Invincible Season 4: A Detour into the Underrealm and a Looming Reunion
Spoilers follow for Invincible Season 4, Episode 4, “Hurm,” which is available on Prime Video now.
After a momentous three-part premiere, Invincible’s fourth season takes a detour with “Hurm,” an episode that, while thematically relevant, feels like a temporary side quest. The episode, based on a story series creator Robert Kirkman never got around to writing in the comics, does little to advance the characters’ ongoing arcs.
A Soul-Searching Visit and a Sudden Departure
“Hurm,” named for the grunting catchphrase of hellish P.I. Damien Darkblood—described as a blend of Hellboy, Rorschach, and Constantine—begins with Mark Grayson visiting Art, his father’s old costume maker, for some soul-searching. Terrified of becoming like his father, Mark receives reassurance from Art, voiced by Mark Hamill, who tells him, “The fact that it’s eating you alive means you’re not him.” However, this emotional thread is quickly interrupted by a phone call that whisks Mark away.
Into the Underrealm
The episode features a brief return of the ghostly mummy Ka-Hor, a running joke, before Mark is teleported to Hell—also known as the Underrealm—amidst a battle between Darkblood’s demonic forces and Volcanikka (voiced by Indira Varma). Prior to Mark’s arrival, the episode establishes a broader mythology, showcasing Darkblood’s sister Domina being brutally torn apart by Volcanikka’s forces, prompting Darkblood to summon Mark.
A Fetch Quest and Lore-Bombing
After nearly attacking the Devil himself (played by Bruce Campbell), Mark is tasked with a fetch quest and receives exposition about the repetition of “ages” and remnants of previous worlds in the form of volcanic monsters. Mark’s boredom and annoyance with Darkblood’s explanations contribute to a detached tone. The action sequences, while featuring the Greek hell hound Cerberus, lack the emotional weight and reflection Mark is grappling with.
Missed Opportunities and a Thrash Metal Soundtrack
The episode’s lack of cutaways to other subplots, a usual element of the show, is noticeable. Despite Kirkman’s long-held desire to tell this story, it feels misplaced and doesn’t allow the Darkbloods to develop their own narrative. The use of Thrash Metal during the subterranean fights is considered a rare misstep in the show’s soundtrack choices, as the action doesn’t quite earn the intensity of the music.
A Cliffhanger Ending
The episode concludes with a cliffhanger: Eve reveals her pregnancy to her friend William and intends to tell Mark, but is interrupted by the arrival of Allen and Nolan Grayson—Mark’s father—hovering above Mark’s neighborhood in his first appearance on Earth since leaving as a genocidal envoy.
While “Hurm” may not offer immediate emotional complications, the follow-up it promises is gripping.