Rob Liefeld Claims Superman Faces an Invincible Problem

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A prominent figure in the comic book world, Robert Kirkman, recently discussed the portrayal of heroism, drawing parallels between the challenges faced by Superman in ‘Man of Steel’ and those explored in his own acclaimed series, ‘Invincible’.

I was listening to Rob Liefeld‘s podcast, and Robert Kirkman – yeah, the guy behind The Walking Dead – was talking about Superman. He thinks Superman’s had a bit of a tough time, even though he’s still super popular and a huge part of our culture. He had some interesting thoughts on how the character’s been doing over the years, and it really made me think!

Liefeld thinks Superman is facing a major challenge. He believes the success of Invincible—the comic by Robert Kirkman and Ryan Ottley, and its TV adaptation—has completely changed the superhero landscape, and now it’s up to Superman to find a way to evolve and stay relevant. He discussed this with Kirkman, stating that Invincible and its show are now setting the standard for this type of superhero story.

Look, as a long-time comic fan, I get why people are talking about similarities between Superman and Invincible. Sometimes I see DC giving Superman a kid, or making the Kryptonians act like the Viltrumites, and I think, ‘That’s a little strange!’ But I’m not saying DC is copying anything. These are really talented creators, and I think it’s just what’s popular right now. It’s not like someone sat down and said, ‘Kryptonians would be way better if they were more like the Viltrumites…’ though, honestly, maybe they would be! I just don’t think it’s intentional.

It’s common for entertainment to draw inspiration from existing popular works, so it’s understandable why Kirkman might have been influenced by various Superman stories. Both Invincible and Superman have changed over time, and as the saying goes, imitation is a form of praise. Perhaps the Viltrumites, with their similarities to Superman, are actually a tribute to Kirkman’s impact on the genre.

Robert Kirkman Thinks Manga Readers Should Explore Image Comics More

The huge popularity of manga worldwide has reminded everyone how important traditional printed comics still are. Because manga and comic books have so much in common, Robert Kirkman suggests that anyone looking for a new series should check out some titles from Image Comics.

During the same podcast interview with Liefeld, Kirkman discussed how Image Comics could connect with a dedicated fanbase. He pointed out that manga’s success stems from its ability to adapt into anime. “We’re seeing with Invincible that American comics can achieve the same thing,” he said, suggesting a similar pathway for other titles.

Kirkman believes that while Marvel and DC are popular, they ultimately restrict creative possibilities. He suggests that any enthusiasm for comics, especially from fans of manga, will eventually lead people to Image Comics, as Image is where that kind of storytelling thrives.

Countless Superman comics and Invincible can be read wherever comic books are sold.

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2026-05-03 00:07