Relationships in superhero stories are usually pretty predictable. You’ve got the hero, the love interest, and the goofy sidekick who doesn't know the secret. But the dynamic between Mark Grayson and William Clockwell in Invincible is a whole different beast. Honestly, if you’ve only watched the Amazon Prime series, you’re only getting half the story—and if you’ve only read the comics, you’re missing out on how much the show actually fixed.
People keep trying to ship them or "unpack" their bond like it’s some hidden romance. It isn't. Not in the main timeline, anyway. But that doesn't mean it isn't one of the most complicated, occasionally toxic, and deeply loyal friendships in modern fiction.
The Massive Change Nobody Noticed (At First)
In the original Robert Kirkman comics, William Clockwell wasn't out from the start. Not even close. Back in 2003, he was written as your typical, slightly annoying, casually homophobic teenager. He used "gay" as a punchline. He dated Eve (yes, Atom Eve) for a bit. It wasn't until much later in the series, around the college years, that William finally came out to Mark.
The show flipped the script. In the Amazon series, William is out, proud, and voiced by Andrew Rannells. This change was huge. It shifted the "Mark x William Invincible" dynamic from a story about a secret identity and a secret sexuality to a story about two guys who just... know each other.
But here is the thing: because William is already out in the show, some fans—especially those who love a good "slow burn"—started wondering if Mark was his endgame. He isn't. William’s heart belongs to Rick Sheridan, the guy who got turned into a cyborg (ReAniman) by the creepy D.A. Sinclair. That tragedy actually defines William more than his friendship with Mark ever could.
Why the "I Miss William" Moment Broke the Internet
If you’ve been hanging around the Invincible fandom lately, you’ve probably seen the "I miss William" memes. This comes from a specific scene involving an alternate-universe version of Mark Grayson.
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In Season 2, we meet a version of Mark who has basically lost everything. When he says, "I miss William," he sounds utterly destroyed. It’s not the casual "I miss my bro" tone. It’s heavy. It’s desperate.
Expert Note: Storyboard artists and writers have hinted that in some of these infinite realities, Mark and William were actually a couple.
This is where the Mark x William Invincible search traffic usually comes from. In the multiverse, anything is possible. In one world, they are boyfriends; in another, they might be enemies. But in the "Prime" universe we follow, their bond is strictly platonic.
Wait. Is "platonic" even the right word when one friend constantly risks his life for the other?
Let’s Be Real: William Is Kind of a Jerk
We have to talk about the Rick situation. When Rick went missing at Upstate University, William was rightfully terrified. But he also turned on Mark fast. He blamed Mark for not being fast enough, for not caring enough, and for being too wrapped up in his own superhero drama.
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It’s a rare moment of "superhero fatigue" from a civilian's perspective. William doesn't see a hero; he sees a friend who is failing him.
Varying the pace here—Mark is invulnerable. William is human. That gap is massive. William is the only person who treats Mark like a normal kid, which Mark desperately needs, but he also uses that closeness to guilt-trip him. He demands flights across the city. He expects Mark to fetch sushi from Tokyo. It’s a selfish friendship, but in a world where everyone wants Mark to save the planet, having a friend who just wants a free ride to the mall is strangely grounding.
The ReAniman Trauma
The most defining moment for them isn't a fight with a Viltrumite. It's the sewer scene with D.A. Sinclair.
- The Stakes: William has to watch the guy he loves (Rick) get mutilated and turned into a mindless robot.
- The Breaking Point: William is the one who reaches Rick. Not Mark’s punches. Not some gadget. It’s William’s voice.
- The Aftermath: In Season 2 and into Season 3, we see the fallout. Rick is back, but he’s "mostly a robot skeleton" underneath. William has to navigate being a boyfriend to a survivor of horrific trauma.
Mark can’t help with that. He can fly into space and punch aliens, but he can’t fix Rick’s PTSD. This creates a distance between Mark and William that the show explores brilliantly. They are growing apart because their traumas are so different. One is cosmic; the other is deeply personal.
What Most People Get Wrong About Them
A lot of fans think William is just the "token gay best friend." If you think that, you aren't paying attention. William is a catalyst for Mark's humanity.
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Think about it. When Omni-Man (Nolan) was murdering the Guardians of the Globe, who was Mark with? He was with William. When Mark is at his lowest point after the battle in Chicago, who is there to make a snarky comment? William.
He isn't there to be a "representation" checkbox. He's there to be the anchor. Even when he’s being a total brat about Mark’s secret identity—remember when he almost blurted it out to Eve?—he’s doing it because he doesn't respect the "superhero" rules. He only respects Mark.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Creators
If you’re following the story or writing your own fiction based on these two, here is how to keep the character integrity intact:
- Focus on the civilian perspective. The best Mark and William moments happen when the capes are off. Use the contrast between Mark’s god-like power and William’s everyday problems to create tension.
- Don't ignore the comic history. Understanding that William was originally a "closeted jerk" makes his transformation into a supportive (but still sassy) friend in the show much more meaningful.
- Respect the Rick factor. You can’t talk about William without talking about Rick Sheridan. Their relationship is the emotional heart of William’s character arc.
- The Multiverse is your playground. If you really want to see a romantic version of them, look to the alternate Marks. The show has explicitly opened that door, even if it stays closed in the main timeline.
The reality is that Mark x William Invincible works because it’s messy. It isn't a perfect bromance, and it isn't a hidden romance. It’s just two kids from high school trying to survive a world that keeps trying to tear them (and their limbs) apart.