Until now, every fighter revealed for Invincible VS., the thrilling 3v3 tag game based on Skybound’s Invincible series, has been a super-powered hero. But that all changed today at New York Comic Con! Skybound and developer Quarter Up made a groundbreaking announcement: Cecil Stedman, the brilliant but very human head of the Global Defense Agency, is officially joining the playable roster.
Crafting a character as ordinary as Cecil to go head-to-head with powerhouses like Omni-Man and Invincible demands a fresh perspective. We had the exclusive opportunity to chat with Invincible creator Robert Kirkman and various members of the Quarter Up development team. They shared fascinating insights into the creative journey of bringing Cecil and his unconventional skillset into the game.
A dedicated gameplay reveal trailer showcasing Cecil Stedman’s unique fighting style was also released, giving fans their first look at him in action.
Just a Human? Not Exactly!
In a world of superheroes, Cecil Stedman is refreshingly, well, human. But don’t let that fool you. Instead of relying on brute strength or lightning speed, Cecil leverages the colossal resources of his government agency to unleash an arsenal of powerful attacks. This unique approach was fundamental to his design in Invincible VS., transforming him into a surprisingly formidable opponent.
Executive producer Mike Willette highlighted Cecil’s unconventional combat style. "He might not have infinite funds," Willette mused, "but he’s certainly putting a lot of taxpayer money to good use!" This wealth of resources allows Cecil to teleport and quickly navigate the arena, compensating for his lack of inherent superpowers. While other characters soar or double-jump, Cecil’s government-funded tech ensures he moves with impressive agility.
Willette further elaborated on Cecil’s strategic depth, noting his role as a master manipulator. "He’s got projectiles with curved trajectories and a sonic mine that hovers before detonating," Willette explained. "He brings a ton of ranged utility to the table, capable of overwhelming the screen with attacks, almost like a ‘bullet hell.’ The moment he lands a hit, he seamlessly transitions into our robust combo system."
Beyond his moveset, the visual design presented another significant hurdle: how to make a regular human appear genuinely imposing when pitted against incredibly muscular, super-powered beings like Omni-Man. Skybound art director Dan Eder shared insights into how the team visually amplified Cecil’s presence.
"Our big question was, how do we make him look formidable without giving him the hulking physique of characters like Omni-Man?" Eder recounted. While the team drew heavily from the visual style of the Invincible show, Eder admitted that the artistic process involved countless iterations for each new character. "It’s been incredibly challenging but also immensely rewarding," he stated. "Ultimately, we believe he feels completely authentic to his character and fits cohesively within the diverse roster, despite their visual differences."
A captivating image of Cecil Stedman in action was provided, showcasing his unique presence on the battlefield. Additionally, a full gallery of screenshots offers further glimpses into his design and abilities.
Weaving into the Invincible Universe
Cecil’s introduction also heralds an entirely original story arc within Invincible VS. While the development team remained tight-lipped about the exact timeline placement, Robert Kirkman assured fans of a seamless narrative integration. He confirmed that Skybound and Quarter Up collaborated extensively to ensure the story feels like an authentic extension of the broader Invincible series.
Kirkman revealed, "Narrative director Mike Rogers has been working hand-in-hand with Helen Leigh, a pivotal writer on the Invincible series and co-writer of the Atom Eve game. There’s a thoughtful logic to how this game’s story mode will align with the television show’s narrative. While we’re keeping some details under wraps for now, fans can expect a truly fantastic experience that’s specifically crafted to fit within that universe."
Rogers himself described the Invincible VS. story as akin to a "standalone special" within the larger Invincible saga. "Collaborating with Helen and Robert has been an absolute pleasure," Rogers commented, "allowing us to genuinely capture the essence of the Invincible universe."
Unlike the Atom Eve game, which centered on a single character’s narrative adventure, Invincible VS. provided the narrative team with a much richer ensemble of characters to explore. For Kirkman, this opportunity to utilize the characters in novel ways is a key factor in the project’s appeal.
"It’s exciting because it’s a much larger canvas for them to create on," Kirkman enthused. "The interactions between these characters in the game’s story are, at times, quite unique and haven’t been extensively explored in other Invincible media."
Invincible VS. is slated for release in 2026 across Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC. Cecil Stedman joins an already impressive lineup that includes fan favorites like Omni-Man, Invincible, Atom Eve, Rex Splode, Bulletproof, Thula, and Battle Beast.
For a deeper dive into the world of fighting games, be sure to check out our comprehensive gallery of the best fighting games to experience in 2025.