon Studios Press
Discussion
While there does not appear to be much of an act structure to itself, “In About Six Hours I Lose My Virginity to a Fish” implies what fans and viewers might expect in terms of its subplots. Whereas the premiere episode covered portions of Invincible Issues #14, 16, and 24, this season’s following episode covers more ground as it tries to balance levity with the drama of previous events. Lambert and the writers’ room do a nice job at picking at elements from Issues #15, 17, 19, 21, 22, 25, and 32 of the series’ source material, amongst some others. Doing this allows for a more coherent narrative to be engaged with, compared to the clutter of the events in the comic book run, even if some viewers may not be in favor of it.
Art director/ series producer Shaun O’Neil leads the animation team to construct the scene-by-scene narrative, beginning with a sweet action sequence that looks like a mixture of both The Amazing Spider-Man 2‘s opening scene and a monumental sequence from Spider-Man: Homecoming. Adapting the Midnight City and the Atlantis subplots into the episode is a nice feat. They allows for the team to work with an array of different character designs, background designs, and coloring. The contrasts also play around with and either foreground or blend figures in with the darkness.
In terms of the screenwriting and the storyboards, I appreciate how the Atlantis subplot veers in a slightly different direction from its source material. Still, in the grand scheme of things, it doesn’t matter, but it’s still entertaining and fun to watch.
Find Some Time to Do Something
The set-up for the thesis of the episode’s plot and its title card is a two-for-one special. Reginald VelJohnson High School Principal Winslow (voiced by Reginald VelJohnson) delivers a rhetorically strong speech about overcoming the tests and trials of life. Although this is a minor character, Winslow presents the protagonists and the viewers with what to anticipate moving forward. (I am curious to know if VelJohnson will go on to continue voicing the principal in some way or another. The character announced his retirement from working at the high school in Issue #17.)
While there are subplots peeking into the lives of Markus Sebastian “Mark” Grayson/ Invincible (voiced by Steven Yeun), Deborah “Debbie” Grayson (voiced by Sandra Oh), Samantha Eve Wilkins/ Atom Eve (voiced by Gillian Jacobs), the Guardians of the Globe, and some guest characters, there are only a few whose stories can be discussed without giving away the major spoilers of the episode.
The Crew Behind Invincible
Invincible is based on the comic book of the same name by Robert Kirkman, Cory Walker, & Ryan Ottley. Kirkman also serves as a co-showrunner alongside executive producer Simon Racioppa (Mr. Meaty). Walker serves as a co-executive producer.
Dan Duncan is the supervising director of the series.
Luke Asa Guidici is the supervising editor. Lea Carosella and Liam Johnson are the assistant editors.
John Paesano scores the music. Gabe Hilfer (Venom, Birds of Prey, Ozark, Halloween Ends, The White Lotus, Renfield, White Men Can’t Jump) does the music supervision. Brad Meyer is the supervising sound editor. Meyer, Jacob Cook, Myung Soo (Peter) Kay, Rich Danhakl, and Mia Perfetti are the sound FX editors.
Meredith Layne (Castlevania, A Tale Dark & Grimm) is the voice director. Linda Lamontagne (BoJack Horseman, The Boys Presents: Diabolical, Close Enough) is the voice casting director.
Animation Team
Shaun O’Neil serves as the art director. Kofi Fiagome serves as the animation/ storyboard supervisor. Invincible comic book artist Ryan Ottley serves as the creative consultant.
Luke Ashworth, Nate Bellegarde, Nick Lombardo, Tim Nicklas, Johnathan N. Reyes, Charles Tan, and Alex Wilson are the character designers.
Catherine Agor, Jon Christopher Finch, Kelly Mai, and Yoshi Vu are the background designers.
Ian Abando, Warren Fok, Toniko Pantoja, and Tatiana Wen are the storyboard artists. Vickie Chau, Dan Quiles, Mark Galez, Kaitrin Snodgrass (Ben 10, Little Demon), Yujin Lee, Suzi Whifler, Omandi Moore-Washington, Chole W., and Chris Pimentel are the storyboard revisionists.
Matt Michael serves as the episode’s animatic editor and associate editor. Samantha Schnauder is the visual effects editor.
The Voice Cast Behind Invincible
Steven Yeun (The Walking Dead, Sorry to Bother You, Minari, Nope) voices the series’ protagonist and titular character, Markus Sebastian “Mark” Grayson, also known as Invincible. Sandra Oh (Big Fat Liar, The Chair, Umma, Quiz Lady) voices Deborah “Debbie” Grayson, Mark’s mother.
J.K. Simmons (the Spider-Man film franchise, Whiplash, Palm Springs) is credited as the voice of Nolan Grayson—Mark’s father and Debbie’s husband—, also known as Omni-Man.
Supporting Voice Actors
Zazie Beetz (Deadpool 2, Atlanta) voices Amber, Mark’s girlfriend. Gillian Jacobs (Community, Minx, The Bear) voices Samantha Eve Wilkins, also known as Atom Eve. Andrew Rannells (Adventure Time: Fionna & Cake) voices William Clockwell, Mark’s best friend.
Sterling K. Brown (Black Panther) voices Angstrom Levy.
Grey DeLisle (She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai) voices Betsy and Shrinking Rae. Melise (Unfabulous) voices Dupli-Kate and a wife. Jason Mantzoukas (John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Big Mouth, Close Enough) voices Rex Splode.
Ross Marquand (Avengers: Infinity War, Robot Chicken, The Walking Dead) voices The Immortal and Rudolph “Rudy” Connors. Zachary Quinto (Heroes, Big Mouth, American Horror Story) voices Robot.
Khary Payton (Teen Titans, Young Justice, The Walking Dead) voices Astronaut #1. Jay Pharoah voices Bulletproof.
Chris Diamantopoulos (Silicon Valley, The Boys Presents: Diabolical, Made for Love Season 2) voices Donald Ferguson and Doc Seismic. Walton Goggins voices Cecil.
Gary Anthony Williams (The Boondocks, Star Wars Resistance, Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur) voices the United States Space Agency (USSA) director, a TV announcer, and a graduation announcer.
Additional voice performances come from Nyima Funk, Robert Kesselman, Dan Navarro (The Cleveland Show, The Boys Presents: Diabolical), and Ami Shukla.
Guest Voice Actors
Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black, Perry Mason, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law) voices Aquaria and a forewoman. Ben Schwartz voices Shapesmith, Astronaut Rus Livingston, and a punk thug. Cleveland Berto voices Darkwing, a husband, and Royal Guard #1.
Cliff Curtis voices Paul, Debbie’s colleague in the real estate business. Fred Tatasciore voices Adam Wilkins—Samantha Eve’s adoptive father—and Supreme Lizard.
Zehra Fazal (She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, Batman: Death in the Family, Young Justice) voices Louise and Astronaut #2. Micah Aliling voices Louise’s daughter. Scoot McNairy (Argo, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, True Detective, Pantheon) voices King Lizard.
Reginald VelJohnson (Family Matters, Die Hard) voices Principal Winslow of Reginald VelJohnson High School. Kari Wahlgren (Rick and Morty) voices Mrs. Fornsley, Caitlin, and Denise.
Voice Performances and Character Developments
Jacobs as Samantha Eve Wilkins has a thought-provoking role as the character butts heads with her adoptive father, Adam Wilkins (voiced by Fred Tatasciore). In trying to do the right thing so as to work on her mental health, she does not take into consideration the feelings of civilian humans. Yet, the external conflict between herself and others is not as simple as that. The character must realize the disparity between doing the right thing and doing the wise thing. As a superhero, she can do anything and everything. However, deep down, she still possesses humanity. Because of this, she must remember that others are allowed to play their parts in the world.
Oh as Debbie Grayson continues to be one the best characters of the series. Here, she keeps busy through both her personal and professional ecospheres. As a mother, specifically, she struggles to cope with playing the role of a single parent. This is not something she is used to, so now she has to figure out this new circumstance, especially in reminding her son of his humanity. They share an emotional moment towards the end that features good voice acting but is even better for their development.
Guest voice actor Cleveland Berto has some great voice acting as Darkwing, a satire of Batman. Darkwing and his subplot are adapted perfectly from Issue #21, raising awareness of mental health even in the minor characters of the series. The inclusion of an explicit identity, which is not made apparent in the comics, is a lovely addition to the narrative. The writers could have easily written him in as a random civilian in a detrimental condition. However, adapting this to the episode allows for the theme of mental health to be taken a little more seriously.
Final Thoughts on Invincible Season 2 Episode 2
While it may seem like one of the weaker episodes of the season thus far, “In About Six Hours I Lose My Virginity to a Fish” almost anthologizes the lives of its various characters. There is something of substance in the fact that all or most of these subplots can be connected by a small message addressed to young adults. This theme of facing adversity as a requirement for triumph is presented so that characters can graduate to the season’s next one or two more difficult story arcs. If you have read the comics, then you have an idea of what is to come…
Invincible Season 2 is now streaming via Prime Video!
Have you seen the series yet? If so, then what are your thoughts on it so far? Let us know! For more action, adaptation, adventure, animation, comic book, drama, fantasy, and science-fiction, and thriller-related news and reviews, do not forget to follow The Cinema Spot on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!
Managing editor & film and television critic with a Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Minor from the University of Guam. Currently in graduate school completing a Master's in English Literature.
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