Invincible showrunners on superhero fatigue and streaming competition

Invincible's showrunners say superheroes aren't past their prime as the series returns for season four on March 18. "I would argue the zeitgeist has definitely not moved on from a superhero obsession," franchise creator Robert Kirkman says, adding the audience "has become so much more accustomed to superhero stories and savvy about superhero stories." Kirkman, who wrote the original comics, says the problem is that the genre must evolve: simply being a competent movie is not enough anymore.

"They were a very unique, exciting, new thing when Marvel movies started coming out two, three, four times a year," he says. "Now, the audience has grown so accustomed to that storytelling that superhero stories need to elevate the genre. People are as hungry for superheroes as they always have been." Co-showrunner Simon Racioppa argues the baseline remains high because the genre succeeded on its own terms, raising expectations for each new release.

"If you want to pop out of the crowd, being a good show isn't enough," he says.

invincible, robert kirkman, simon racioppa, superheroes, superhero stories, season four, march 18, marvel movies, audience expectations, original comics