Invincible Creator Robert Kirkman revealed that the decision to gender-swap hero Tech Jacket was an intentional move to correct a “gap” from the original 2002 comics.
Speaking after the Prime Video series’ season 4 finale, the showrunner explained that the character of Zack Thompson was reimagined as Zoe Thompson to bring more variety to the animated adaptation.
Kirkman admitted that when he and co-creator Cory Walker started the books in their early 20s, their fault was often creating characters that reflected themselves, leading to a cast lacking diversity.
Beyond the goal of representation, the change was also made to help the character stand out narratively alongside the series’ protagonists.
Kirkman noted that in the context of the Viltrumite War story, a male Tech Jacket shared too many similarities with Mark and Oliver Grayson.
In introducing Zoe, voiced by Zoey Deutch, the production team found a way to differentiate the hero’s personality and point of view from the other masked crusaders on screen.
Interestingly, Kirkman took inspiration for Zoe’s personality from his own daughter, particularly a humorous moment in the series where Zoe’s father unsuccessfully tries to stop her from swearing.
This version of the character, whose high-tech alien armor is voiced by LeVar Burton, made a significant impact during the second half of the fourth season.
Kirkman said The wrap that even though the original Zack Thompson was a complete character with his own series, the transition to Zoe allowed the series to address the lack of due diligence on the part of the creators’ younger years.
It’s a move that aligns with the series’ ongoing efforts to update and refine the source material for a modern global audience while keeping the high-stakes action intact.
Fans won’t have to wait long to see where Zoe’s journey goes, as Invincible got an early season 5 renewal last July.
For those looking to catch up on galactic battles and family drama, every episode from the first four seasons is currently available to stream on Prime Video.
As the series continues to evolve, Kirkman seems determined to ensure that the world of Invincible feels more inclusive and distinct than the one he first put to paper more than two decades ago.
