Invincible

[Anubis]

Have you enjoyed it so far?

 

[the dmg]

Have you enjoyed it so far?

Yes...I like the fact that he takes time to build a lot of his storylines and makes you try and keep in mind the events in the previous issues. I've only been reading for about a month and a half, borrowing from my friend.

EDIT:
Plus, I like his takes on each of his characters, and makes you care what happens to them.

 

[Dread]

Yes...I like the fact that he takes time to build a lot of his storylines and makes you try and keep in mind the events in the previous issues. I've only been reading for about a month and a half, borrowing from my friend.

EDIT:
Plus, I like his takes on each of his characters, and makes you care what happens to them.

Exactly. Glad you're aboard.

 

[the dmg]

Just read 52, and I have to say that I am saddened about the Mauler Twins. Kid Omni-Man is pretty intense and realistic at the same time. It's crazy how we see Mark slowly start to change as a superhero in terms of what he does with his power.

 

[Hellstormer]

Ok so I started picking up this series monthly (previously I was only on trades). I started with 51 since it seemed like an obvious place to start and I'm like Kid Omni-Man although I wish he was Omni-Boy. Its nice to see Eve and Mark together for real, but the last issue (the time traveling one) left me a little unnerved cause I know that's gonna be the cause of a lot of problems shortly. I hope Kid Omni-Man can learn to hold back.

 

[the dmg]

Ok so I started picking up this series monthly (previously I was only on trades). I started with 51 since it seemed like an obvious place to start and I'm like Kid Omni-Man although I wish he was Omni-Boy.

That's how I picked this series up as well. My friend let me borrow his TPB's, and I was hooked.

 

[Andy C.]

55 is some great stuff. It's always fun to see Allen the Alien kick some ass, as well as a nice reveal about the Viltrumites. Don't want to spoil any more than that, since it's just an all around awesome issue.

While it has absolutely nothing to do with the story, I also got a kick out of the "Jersey Gods" Jack Kirby spoof in the back of the issue.

 

[Dread]

Repost of my review of the latest issue, with spoilers:

INVINCIBLE #55: Easily the issue that a LOT of fans have been waiting for across the internet, the mail pages, and so on for a variety of reasons. While Mark and Eve get jiggy with themselves, it is another all Allen the Alien issue to further the Viltrumite plot along. Much like the last time, Kirkman assumes the style of some classic 80's Marvel comics with his Allen segments, and the strength of them easily add fuel to the fire of Invinci-pals who want Allen to get a mini like Eve got.

Spoiler

For ten issues, Allen has posed as a captive of the Viltrumite empire to get close to Nolan, having learned that he was a prisoner for rebelling against the empire. The cell cannot hold him at all, but Allen plays along until the time is right, until the time Nolan is to be executed. He speaks psychically with Nolan and over the course of the issue it is revealed they have become close friends. Normally it might seem odd for a writer to have two characters pledge such an allegenice out of the blue but Kirkman reframes it to the greater story, winding all the way back to early volumes and makes it work. Execution is an honor for Viltrumites as they prefer to simply kill in battle, but when threats prove themselves "worthy" they must wait for Viltrumites to do it personally. At the right moment, Allen stages a jailbreak and he and Nolan take on two Viltrumite assassins, which they kill with relative ease. At this point, Allen appears mightier than even Nolan, which is a bit staggering. Ottley naturally does the action stuff well and the new colorist FCO Plascencia actually manages to make blood look more like, well, blood colors IMO.

Then of course there are two big reveals. The first is the return of Battle Beast, last seen working for Machine Head back in HC #2 simply out of a quest for worthy enemies to fight. He aids Allen and Nolan against the Viltrumites and is eager to fight them for sport. Battle Beast was probably asked about by mail in letters about once an issue (almost literally) so I am sure a lot of people will be pleased to see him. Ottley did give him a great design. The other reveal is Nolan explaining a key weakness to the Viltrumites; the only caveat was that it had been hinted at ages ago and was a bit obvious, although this was more specific. There are not many Viltrumites left and that is why they deligate tasks to other races they have conquored or allow Invincible so many chances; Nolan puts their number at "less than 50". Heck, at that rate, who needs the books; Allen could probably kill them over a few years one by one. It also makes Invincible and Oliver very important in the fight to come. Now THAT is going to be something, perhaps even the greatest arc of the series so far.

The dilemma, of course, would be what to do after the Viltrumite War that would be able to carry as much anticipation? Because right now the return of Angstrom Levy certainly isn't.

Still, really nothing negative about this issue. Great writing, great art, some great action panels, and another issue that proves why Invincible can earn it's tagline as "all-awesome". Plus, the 2 Mark/Eve pages were sweet.

The cover for the next issue asks if Mark would be willing to kill. Technically, the answer is yes, but only in the heat of battle and usually when his friends or family have been directly endangered or injured. But naturally I always look forward to more INVINCIBLE. The storylines in the epic continue to develop and intertwine with a universe full of characters in a single comic, instead of a line of a dozen of them in an endless crossover. Just like comics should be. INVINCIBLE, still my favorite book. At least on a week when CAPTAIN AMERICA isn't out.

 

[Anubis]

Hell of an issue.

 

[Brian Braddock]

God, I miss reading this comic.

 

[Kahoot]

I just got Family Matters the other day and read threw it. It seemed really rushed and the extra scetches took longer to read threw than the main body of work but I still find that I really wanna buy Eight Is Enough.

What have I got to look forward to? What is the best arc?

 

[Anubis]

I don't know where you're at. Where did Family Matters leave off?

 

[Kahoot]

Issues 1-4: Mall bombings and Omni-Man was taking by aliens to another dimention but gets home for dinner (after what seemed like months to him)

 

[Andy C.]

IMO the best arc is the big reveal in Volume 3, but I really don't want to give away any spoilers. It's worth reading for yourself.

 

[Kahoot]

Nice, something to look forward to

 

[Colossal Spoons]

Just got caught up. Allen gots mad muscles yo

 

[Dread]

Figured I would repost my review of the latest issue, with spoilers.

INVINCIBLE #56: After a slobberknocker issue that had Omni-Man, Allen, and Battle Beast team up to fight Viltrumites, how could another issue immediately after make an impression? Kirkman naturally answers with a personal story that involves little to do with superpowers and more about emotional reactions. I was actually a little cynical when I saw the promo for the last issue, but I am glad this one turned out better than expected.

Spoiler

In this issue, Eve and Mark naturally finish an intimate night together, and angst a bit about neither of them having a place of their own within the continent where parents can't overhear. Without Cecil, Mark lacks the sort of money to afford a place, after all. Mrs. Grayson is more than aware of her son's new relationship with Eve, but humors him anyway. Oliver of course barges in, more interested in having Mark help him with patrols or training than on a social life, and goes off on his own when Mark has a personal crisis.

That crisis? His ex-girlfriend Amber calling him in a hysterical wreck about being slugged by her new boyfriend Gary. Which should teach everyone never to trust someone with a soul-patch who can't commit to a full beard or a shave. It's like wearing a pant leg on one leg and a short leg on the other, because committing to pants or shorts isn't unique enough. What really sells the impact of this story are not only Ryan Ottley's art, but especially FCO Plascencia's colors of that shiner. It really looked nasty without being too gorey, which was how to sell it. Most normal guys would pretty much WANT to just grab the guy and dangle him off a building, but as Mark has the power to do that, he does it literally. It is a scene that actually went without the "Mark grabbing Gary" scene which helped make it seem abrupt as it would have felt to Gary, just being grabbed by one of his planet's super-beings and basically having him threaten to kill him if he laid another finger on his girlfriend. Considering Invincible has killed and/or seriously mangled super-villains for hurting his friends or family, Gary's lucky he wasn't in a costume or had a name like Soul Patch Bandit, otherwise he may have been a smear. Naturally, for me it was a scene that resonated because I've had some female friends who had jerk boyfriends or even rape in their past and I kind of felt like doing what Mark did (although I may not have stopped with a threat). For me, sometimes those moments where a superhero kind of breaks character and with his powers can perform some of those cathartic fantasies many of us have when tragedy strikes can really sell them as human and interesting. The best example of this, of course, is that story that has been rendered pointless; college aged Spider-Man cradling his murdered girlfriend and offering no jokes or heroic promises to an arch foe, but a death threat.

Mark, of course, is then scared of his own temper and potential and needs Eve to support him in that regard. Although part of me does wonder if Amber was as clueless as she seemed and couldn't figure out that her SUPERHERO EX-BOYFRIEND would do, well, SOMETHING. After all, the fact that he was a superhero did once turn her on. Like maybe calling Mark wasn't just to talk to someone she trusted and felt connected to about the incident, but also because she knew he could make Gary "behave" or whatnot? It would certainly help balance out her "beaten housewife syndrome" of assuming that one punch was a "glitch" and Gary wouldn't touch her again. Unless you're Hank Pym, it never ends with one hit.

The issue ends with a cliffhanger about the Grayson home being electronically monitored and next alluding to the two issue crossover with WOLF-MAN, which should be interesting considering Wolf-Man is a wanted fugitive there and that is the sort of situation that suits Invincible well; chasing after a "super-villain" wanted for killing his wife.

What INVINCIBLE is doing now is sort of moving aside from the black and white morals of prior years and introducing shades of grey in not only Cecil but Invincible as well which is a healthy sign of the book soft of growing and maturing with it's lead. I also really like Mark & Eve together; sure, it's a bit corny that they compliment each other well, but good relationships are rare in comics so I appreciate them when they last. It also was not lost on me that inserting Amber back into things with an abusive boyfriend also could form a potential triangle, albeit with an newer dynamic (before, Mark was dating Amber, with Eve having feelings on the side). It is in that way that INVINCIBLE of course works as a human drama as much as a superhero opera, which is what good comics should do.

Still probably the greatest superhero comic book in the universe.

In the letters section, it still remains clear that Kirkman had some bad blood with Marvel, and is now free to say that Bendis "sucks" on Avengers titles. Really? Bendis isn't good on that book? Amazing how some writers can speak the truth once they leave the company that signs their paychecks. I can imagine a slew of talent having DiDio horror stories.

 

[Dread]

Link to my review of the latest issue, as well as the entire two part crossover with ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN this month!

http://forums.superherohype.com/showpost.php?p=16173869&postcount=11

 

[KingOfMars]

need a little advice from anyone who has read invincible the ultimate collection vol.3, when im done with that what trades should i pick up of the series?

 

[Dread]

need a little advice from anyone who has read invincible the ultimate collection vol.3, when im done with that what trades should i pick up of the series?

Well, Image released an ULTIMATE COLLECTION VOLUME 4, which covers issues #36-47. That sounds like the best place to start. It was released 12/22/08.

I assume you read ULTIMATE COLLECTION 1 and 2.

If you can't find that, the 8th and 9th TPB collections, "MY FAVORITE MARTIAN" and "OUT OF THIS WORLD", specifically, collect issues #36-47.

There have been no more trades or HC's released yet that collect issues after #47. Give it time. Usually Image will release two trades and then at the end of the year condense those two into a HC.

 

[KingOfMars]

thanks for the information.

 

[Dread]

No prob.

 

[Kahoot]

I just finnished Vol. 2: Eight is Enough and love the shock issuse with the The Guardians of the Globe but over all felt let down since it felt like mostly filler. I've got Vol. 3: Perfect Strangers to get started on and that sounds a lot better.

When will I see Kid Omni-Man for the 1st time?

 

[Andy C.]

Oliver doesn't show up until Vol. 6, and doesn't become Kid Omni-Man until Issue 51 (which will be in Vol. 10, I think, when the TPB comes out) You've still got a good while until he's on the scene.

 

[Kahoot]

If all goes to plan I'll be on Vol 10 or 11 this time next year. I'm guessing they'll be out by then and I'll hopefully have been able to get them all read by then too.