‘Invincible’ Creator Robert Kirkman: Superhero Fatigue Is Not “A Real Thing”

Invincible creator Robert Kirkman dismissed the notion that audiences will eventually get bored of superhero movies and shows: “I don’t think superhero fatigue is a real thing.”

In 2021 and 2022, Hollywood reached the pinnacle of superhero movie saturation, releasing nine films each year. The genre continues to be a cornerstone of the industry, and we’re only going to see more comic book movies. For instance, in June we’ll see James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DC Studios franchise kick off with Superman. And at the same time, the Marvel Cinematic Universe will introduce fans to the all-new Fantastic Four. These two movies are among the most anticipated flicks of the year.

The term ‘superhero fatigue’ has been thrown around for years at this point. It references the idea that audiences will tire of superhero stories. While fatigue has been proven in some aspects, such as numerous underperforming films, the genre continues to churn out billion-dollar pictures. Most recently was Deadpool & Wolverine, which garnered $1.338 billion at the box office.

So with all of that said, is superhero fatigue a thing? If you ask Invincible creator Robert Kirkman, his answer would be no, although there is a caveat. “I don’t think superhero fatigue is a real thing, but I do think that the genre of superhero storytelling has become so ubiquitous that it’s gotten to a point where it’s not fresh and it’s not new,” Kirkman recently told Variety.

“You can’t just be a superhero show and not have anything special about you anymore because I think the novelty has worn off. But that’s really exciting to me, because now it means that everyone is so familiar with superheroes that you can push things in interesting directions.”

One thing is for sure, Prime Video’s animated adaptation of Kirkman’s Invincible has not suffered at all from superhero fatigue. The show is currently in its third season, and it’s still getting overwhelmingly positive review. Kirkman has previously stated that the series could run for upwards of 8 seasons, and we are here for it!

Invincible season 3 is now streaming on Prime Video. You can stream it here.