Prime Video’s fan-favorite seriesInvinciblemade a big splash with the release of its second season in November 2023. With the way things ended in Season 1, the new release was highly anticipated and further developedInvinciblein important ways. Sadly, though, there is no release date in sight for thesecond half of Season 2, and the gratification of some gore-laden actionanimationis hard to easily find.
So, we’ve compiled some of the best adult animation shows that run through the same bases asInvincible.From satiric takes on the superhero formula to thought-provoking commentaries on violence and parenthood, to plain old R-rated violence, here are the best shows likeInvincibleto watch next.
10The Venture Bros. (2003-2018)
the venture bros
The Venture Bros.is an Adult Swim series created in 2004 as a parody of the sci-fi adventure shows from the ’60s. With humor as its main focus, the show follows the bumbling antics of a dysfunctional superhero family as they leap from one global mishap to the next. The animated series received considerable acclaim throughout its run, being called thebest Adult Swim series ever, even finding a place on IGN’s Best 100 Animated Series list.
Generational Trauma and Parental Legacy
While the show is defined on the surface by its constant references to old animated show tropes, it endeared itself to fans by its exploration of the complex nature of intergenerational trauma and how the family nexus shapes individuals. The patriarch of the Venture family, Dr. Thaddeus is defined by the shadow of his vastly more successful father, and his schemes are all motivated by a desire to live up to the legacy. The exploration of familial bonds shown inThe Venture Bros.will be a compelling experience if you enjoyed the same inInvincible.Stream on Max
9The Awesomes (2013-2015)
The Awesomesis another animated comedy show that directly parodies the superhero genre. The series begins when the titular superhero team disbands after its leader, Mr. Awesome, announces retirement. Replacing the original team, Mr. Awesome’s son Prock decides to lead the second generation of The Awesomes, working with superhero rejects as no established hero wants to work under the young leader.
Lighthearted Parody and Public Scrutiny
The Awesomescomes without the intense gore and violence that definesInvincibleto a great extent. However, it is still a promising show to check out. The world ofThe Awesomesis filled with witty, lighthearted subversions of common superhero tropes, and delivers an alternate portrayal of the superhero genre by focusing on the public perception of the young new team. Prock’s attempt to be accepted by the world makes up a big part of the show and each member of his team also grapples with their own familial issues.Stream on Hulu
8Hit-Monkey (2021)
Hit Monkey
Residing deep within the territory of adult animated shows, the underrated showHit-Monkeyis a delicious composition full of crackpot action and a story that is bonkers from the get-go. Based on theweird Marvel characterof the same name, the show follows a blood-soaked campaign of violence waged by none other than an assassin monkey.
The titular character of the show learns his skills from a runaway human assassin, who is rescued by his tribe of Japanese macaques. When the assassin’s pursuers finally catch up to him, the ensuing bloodbath leaves the entire tribe of monkeys dead alongside the assassin himself. Armed with a seething desire for revenge and the assassin’s ghost in two, Hit-Monkey sets out on a blood-soaked campaign of violence in the human world.
Simian John Wick Causes Panic in the Underworld
Following the delightful oddity of the initial premise,Hit-Monkeycarries that same energy across its two seasons, from its humor to its violent action sequences. The general undercurrent is that of the same delightful shock as the moment inInvinciblewhere Omni-Man sagely annihilates the entire Guardians of the Globe.
And the series doesn’t stop there: a well-rounded cast of characters paints a picture of a world beyond Hit-Monkey’s campaign, portraying the violent protagonist as a forceful intruder in an elaborate world with its own designs.Stream on Hulu
Related:16 Best Animated Shows For Adults
7Vinland Saga (2019-2023)
Vinland Sagais an iconic anime show with virtually no comparison. The series is essentially about the son of a legendary Viking warrior who sets down the path of revenge after his father’s death. Along the way, though, he goes through harrowing experiences that change him on a fundamental level, eventually seeing the futility of violence. Set amidst the political upheavals of medieval England,Vinland Sagadraws a complex political background upon which to narrate its story.
Violence and Self-Discovery
Vinland Sagamakes for a gripping contrast to the more conventional superhero story ofInvincible, which, despite its deviations from the standard superhero formula, still follows a hero who seeks to understand what heroism is all about. However, these two series have enough in common to deliver some of the same kicks.
WhileInvinciblepairs its violence with sitcom-ish pathos,Vinland Saga’s action is punctuated by a deep sense of rumination, which grows to take center stage, especially in the second season. Both shows follow protagonists on a journey of self-discovery as they explore their relationship to violence and choose a stance on a strong paternal legacy.Stream on Netflix or Crunchyroll
6The Legend of Vox Machina (2022-Present)
Moving towards a lighter tone,The Legend of Vox Machinadelivers fully on the pure entertainment that a good actionfantasy TV showcan offer. Based on the campaigns played out on theDungeons & Dragonsweb seriesCritical Role, the series has everything you need for a fun time. As it is voiced by the original cast ofCritical Role, you get top-notch voice acting and character chemistry in heaps.
Alongside that, you have an earful of witty banter, exquisite animation that combines 2D and 3D effects, as well as dragons and other mythical creatures to boot. The show crafts a fine balance of all the right things; everything fits together like cogs in a wheel.
Everything a Good Action Animation Show Should Be
Strong, ponderous themes are simply an expected addition to any animated show aimed at an adult audience.Invincibleobviously has its fair share of reflections for you to chew on. At the same time, though, it also adheres to many of the common superhero elements in the course of its subversion, from its myriad antagonists to the villain who softens with fatherhood. Sometimes you just want more of the bloody theatrics and less of the thought-provoking drama. And if you love that aboutInvincible,The Legend of Vox Machinais right up your alley.Stream on Prime Video
5Blood of Zeus (2020-Present)
The Netflix seriesBlood of Zeusis another fantasy action show on this list, this one replacing superheroes with the gods of Greek mythology. The series features an original character in the role of protagonist, the demigod Heron who was sired by none other than Zeus himself. Oblivious to his true heritage, Heron lives a quiet life with his mother at the beginning of the show as a miner. However, his father has bigger plans for him. As a supernatural war between gods and giants brews in the near future, Zeus sees Heron as a potential savior of mankind. Between demonic threats and conspiracies of the spiteful Hera, though, he has his work cut out for him.
A Father-Son Tale That Takes Place Amidst World-Ending Threats
Blood of Zeusdoesn’t hold back from the gory violence that one expects from an adult animated show, and there’s plenty of power-packed action scenes to keep you busy. At the same time, much of the narrative is driven by the relationship between Heron and Zeus, while the infighting between the Olympian gods also figures into the story in a major way. As Heron struggles against his legacy and learns to trust his father in the fight for good, his character journey shows obvious parallels to that of Mark inInvincible.Stream on Netflix
4Castlevania (2017-2021)
Castlevania
Netflix’s adaptation of the famedCastlevaniavideo games is perhaps thebest animated show about vampires, ever. Set apart by a unique animation style that seemed tailor-made for portraying vampire slaughter, the series further established its own unique identity with memorable heroes and villains, each written with compelling motivations and backstories.
It’s a show with a classic premise, following a band of vampire hunters as they fight back against one big bad after another. Yet, the thrilling action, the gory spectacle, and rousing performances make it an engaging watch that never fails to delight.
Exploring the Nature of Good and Evil
Casltevania’s animation is so unique that the series deserves a watch on that basis alone. However, the cherry on top is its careful treatment of its villains and its exploration of the nature of good and evil. The series takes its time revealing the motivations of its villains, revealing how they are driven by fundamentally human emotions — love, loss, and the many ways people cope with them.
These themes unveil themselves in the show through some compelling plot points, the best example of which is the premise of the first season itself: after his human wife is burned by humans on accusations of witchcraft, Dracula declares war on an entire nation.Stream on Netflix
Related:Best Anime Series That Deserve a Live-Action Movie Adaptation
3Primal (2019-Present)
Created by the revered animation storyteller Genndy Tartakovsky,Primalis a one-of-a-kind show that goes all-in on action and emotion to tell a story that is at once brutal and heartfelt. It is set in an alternate prehistoric era and begins with a striking premise — an unlikely partnership between a caveman and a tyrannosaur who bond over their grief of losing their family, and set out to survive the world together.
Visceral Emotion at Its Best
The concept behindPrimalsounds more like an art project than a full-blown series, backed by a major network. It is the brilliant mind of Genndy Tarkovsky that makes such a deceptively simple idea work with such outright splendor. In keeping with the concept of prehistoric survival,Primalis a series with zero dialogue. Instead, it is the visceral gore and the abject threats poised on every corner that makes the series come to life.
As the man-dinosaur duo explore their world together, the brutalities they face together allows the show to open up its reflective side, where the essential human emotions blossom with great tenderness — an effect that achieves a remarkably unique flavor in the adult animated genre context.Stream on Max
2Devilman Crybaby (2018)
Devilman Crybabyis one of the bestadult anime showsof recent time, with a retro-ethereal animation style and storytelling of a shockingly bleak variety. The show takes place in a world that discovers that biblical demons are quite real and are scheming to take over humanity by secretly infiltrating human society.
High school student Akira becomes an unlikely savior of humanity after a demonic possession attempt turns him into a “devilman” — a human with the power of demons. Teaming up with his childhood best friend Ryo, he tries his best to show up in his newfound role as hero.
Where Good Doesn’t Always Win
Action cinema, and animated action in particular, often strains against the limitations of the genre — one where every audience member is familiar with the major tropes, and expect good to prevail in the end. The appeal of adult animated shows is in the fact that they habitually mess with these expectations while building upon the same initial world-building as conventional animated shows.
By embracing the ultimate possibility of evil’s triumph, the show keeps the audience on its toes and delights viewers by showcasing the gruesome realities of war, and the sacrifices demanded by heroism. It’s a feature thatInvincibleviewers are well aware of, andDevilman Crybabyis structured with the express intent of going the distance with this ultimate threat.Stream on Netflix
1Todd McFarlane’s Spawn (1997-1999)
The 1997 seriesTodd McFarlane’s Spawnwas one of the early successes in adult animated series that paved the way for shows likeInvincible. The series was based on the beloved Image Comics character of the same name, and followed a highly skilled government assassin named Al Simmons.
Betrayed and murdered by a close friend, Simmons finds himself in hell at the show’s beginning, where he makes a deal with the devil to become a spawn of hell. In exchange, he gets the opportunity to walk the earth again, where the superpowered being decides to become a protector of earth.
Batman with Guns and Gore
The art style and mythos surrounding the lead character ofSpawncomes with plenty of parallels to Batman, especiallyBatman: The Animated Series. The difference is that, per lore, Spawn is everything that Batman portrays himself to be: a supernatural phantom endowed with a variety of demonic powers, and zero qualms about taking lives.Stream on Max
