Ah, the good old days of schoolyard debates about how my favorite character can totally beat up your favorite character… The world of comic book and cartoon heroes is no stranger to the heated discussions that ignite among fans, especially when it comes to hypothetical battles between iconic characters. Creators rarely wade into the debate, but Robert Kirkman did just that.
A particularly passionate debate that has resurfaced with the advent of Invincible‘s animated success is the hypothetical clash between Omni-Man, the powerful villain-turned-antihero of Robert Kirkman’s creation, and Superman, the quintessential superhero.
Kirkman’s recent comments have poured fuel on this fire, claiming without hesitation that Omni-Man would not just defeat Superman but would do so easily (remember, we did not say this, Kirkman did). This came from a recent interview with IGN, where Kirkman expressed his opinion on the matter with a confidence that borders on provocation.
“That discussion usually ends with people on the internet mad at me because I say that Superman is lame and that Omni-Man would easily beat Superman,” Kirkman stated, fully aware of the controversial nature of his stance.
This isn’t the first time Kirkman has ventured into such discussions. He has previously compared Omni-Man’s strength to that of other powerful characters like Homelander from The Boys, suggesting a clear superiority of his Invincible character over others modeled after the Superman archetype.
Invincible, both as a comic book series and as an animated show, has garnered a loyal following for its complex characters, moral dilemmas, and its action-packed storyline. Season 2, which made its debut in November of last year, is set to continue its story with the release of Part 2 next month. The series boasts an impressive cast, including J.K. Simmons as the voice of Omni-Man and Steven Yeun as the titular character, Invincible.
Kirkman’s comments come at a time when Invincible fans are eagerly anticipating the return of the series, hoping for more explosive battles and character development. The comparison between Omni-Man and Superman, while a fun exercise in speculative fiction, gives food for thought on how superheroes are portrayed in different comics.
While Superman represents the ideal hero, Omni-Man presents a more nuanced, often morally ambiguous figure (to say the least…) that challenges the very perceptions of heroism and power as so many more recent – meaning not silver-age – superhero properties do.
Given these contrasting views, Kirkman’s debate is unlikely to be settled among fans any time soon. On the one hand, many view Superman as one of the most ‘broken’ characters in DC Comics, a view supported by his numerous, almost absurd feats of strength and power.
On the other hand, Omni-Man has proven to be indiscriminately brutal and willing to go to any lengths to achieve his objective. By all appearances, Omni-Man is what Superman would be without his humanity.
So, does that mean Omni-Man would have an upper hand over the Man of Steel? No. Not even close. Bar Omni-Man possessing a Kryptonite weapon or giving Superman a handicap by exposing him to a red sun, Omni-Man is losing this fight 10 times out of 10, and losing it hard!
Part 2 of Invincible Season 2 will premiere on Prime Video on March 14.
