‘Invincible’ Creator Robert Kirkman Discusses Tech Jacket Gender Change in Season 4

The creator of ‘Invincible’, Robert Kirkman, recently addressed a significant alteration made in the show’s fourth season. The Prime Video series has introduced a new version of Tech Jacket, changing the character’s gender and backstory from the original comics.

In an interview with The Wrap, Kirkman elaborated on the creative decision behind this change while adapting the story for television.

In the comics, Tech Jacket is Zack Thompson, a male hero who wields advanced alien technology. However, in the series, the character is reimagined as Zoey Thompson. Kirkman noted that while the original version remains a strong character, he felt the narrative did not require another similar figure for the TV adaptation.

He explained that the team aimed to shift the focus of the story for the Viltrumite War arc. Kirkman felt that Zack’s role overlapped too much with existing characters, particularly Mark and Oliver.

As he put it, “There’s just a lot of similarities there.”

Season 4 of ‘Invincible’ follows the heroes as they depart from Earth and prepare for a larger conflict against formidable foes like Conquest and Grand Regent Thragg. In the comics, the team entering this battle includes Mark, Nolan, Oliver, Allen the Alien, Battle Beast, Space Racer, and Zack Thompson, predominantly male characters.

The TV adaptation alters this lineup by substituting Zack with Zoey while retaining the Tech Jacket identity. According to Kirkman, this adjustment was made to enhance the overall balance of the cast and prevent an excess of similar character types.

Kirkman also reflected on the early days of the comic book, admitting that he and artist Cory Walker did not prioritize character diversity when they began ‘Invincible’.

As he stated, “One of the downsides of ‘Invincible’ is Cory Walker and I were like 23 and 21 when we started that book, and your default when you’re not really paying attention is yourself. Every time we introduce another character, ‘Oh look! It’s another white male! Who knew?’ It’s just a shortcoming that we hadn’t quite noticed and done our due diligence to correct.”

The fourth season of ‘Invincible’ recently concluded with its finale episode titled “Don’t Leave Me Hanging Here,” which aired on April 22 on Prime Video. Fans are now eagerly awaiting updates about Season 5 while discussing the changes made in the latest season.

Such changes are common in adaptations, especially when transforming a comic into a long-running series. Sometimes, these adjustments help the story feel more balanced on screen, even if they deviate from the original material. However, fans can be divided when a familiar character undergoes such changes. What are your thoughts on this decision in ‘Invincible’? Do you prefer sticking closely to the comics, or are you comfortable with adaptations that include changes like this?