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Robert Kirkman’sInvincibleis one of the best animated shows of recent times that has been a blast to watch in the age of superhero fatigue, where franchises like Marvel and DC have lost their allure to collect massive numbers at the box office.
The show elevated the standards of a superhero show by introducing the unique concept of Viltrumites, who were introduced as an alien race constantly returning to Earth so that they could make it part of the prestigious Viltrum Empire.
While this was an intriguing concept that made the fans eagerly watch the series, it sounds quite common with a core concept that has not only been originally showcased in Akira Toriyama’sDragon Ballbut also was a core part of it that has kept the Shonen series so popular since 1986.
InvincibleMight Have Copied One Important Aspect ofDragon Ball
Based on the comic book of the same name,Robert Kirkman’sInvinciblehas been a great watch till second, which has even given a brief cameo ofBatman in the show. The show revolves around Mark Grayson, a titular teenage superhero, under the guidance of his father Nolan Grayson/Omni-Man, the most powerful superhero in on earth.
As the plot progressed in Season 1 of the show, it showcased the surprising revelation that Omni-Man was originally sent to Earth to conquer it and make it a part of the prestigious Viltrum Empire.
For fans, who surprisingly have not watched the show even in 2024, the Viltrumites are a warrior race that is known for their immense strength and ambition. The Viltrum Empire is built on the foundation of blood and conquest; these creatures run on only one philosophy: survival of the fittest.
This aspect of the superhero show sounds strikingly similar toAkira Toriyama’sDragon Ball,where infiltration babies were sent to different planets so that they could conquer them. Like the Viltrumites, the Saiyans were also a race with immense pride and power, which fueled their prestige.
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According toDragon Ball Wiki, the power of the Saiyan would decide his social prestige, and it would either classify them as an“upper-level”or a“low-level”warrior. These low-level babies can become scientists, engineers, or infiltration babies.
To put it simply, infiltration babies are sent off to a distant planet where they have to conquer the planet so that they turn into capable warriors and will be allowed to return only after they completely take over the planet they were originally sent to.
However, this is not the only thing that Kirkman copied from the Shonen series because fans would remember that in the initial episodes, Raditz came to Earth to meet a warrior called Kakarot, followed by Nappa and Vegeta.
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InInvincible, a similar incident took place, where Viltrumites would occasionally visit Earth to convince Mark to prove his worth by taking over the complete control of Earth. Though this might break the hearts ofInvinciblefans, this uncanny similarity between the two shows proves that Prime’s animated show copied one important aspect of Toriyama-Sensei’s work.
The Saiyan Saga That Started It All!
In Akira Toriyama’s magnum opus, several iconic arcs have been featured over the years, but none of them could even come close to the charisma of the Saiyan Saga.
The show kicked off 25 years after Goku won the 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament and a mysterious pod landed on Earth. Raditz is a high-level warrior sent to Earth to find a certain warrior called Kakarot.
Part of the saga’s success is because of its narrative appeal, which focused on high-stakes drama. The arc did not take much time to feature Goku’s long-lost brother and the arrival of formidable foes, who are driven by sheer ruthlessness and a never-ending pursuit of power.
Moreover, this arc started the iconic rivalry between Vegeta and Goku, especially their epic showdown that showcased an intriguing blend of martial arts choreography, energy blasts, and side characters stepping up when they needed to.
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As a result, fans were biting their nails in anticipation, wondering what would take place in the next scene of the show that would keep them on the edge of their seats.
Hence, even if there are a ton of sagas in the iconic franchises that feature jaw-dropping transformations, none could come close to the perfect integration of emotional weight, character development, and setting a benchmark for Shonen series, which none have come close to matching.
Dragon Ballis available to stream on Crunchyroll as of June 11, 2025.
Invinciblehas been available to stream on Amazon Prime Video since August 11, 2025.
Tushar Auddy
Senior Writer
Articles Published :1784
Tushar Auddy is a Senior Writer at FandomWire, primarily covering WWE. He has contributed to anime, MCU, DCU, animation, and TV Series, giving sharp insights and coming up with his own unique theories, which take the fandom by storm.
