One of the most iconic and enjoyable moments of “Invincible,” the television series, are the title cards. From carrying moments of dramatic tension to comedic levity, fans go into each episode with anticipation for how, where and who will trigger the name drop by uttering the word — invincible. With 25 released episodes across three seasons and one spin-off, it’s a good time to stop and rank all the title cards in — “Invincible.”
25) You Want a Real Costume, Right? — Season 3 Episode 3
This is a title sequence that does and says nothing — literally.
24) I’m Not Going Anywhere — Season 2 Episode 7
This title drop is plain bad. The name of the show isn’t said by any character of note, just a bunch of random people at a comic convention. Also, it holds no emotional significance and isn’t even funny. The title card in “I’m Not Going Anywhere” maybe should go somewhere else.
23) It’s Been a While — Season 2 Episode 4
This is a title drop that doesn’t understand the nature of its own inclusion. Every other roll credits moment is set up through dialogue — that’s why it’s so rewarding when the episode cuts to the word — “Invincible.” In this instance, however, saying the name of the series isn’t the payoff to an earned moment, but an enjambed inclusion that doesn’t fit the scene it’s in. While it may be amusing how it obscures Mark Grayson’s profanity, the comedy of it doesn’t work because he finishes his sentence once it cuts back to the episode. The improper use of the title drop in “It’s Been a While” makes it one of the worst of the entire show.
22) I Thought You’d Never Shut Up — Season 3 Episode 8
For very similar reasons to the previous entry, Season 3 Episode 8 also doesn’t understand how the title drop works. Conquest just says some words, some very cool-sounding words, but they don’t set up the cut-to-credits in any way, shape or form. Once he says “I find this planet unprepared for the arrival of our Viltrum Empire,” it simply inserts the title card for no reason and it honestly feels like an awkward oversight — as if the editors didn’t know where to place it. The only reason it ranks above number 23 on this list is because Jeffrey Dean Morgan delivers such a chilling — although unrelated — line.
21) I Thought You Were Stronger — Season 2 Episode 8
While this credit sequence had promise, it undercuts its own comedic potential. Said by a random, out-of-shape runner, it is slightly humorous to see him hype himself up by saying exercise will make him feel “Invincible.” The delivery is set up within the scene well enough for the title drop to be comedic. However, the show undermined its own joke by having the character say something different after the opening credits. Since “I Thought You Were Stronger” ruins its own joke, it cannot place any higher.
20) Here Goes Nothing — Season 1 Episode 2
Even though this isn’t a waste of a title drop, it doesn’t do anything dramatic, comedic or thematic for the episode. While the addition of the blood splatter is an ominous foreshadowing for where Season 1 goes, that is the only interesting part about it. Other than that, it is simply just Donald Ferguson saying that he hopes the Global Defense Agency will work with Invincible in the future — not very exciting.
19) What Have I Done? — Season 3 Episode 7
A title drop that forgets how these things work. The running gag of the title drop is that it always cuts away whenever the character is about to say — “Invincible.” This time, however, Angstrom Levy says it twice before the episode cuts to the opening credits. Because of this, “What Have I Done?” undermines the dramatic weight that comes with the name — making it a weaker title drop.
18) A Lesson for Your Next Life — Season 2 Episode 1
Levy is a poorly executed villain and his first title drop is equally underwhelming. While using the title card to finish off Levy’s threat imbues it with a sense of dangerous foreboding, the moment is atrociously overacted. Levy is just screaming the entire time and it is honestly kind of annoying. There is no depth or different emotional levels to the line, just one note of rage that makes this title drop play very flat.
17) You’re Not Laughing Now — Season 3 Episode 1
Season 3 kicks off with a standard delivery of the famous line. The best part about this scene is that it shows Cecil Stedman being proud of Mark Grayson. When he says, “He’ll finally live up to the name Invincible,” it proves that despite his callous exterior, Stedman truly believes that Mark Grayson can be — invincible.
16) This Was Supposed to Be Easy — Season 3 Episode 5
The best part about this title drop is who it comes from. Atom Eve is such a pivotal character in this show, so it is nice to finally see her get her time to shine by delivering the episode’s title drop. That said, the reveal itself isn’t great. While the tag of Eve saying “inc” after the title sequence is cute, it plays kind of clunky — if the name of her fake company was just left at “Invincible,” it would have come across a lot better.
15) Who You Calling Ugly? — Season 1 Episode 3
Despite being a powerful moment, the timing really throws this one off. Mark Grayson’s realization that nobody is — invincible — while reflecting upon the death of the Guardians of the Globe, is a strong moment. This scene becomes even more emotionally charged when taken into consideration that Mark Grayson nearly dies at the hands of the same antagonist — his father, Omni-Man. That said, there needed to be an extra beat in between, “none of us are” and the title card. It comes in before Mark Grayson finishes his sentence and because of that, his line about how even the strongest can fall doesn’t have a chance to settle with the audience before the name drop cuts in. This scene’s slight misstep shows that not even a thematically rich title drop is — invincible.
14) That Actually Hurt — Season 1 Episode 5
A rich moment between father and daughter that climaxes in a well-executed title drop. Titan’s hesitation when his daughter asks if he’s a good guy perfectly encapsulates the core of this character — someone who will do the wrong things to do right by the people he loves. Conversely, because of his lack of hesitation when he tells his daughter that the flying man carrying the elephant calls himself, “Invincible,” it highlights how Mark Grayson is truly a hero in this world of morally gray individuals.
13) You Were My Hero — Season 3 Episode 4
A dramatic moment filled with a sense of mystery. While the actual setup for the title card is nothing to fly home about, the subtext behind it is what makes it engaging. There is so much intrigue behind what left this future earth in ruins. So when Mark Grayson meets the leader of this forsaken planet, there is a definite shock value in revealing The Immortal is the one behind it — partially. The Immortal saying “Only one man alive knows me by that name,” makes viewers worried about what happened to the rest of their favorite characters. Also, his uncertainty as to whether Invincible really does stand before him, begs the question of how long has Mark been off world and for what reason. Even though the title drop in “You Were My Hero” is nothing special, the moment is vastly improved by the mysterious undertones present throughout.
12) Neil Armstrong, Eat Your Heart Out — Season 1 Episode 4
A well-placed and humorously off-timed beat of comedy. The visuals of a hiker climbing to the top of Mt. Everest, only to be greeted by two superheroes who flew up there with ease actually packs a comedic punch for how it completely demolishes this person’s notable achievement. While the title drop is also slightly off in terms of timing, it works in this instance to heighten the comedy of the scene. The title card’s coming in a beat too late matches Mark Grayson’s out-of-breath speech pattern. It also allows the viewer to experience a little of what the hiker is feeling since they expect the title to come in at one moment, only for it to drop in another — uniting the character and audience member with an unanticipated shock factor. “Neil Armstrong, Eat Your Heart Out” delivers a funny twist on a typically dramatic moment.
11) Invincible: Atom Eve — Special
A unique title drop for one of the show’s best-supporting characters. While the name drop for Amazon Prime’s special, “Invincible: Atom Eve,” doesn’t employ the title card for a dramatic or thematic purpose, it is no less enjoyable. The titular heroine’s powers washing over the “Invincible” overlay to match her pink and white color scheme is fun. Also, where most other title sequences play that exhilarating score, this one features the song “Witches” by Alice Phoebe Lou. This track matches the Scarlet Witch-reminiscent character incredibly well and carries on that indie superhero vibe “Invincible” Season 1 captured so well.
10) All I Can Say Is I’m Sorry — Season 3 Episode 6
An over-done and over-acted title drop that got taken over by internet meme culture. While Aaron Paul is a great actor and puts his heart and soul into this delivery, the incessant cutting to the title card undermines his character’s anguish — turning it from a dramatic call for justice to a laughable meme. Also, while this is something the episode could not have helped, just an unfortunate byproduct of the internet age, it sounds way too similar to when Paul shouts, “He can’t keep getting away with this,” in “Breaking Bad” — a quote that has been well circulated in meme culture. While it hurts to place “All I Can Say Is I’m Sorry” this low, the comedic overtones conflict with the serious message the episode is trying to make.
9) In About Six Hours I Lose My Virginity to a Fish — Season 2 Episode 2
A very underrated title drop. Where others employ the name “Invincible” for dramatic or comedic effect, this one, while less exciting than those, feels properly heroic. Since the word isn’t said in specific reference to the superhero of the same name and hence, tied to a season’s worth of bloody violence, it’s allowed to take on a very hopeful messaging. When Principal Winslow reminds the graduating class to, “be invincible,” while it does apply to Mark Grayson in a very literal sense, it is refreshing to hear the phrase used in this pure-hearted manner.
8) A Deal with the Devil — Season 3 Episode 2
One of the few times where the title card is actually used to build character development. Cecil Stedman is one of “Invincible’s” most interesting and complex characters. Audiences know that he only uses super-powered individuals as a means to an end to suit the best interests of mankind. So for “A Deal With the Devil” to utilize the title drop to emphasize his distrust of the superhuman, it brings a level of gravitas to the sequence where Stedman shoots the people who just saved his life simply because they are — invincible.
7) This Must Come as a Shock — Season 2 Episode 5
An emotionally resonant scene that uses the title card to showcase Mark Grayson’s growth. Andressa’s acceptance that she will not get to raise her child and that he may not even remember her is heart-wrenching. In light of this, when Andressa hands her son off to Mark Grayson and says, “he’ll need someone invincible,” she calls upon the double meaning of the title word to give her final goodbye extra emotional weight. Not only is she saying her son will need someone strong to protect him, but Andressa is also inadvertently telling Mark Grayson that her son needs Invincible. So when it cuts to the title card and shows the hardened black exterior chip away, it visualizes Mark Grayson starting to forgive his father. “This Must Come as a Shock” is without a doubt the most emotionally impacting title card of the series.
6) This Missive, This Machination! — Season 2 Episode 3
This is how to pull off a specialized title sequence. While “Invincible: Atom Eve’s” is good, it’s mainly carried by the needle drop. “This Missive, This Machination!,” on the other hand, goes full out to make this episode feel like a unique episodic outing. The narrator sets up a clever bait-and-switch that absolutely works. When the voice lists the qualities one needs to change the entire universe, viewers expect the “Invincible” title card to complete the sentence. However, the episode plays with those expectations by revealing that “Allen the Alien” is the hero everyone needs. An additional subversion is how it does the blood splatter. Where this effect is used to foreshadow the danger the heroes are in, Season 2 Episode 3 replaces it with a stylized paint splatter that spells out, “The Alien.” Also, it cannot be without noting the raucous inclusion of Speelburg’s “When You Want Me.” Because of how creatively “This Missive, This Machination!” subverts viewer expectations, it is one of the most fun title cards of the show.
5) It’s About Time — Season 1 Episode 1
This one probably feels the most earned out of any title drop on this list. The scene comes off of Mark Grayson’s first flight in his new suit coupled with his first successful takedown. Additionally, instead of the score being cued by the cutaway, it swells as Mark Grayson swoops in to land a devastating blow on Killcannon. Since this comes from the first episode, it sets the standard for how all the other title drops in the future need to work. Mark Grayson saying, “I’m Invincible,” works on multiple levels to both warn Killcannon he cannot win this fight while also vocalizing him taking up his superhero moniker for the first time. “It’s About Time” is a well-rounded title card that works thematically and sets the standard for what the rest of the show needs to live up to.
4) We Need to Talk — Season 1 Episode 7
Stedman has some of the coolest deliveries and his getting to utter the iconic line for the first time in the series is no exception. This moment is filled with so much dramatic tension from both Stedman and Debbie Grayson. There is a controlled desperation in Stedman’s voice and an equal amount of fear and anger coming from Debbie Grayson. Both of them want to protect Mark Grayson while simultaneously knowing they have to make the sacrifice to give the entirety of humanity a fighting chance. When Stedman asks her, “Where’s Invincible,” it rings like a death sentence to both Debbie Grayson and the viewer who knows Levy is no match for Omni-Man. “We Need to Talk” leverages the literal fate of the world with familial tension to pull off an emotionally layered title sequence.
3) You Look Kinda Dead — Season 1 Episode 6
The first villain title drop of the series and it is still the best. The silhouette of Sinclair surrounded by the corpses of his other ReAnimen creates a haunting image that actually makes the viewer fear for Doug Cheston’s life. What makes this scene even better is how threatening the typically heroic word is. When Sinclair tells Cheston that he will be “invincible,” it sounds like a curse — stripping the typical valiant illusions for that of an unstoppable monster. “You Look Kinda Dead’s” brilliant mutation of the gallant title card into an inescapable, threatening fate is why it is the best villain roll credits of the entire show.
2) Where I Really Come From — Season 1 Episode 8
One of the show’s best episodes still has one of its best title drops. The fight between Invincible and Omni-Man has barely even begun but Mark Grayson has already gotten the stuff beaten out of him — leaving the rest of the heroes with dreaded anticipation knowing they can do nothing but watch. This namedrop incorporates everything that makes these moments the highlights of their respective episodes. Rudy Conners employs the double meaning of the name invincible. This simple line of dialogue calls into question if, after a season of losing fight after fight, Mark Grayson has what it takes to live up to his moniker. Also, the timing and placement of when it cuts to the titles are spot on. Additionally, the massive, deep red blood splatter that paints the hero’s name spells out the carnage viewers are in for. “Where I Really Come From” is an episode that fires on all cylinders and that expertise was not wasted on the title card.
1) It’s Not That Simple — Season 2 Episode 6
A perfect delivery coming from such a scene-stealing, fan-favorite character. Up until this point of the show, Rex Splode has been nothing really more than a douchebag side character, however, Season 2 Episode 6 changes all of that. After he took down the Lizard League all by himself — while being on the verge of death — Splode stands the victor of an impossible battle. Because of this, giving him the honor of saying the iconic words is much deserved. It works as both a heroic moment of triumph and comedic irony since he touts himself as invincible while holding up his missing hand — gushing blood. “It’s Not That Simple” is a well-deserved moment of accomplishment for Splode that highlights how far he has come as a character.
Even though many of the title drops carry dramatic emotional or funny comedic moments, “It’s Not That Simple” is the one instance when the title card feels truly — invincible.
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Featured Image Courtesy of Prime Video
