3 Manga That Clearly Inspired Invincible (According to Artist Ryan Ottley)

When fans talk about the fight scenes, shocking gore, and/or the emotional storytelling in Invincible, they tend to compare it to other Western superhero comics. However, Ryan Ottley, the series’ artist, revealed something really surprising. In a recent post on Twitter/X (via @RyanOttley), Ottley openly reminded fans that he was “more inspired by Manga,” especially naming series like Battle Angel Alita, Berserk, and Akira as some of his favorite titles.

This new confession from Ottley comes after one of his fans asked him on Twitter if he watches anime. And, is there any anime that inspired him when creating Invincible? Now, honestly, once you look at Invincible after Ottley’s post, everything suddenly starts making sense – the violence, emotional trauma, raw energy, and even the way Invincible blends hope with brutality – everything feels surprisingly similar to several influential seinen manga series.

How Battle Angel Alita, Berserk, and Akira Influenced Invincible

Of all three manga mentioned by Ottley, it appears that Battle Angel Alita may actually be the most underrated influence on Invincible. Alita: Battle Angel by Yukito Kishiro, which tells the story of the cyborg protagonist struggling to understand her identity within an environment that is both violent and morally corrupt, bears many similarities to Mark Grayson’s journey. Apart from that, even their visual styles seem quite similar at times.

The next is Berserk, the easiest influence to identify. The manga by Kentaro Miura has always been known for blending violence with profound character moments. Invincible follows a very similar pattern. Every brutal moment leaves emotional scars on its characters – Mark repeatedly suffers physically and mentally, much like Guts in Berserk. Apart from that, the frightening appearance of Omni-Man brings the same amount of dread as that of Berserk‘s villains.

Meanwhile, Akira likely influenced Invincible on a much larger thematic scale. Katsuhiro Otomo’s classic manga helped define dystopian sci-fi storytelling with massive destruction, political tension, and catastrophic power escalation.

Invincible is no different, following almost an identical format. What starts as a fairly realistic tale of superheroes eventually escalates into interplanetary warfare, genocides, and world-ending disasters. Thus, the scenes of destruction in Invincible are actually reminiscent of Akira‘s style on many occasions.

Why Invincible Feels Different From Traditional Superhero Stories

One of the things that sets Invincible apart from other superhero universes is how it does not get restricted by any kind of traditional American comic book formulas. While most Western superhero titles tend to start fresh after a major event happens in the storyline, Invincible functions very similarly to typical manga, which means that actions have consequences and character arcs can span several storylines.

That approach is probably why the series connected so strongly with anime and manga fans once the animated adaptation launched on Amazon Prime Video. The emotional pacing feels closer to seinen storytelling than classic superhero comics. Even supporting characters receive development arcs that evolve over long periods instead of disappearing after one storyline.

Ottley’s remarks also provide insights into why Invincible‘s art often seems more energetic than that of most American comics. For example, manga-like page layouts, extreme impact shots, and cinematic destruction all became part of the series’ visual identity over the years. Thus, once you recognize the DNA of Alita, Berserk, and Akira inside Invincible, it becomes impossible to unsee it.

SeriesAnime Rating (IMDb) – as of May 6, 2026Where to Watch

Battle Angel (A 1993 OVA adaptation of the original manga)	7.2/10	Prime Video
Berserk (1997)	8.7/10	Available via Blu-Ray purchase
Akira	8.0/10	Crunchyroll
Invincible	8.7/10	Prime Video

Here are some of the frequently asked questions fans may ask –

So now the big question – which manga influence do you think shaped Invincible the most? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Invincible is currently available to watch on Amazon Prime Video.