Invincible Waited 4 Seasons For Its Best The Walking Dead Easter Egg

Warning: This article Contains SPOILERS for Invincible season 4, episode 5, “Give Us a Moment.”

Invincible‘s ties to The Walking Dead return all the way in which to their unique comedian runs, as the 2 franchises share the identical creator. While they happen in fully totally different universes and share little overlap story-wise, Robert Kirkman has positioned loads of Walking Dead Easter Eggs in Invincible and vice versa, significantly within the TV diversifications.

The Walking Dead‘s nods to the superhero IP are much more delicate, as motion figures and comics could be noticed within the zombie sequence. However, Mark biting Conquest in Invincible season 3 was simply one in every of a number of methods Prime Video’s hit present has paid homage to Kirkman’s different main franchise, and season 4 simply continued this pattern.

During Tech Jacket’s formal introduction in Invincible season 4, she was seen taking over an unhinged and probably harmful new enemy — one which she took down with ease. While this foe could not look overly acquainted to non-comic followers, the villain’s title will definitely ring some bells, proving Invincible is not achieved with its TWD references simply but.

Invincible Season 4, Episode 5 Introduces “The Walking Dread”

The Walking Dread grabbing power cables in Invincible season 4 — The Walking Dread grabbing energy cables in Invincible season 4

Having included direct references to the present, shared varied voice actors, and even featured a dimension crammed with zombies, Invincible clearly is not shy about shouting out The Walking Dead, however its season 4 Easter Egg is well one of the best but. We’ve seen all types of ridiculous villains within the animated mission, however none have fairly been like The Walking Dread.

The not-so-subtle title is a hilarious on-the-nose nod to Kirkman’s post-apocalyptic masterpiece, and the character definitely resembles some traits of The Walking Dead. Firstly, regardless of being a tall, muscular brute, The Walking Dread’s facial construction is considerably zombie-like. Visually, he appears to be like loads like an even bigger ReAnimen, that are Invincible‘s model of mechanical zombies, making this design alternative appear intentional.

The Walking Dread’s voice actor, Phil Lamarr, additionally voices Lucan in Invincible.

Additionally, he looks like a senseless supply of destruction, searching for as a lot energy as he can get, since he has the flexibility to soak up power. His season 4 cameo was doubtless a results of him working for Invincible‘s criminal organization known as the Order, as he was first seen throughout one in every of their conferences again in season 3.

Although the villain is clearly robust, all the pieces about him suggests he is virtually a strolling zombie that hardly thinks and operates purely on intuition. Therefore, The Walking Dread’s title acts as greater than a easy Walking Dead pun. Instead, it symbolizes the character’s similarities to the undead, making it Invincible‘s best TWD Easter Egg up to now.

A Short History Of Invincible’s Connections To The Walking Dead

Mark Grayson between imagery from The Walking Dead and Invincible

Considering The Walking Dead and Invincible are two of Robert Kirkman’s most profitable comics and TV exhibits, it would not come as a significant shock that they share an in depth historical past. Even when focusing purely on the televised initiatives, the overlap is somewhat attention-grabbing, as there are many acknowledgments from one sequence to the opposite.

As talked about earlier, toys of Mark, Atom Eve, Omni-Man, and Allen the Alien can all be noticed in The Walking Dead season 6, episode 8, whereas Carl can be seen studying an Invincible comedian sooner or later all through the sequence. On the flip facet, Invincible pays homage to The Walking Dead in a large number of various methods.

Mark biting Conquest mimics Rick’s chunk on Joe in season 4, which is among the present’s extra delicate references. However, throughout season 2, Angstrom Levy traveled by means of varied dimensions, one in every of which was a model of Earth that had been overrun by zombies, appearing as a way more apparent nod in direction of Kirkman’s well-liked franchise.

Mark even results in this dimension throughout season 2’s finale and is surrounded by zombies, however he’s teleported again to the present’s primary actuality earlier than we see what occurred. Perhaps the largest overlap between the 2 initiatives is the solid members, as lots of Invincible‘s characters are voiced by Walking Dead legends.

Just not too long ago, Invincible season 4 cast The Walking Dead‘s Danai Gurira as Universa, one 12 months after Jeffrey Dean Morgan debuted as Conquest. Steven Yeun additionally performs the protagonist, Mark Grayson, whereas each Ross Marquand and Khary Payton are regulars within the superhero present.

In the very first episode, Lauren Cohan, Michael Cudlitz, Sonequa Martin-Green, Chad Coleman, and Lennie James lent their voices to Invincible‘s unique Guardians of the Globe. As a outcome, these two Robert Kirkman IPs clearly share a plethora of connections, with The Walking Dread’s newest look persevering with this long-running pattern.