Unveiling Hidden Cameos: Two Black Panther Stars Appear in Invincible Season 4

The animated series “Invincible” excels in casting renowned actors to bring its epic story to life. The show’s ensemble includes many familiar faces, some of whom have donned capes and masks in other superhero franchises. Season 4 of the series raises the stakes by welcoming two talents from the “Black Panther” universe into its fold.

Among the fresh faces in “Invincible” Season 4 is the character Universa, voiced by Danai Gurira. She makes her debut in the season’s first episode, “You Gave Me No Choice,” as an alien intent on draining Earth’s energy to help her own people survive. Gurira is widely recognized for her role as Okoye, the formidable leader of the Dora Milaje, in the “Black Panther” films.

Another intriguing reason for Gurira’s casting in “Invincible” could be her past work. Prior to her “Black Panther” fame, Gurira captivated audiences as the sword-wielding Michonne in “The Walking Dead,” a show based on a graphic novel by Robert Kirkman—creator of “Invincible.” Her addition to the cast extends the growing list of “Walking Dead” alumni crossing over into the superhero realm, such as Steven Yeun as Invincible himself, Lauren Cohan as War Woman, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Conquest.

In Episode 2, Allen (voiced by Seth Rogen) and Omni-Man (J.K. Simmons) embark on a quest for weapons capable of defeating Viltrumites. Their journey leads them to Space Racer, played by Winston Duke, whom Omni-Man had buried long ago. Space Racer possesses the Infinity Ray, a formidable weapon that can obliterate anything, including a Viltrumite, with a single shot. Although Space Racer is initially reluctant to reunite with Omni-Man, witnessing his efforts to atone for past misdeeds might sway him to join the looming conflict.

Episode 2 sees Allen (Seth Rogen) and Omni-Man (J.K. Simmons) searching for weapons powerful enough to kill Viltrumites, which leads them to Space Racer (Winston Duke), whom Omni-Man buried years prior. Space Racer holds the Infinity Ray, which is a gun that can annihilate anything in its path, which means it could take out a Viltrumite in one hit. Space Racer isn’t exactly thrilled to see Omni-Man again, but upon seeing that he’s trying to make amends for his past wrongdoings, it looks as though Space Racer is willing to join the impending war.

Duke’s also a member of the “Black Panther” family, as he plays M’Baku, leader of the Jabari tribe. However, it looks as though he’s received a big promotion, as he introduces himself as the leader of Wakanda to the Fantastic Four in an “Avengers: Doomsday” trailer. This sets him up for a major role in the upcoming superhero blockbuster, as various superhero teams will likely coalesce to handle a multiversal threat. 

Two comic book characters would be enough for most, but Duke has another that most folks probably aren’t aware of — he’s the voice behind Batman in the podcast series “Batman Unburied.” It’s a testament to Duke’s presence and unique voice that he can play very different types of characters and not feel out of place in any of them.

The first three episodes of “Invincible” Season 4 are available on Amazon Prime Video now.