Invincible has been firing on all cylinders since returning for the back-half of its second season, and the latest episode of Prime Video's adult animated series may have laid the groundwork for one of the comic book's most controversial storylines.
"I'm Not Going Anywhere" primarily focuses on Mark and Amber's crumbling relationship, and the final straw for the latter proves to be the introduction of a powerful Viltrumite warrior known as Anissa, who threatens to end Amber's life unless Invincible explains why he still hasn't set about conquering his planet (which he was commanded to do when his father, Nolan, was captured in the mid-season finale).
Anissa actually aids Mark in rescuing the passengers of a cruise ship from a Kaiju attack, but becomes frustrated when he refuses to acknowledge that the people of Earth would ultimately benefit from Viltrumite rule. A fight ensues, but it's hopelessly one-sided, and Anissa's orders are the only thing that prevent her from killing the fallen hero.
A battered and bruised Invincible returns to Amber, but they realize that it's best for both of them if they end their relationship.
Major spoilers for the comic and potentially the show follow.
Much later on in Robert Kirkman's comic run, Anissa becomes an ally and potential love interest of Mark's, but when she's tasked with replenishing the Viltrumite population after the destruction of their home world, things take a very dark turn.
Unwilling to assist Anissa in her procreation attempts, Mark is raped by the far stronger Viltrumite, who becomes pregnant with his child.
As you might imagine, there were a lot of negative reactions to this plot point, and the backlash worsened when Anissa refused to apologize or take responsibility for her actions. Will the series follow suit? A few tweaks aside, Invincible has remained mostly faithful to the source material (at least when it comes to the important storylines), but this might be a step too far - even for a TV-MA rated animated show.
If the sexual assault does happen, it probably won't be until well into season 3 at the earliest, so we'll have to wait and see how next week's season 2 finale plays out for a better idea of what's being set up.
What did you make of this episode? Do you think Anissa's arc will play out the same as it does in the comics? Drop us a comment down below.
"Still reeling from Nolan's betrayal in Season One, Mark struggles to rebuild his life. He faces a host of new threats, all while battling his greatest fear… That he might become his father without even knowing it."