The Viltrumite War is the story arc Invincible fans have been waiting for since the show began. It’s the storyline that defined the original comics by Robert Kirkman with high-stakes, brutal fights, and consequences that changed the world of the series.
So when episode 4 of season 4 Hurm paused everything to send Mark Grayson on an adventure in Hell with Damien Darkblood, some fans were annoyed by the detour.
Which is understandable, but it was still the right call.
Mark Wasn’t Ready for War Before Episode 4
It makes sense to jump into the Viltrumite War arc as soon as possible. There’s only four episodes left in the season and there’s a lot of ground to cover. We have Nolan seeing his estranged wife Debbie for the first time since season 1. Eve has to tell Mark she’s pregnant with their child. Mark doesn’t know Cecil Stedman lied about killing Conquest, who will be fighting alongside the other Viltrumites. Interrupting the story right before it gets to the good is a bizarre choice.
But Mark wasn’t ready for the Viltrumite War yet.
Before Hurm, Mark was slowly spiraling as he became more comfortable with killing his opponents. One of his greatest fears is becoming another Omni-Man, a ruthless nightmare the world has to be afraid of. That’s why he takes it so hard when he gives in to his violent tendencies. Sending a conflicted Mark into the Viltrumite War would have been a mistake.
The detour to Hell helps Mark by reminding him how different he is from his father. He has more resolve when it comes to making difficult decisions. He can step back and look at the bigger picture, which helps him manage the repercussions better. There is less guilt and trauma to wrestle with.
What Hurm Is Setting Up
Speaking with RadioTimes, Kirkman hinted that the events of Hurm will factor into the upcoming Viltrumite War. He mentioned the Hell storyline is setting the stage for what’s coming later in the series.
The episode ends with Satan warning Damien that Volcanikka could launch another assault on Hell aka the Under-Realm. Not only that, but her behavior is actually a reaction to whatever the humans are plotting on the surface. Satan tells Damien he can return to the surface as a way to keep an eye on things up there for him. Which could potentially cause problems for Cecil as he had banished Damien to Hell back in season 1.
So Hell now has a spy who is going to be interested in seeing how the war plays out. Whether that means Satan wants Damien to get involved or if Volcanikka decides to strike is unknown, the episode has made sure there’ll be plenty of conflicts for Earth to deal with once the war ends.
The Cleverness of an Original Story
One thing about Hurm is that it wasn’t supposed to exist. Kirkman has said the Hell storyline was one he kept meaning to do in the comics but was never used in Invincible’s initial 144 issue run. While working on season 4, the writers found a gap where they could do something new and different.
Because the episode isn’t adapting anything, there’s nothing the writers need to recreate, no fan expectation to satisfy. The result is one of the most focused episodes the show has produced in years. There’s a sense of clarity in Hurm that the series sometimes loses when it’s juggling a dozen ongoing threads from the source material.
There’s something clever in how the episode mirrors Mark’s dilemma back at him through an absurd lens. He spends the season terrified of becoming his father. Then he gets dropped into Hell, and realizes that sometimes killing is the right call. It’s a mindset that, ironically, isn’t all that different from Nolan’s. The episode doesn’t resolve Mark’s internal conflict, but it does help him understand that morality isn’t as black and white as he thinks. Hurm isn’t a perfect episode. But it’s still a fun adventure that gives the series much needed levity after a heavy start to season 4 and a gut-wrenching season 3 finale. Think of it more as a deep breath Invincible takes before we dive right into the Viltrumite War.
