Invincible

[Dread]

That's cool. Just curious, why are you going by the trades when there are three hardcovers that usually are more economical?

 

[Kahoot]

That's cool. Just curious, why are you going by the trades when there are three hardcovers that usually are more economical?

I got the 1st trade like dipping my toe in a swimming pool to see if it was cold. I might get Invincible Ultimate Collection Hardcover Vol. 2 since I've got the 1st 3 trades and they make up Vol. 1 but I like trades so I donno.

 

[Brick]

I got the 1st trade like dipping my toe in a swimming pool to see if it was cold. I might get Invincible Ultimate Collection Hardcover Vol. 2 since I've got the 1st 3 trades and they make up Vol. 1 but I like trades so I donno.

I'm in the same situation as you. I got the 1st trade just to see what it was like and now have the 1st 3. I'm definitely going to go on to the hardcovers, it makes much more sense price wise.

 

[Dread]

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

INVINCIBLE #58: It is the start of the "On Time In '09" era from Robert Kirkman and his Image titles, including this one. So far, he seems to be on a good start. Granted, having cleared his schedule of Marvel related work probably lightened his load considerably. While some fans and creators did not take kindly to some of his ramblings, career-wise he is at his best with his Image properties, and it is great that he is focusing his energy there. I'd rather get timely issues of INVINCIBLE and ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN than see endless crappy ULTIMATE X-MEN issues from on on the shelf on time that I bypass. Marvel's loss is Image's gain, and I do think it is for the better. He is happier here.

This issue is quieter than some of the others, and as the cover shows, focuses on Invincible and Atom Eve together.

Spoiler

This time, though, they do more than cuddle or go on a typical date that gets interrupted. Eve turns out to have ideas of her own on how to solve their "lack of income or private dwellings" problem by, basically, setting up a company in which a slew of prisons, factories, banks, etc. alert Invincible whenever a crisis happens there and then pay him for stopping it. At first Mark seems hesitant, but Eve reminds him that it is little different from when Cecil and the government used to do that for him, and it will allow them to buy a house in four months (or less if the housing market continues to tank). One of my favorite moments, though, is a showdown with one of Atomic Eve's enemies to which Invincible replies, "Your nemesis sucks" after downing him with a single punch. Classic.

But there is some additional humor in the episode. Shapesmith shows up at Art the Tailor's workshop and shows why shape-shifting aliens can never be trusted to pay their tab. And Lethan, now Atlantis' protector Aquarus, has a pretty boring time protecting the ocean.

There is some tension, of course. Black Samson reassures the new Blackwing that the rest of the team doesn't look down on him because he murdered people in his permanently night-time city. Robot seemingly manages to stop Monster Girl from aging with every transformation with a new hi-tech belt, although I am expecting some sort of side effect. The Immortal is surprised that Dupli-Kate wants a big house to have kids in. Rus Livingston is still possessed by those squid aliens from Mars, which have multiplied from the one that used to be within him. And for the issue cliffhanger, the seemingly reborn Angstrom Levy has gathered various universes versions of Invincible, seemingly to do battle with his nemesis. There are variants of our titualar hero, including one with an Omni-Man like costume, two in Viltrumite garb (one with the iconic mustache) and one that appears to be merged with the Martian squid-aliens. His orbs are still examining Invincible's home, where only he and Oliver are staying for safety's sake. Quite frankly, I didn't miss Levy as a villain and I felt his death was a pivotal moment in INVINCIBLE, and Kirkman had better had a darn good explanation for how he has survived. He has already dismissed the idea that this is an "alternate" Levy. Regeneration would seem like a Norman Osborn cop-out story. So there is a challenge here.

In the letters page, Kirkman defends claiming there are only 50 Viltrumites in the universe by claiming that only about 3-4 characters in INVINCIBLE are capable of fighting them, and I do agree with that sentiment. People compare them to Kryptonians but I also seem some Saiyen in them from Dragon Ball Z, especially as some of the battles appear DBZ ish. When even 2-3 Viltrumites can destroy an entire planet, much less teams like the Global Guardians, there being "only" fifty of them still keeps tension high for me. On the contrary, the idea that victory is somewhat possible keeps the aim within sight. After all, Invincible is 18 years old and can lift some 400 tons, and he's not even near the peak of Viltrumite strength.

Naturally, I enjoyed this issue as I do every issue of INVINCIBLE. I liked seeing Eve show her own initiative with her life as well as Mark's. The issue, as many of the best ones, seemed akin to cramming a whole universe of characters into a single title, and covered many of them. The only drag was the Aquarus bit, which seemed to spend a page for one minor gag. Aquarus has rarely been a major detail in INVINCIBLE so it almost seemed as if to remind us that he was still alive somewhere. I do like some of the slow build with Levy and it will be interesting to see where the Rus Livingston/Squid Alien plot goes. The next issue promises a new villain, and it has been a while since Invincible had one, so it is welcome. Basically, there are always a myraid of interesting plots within Invincible's book and Kirkman usually has fun picking which one to bring to the fore next, and I as a reader usually enjoy seeing it. Over five years and still one of the best superhero comic books on the market. Not as dark most times as the others, it mixes some whimsy in with the gore, which is appreciated. Fco Plascencia's getting the hang of the colors and of course Ryan Ottley's art is the face of the series for me; he's drawn far more Invincible material than co-creator Cory Walker has at this point, right?

With three HC's and a slew of trades, there is no better time to catch up on INVINCIBLE if you haven't. It belongs on the same shelf as CAPTAIN AMERICA, NOVA, and INCREDIBLE HERCULES, even after nearly 60 issues. All-awesome indeed, and I sure do hope the book can stick to a monthly schedule in 2009. Lord knows the sometimes 2-4 month gap between issues in 2006-2008 was irritating.

 

[echostation]

I just read Invincible 59... man, this issue even though I saw what was going to happen a mile away it still totally and utterly catches you off guard... the realistic brutality and gruesome nature of what happens, jesus this issue just totally caught me off guard... I was actually slightly tearing up...

Hardly any comic book has ever had that effect on me... this was more the shock of what happens in this... god this was a depressing issue, so sad... it makes u feel like crap.

 

[Dread]

Reposting my review of the latest issue, with spoilers:

INVINCIBLE #59: Kirkman has something big planned for issue #60, which of course is a nice even number, like issue #50 was, but also would symbolize five years of running (perhaps six with delays). However, that still leaves Kirkman with an issue to fill, so we get something that Invincible hasn't done for a bit; focus an entire issue upon a new villain

Spoiler

, Scott Duvall, a.k.a. Power-Plex.

Scott Duvall seems like your typical Kirkman citizen; he works as a scientist for the Pentagon with access to advanced technology, has a wife Becky and a young son, Jack. Unfortunately, his sister was one of those many nameless people killed way back in INVINCIBLE #12-14 or so when he was fighting Omni-Man across the world. He holds Invincible responsible for her death and has declared bloody vengeance against him, even believing that Invincible is no hero and ultimately plans to rejoin his father and take over the planet. His wife is 100% behind him on this, even when an internal investigation of Scott's stolen Power-Plex stuff causes him to quit his job and become more blatant. He fights Shapesmith and even Robot, Splode, and Monster-Girl of the "Global Guardians" before concocting a fake hostage plot to lure out Invincible. Sadly in the ensuing fight, Scott accidentally kills his family, but this does not cease his quest to kill Invincible; in the end it merely cements it.

My only problem with this issue is that it feels a bit late in coming for a villain whose entire motive happened about four years ago. In some ways it is akin to the screaming man from the cover of AMAZING FANTASY #15 suddenly returning to face Spider-Man as Captain Neurotic or something. While it is Kirkman's own comic, part of me feels this villain would have had more impact a year or two ago, at least.

There is a dynamic that Kirkman has tried to hint at since issue #42 or so. That dynamic is that despite the fact that the overall media and society sees Invincible as a hero, there still is a bit of a vocal minority who distrusts him. Him being the son of Omni-Man, who had been a capable hero for decades before announcing his plot to conquor the world and then causing a battle that killed hundreds of people and caused millions in damages leaves some to assume that he will follow in his father's foot-steps. Worse, some may think he is cahoots with his father, who has been "off world" for quite some time. While we know this to be true, the public of Earth doesn't. The fact that Invincible is no longer working for the Pentagon likely won't help these matters. The problem is that in order to make this subplot more than a passing detail, Kirkman would have to focus on it more, which would upset the often "light" or at least non-bleak nature of the book. It is possible that Kirkman brought this up to reframe a conflict or dynamic that is about to become a big deal, as he has done before. After all, not only has Invincible aided a known felon in Wolf-Man, but we have a reborn Angstom Levy (as revealed in several past issues) with a small army of alternate reality Invincibles who could ruin Mark's name fairly easily, if that is his plan. Anyssa the female Viltrumite sees a possibility of Mark joining their army, which may be a hint of a conflict to come.

The issue barely touches on the feelings of guilt that Mark has for some of his failures, or the people who have died in his fights, but this issue was devoted to Power-Plex, so making Mark a bit player for an issue is expected. While Power-Plex's design is a bit generic in comparison to some of Ryan Ottley's other designs (or redesigns from Cory Walker work), I did appreciate that he was a physical threat to Invincible. As Mark has improved as a hero and become far faster, tougher, and stronger (going from lifting 40-75 tons to 400 tons), many of his older enemies are now no threat to him. Power-Plex absorbs energy, even the energy from Invincible's strikes, so he is a very capable threat who could become worse as he goes along. The only hiccup was that it was implied that Scott's suit merely enhanced a power he already had, but how he got said power is unknown.

The art by Ottley and Plascencia is great as always.

While not a perfect issue, I think it did accomplish the overall goal to remind us that not everyone worships or trusts Invincible, and to give him a new villain who isn't from space or magic based who can actually challenge him. My only quibble was that Power-Plex probably should have come sooner to have more emotional impact. Kirkman admits he literally thought up the idea on a recent plane ride, and that sort of thing happens with creator work.

Kirkman also plugged his presumably last Marvel work, DESTROYER, which is about to start from he and Cory Walker from Marvel Max's line (Walker is a slow artist and I imagine he needed a bit of lead in time). I guess the Big Two aren't so bad when they're selling your own comics. While I understand Kirkman being a bit bitter over IRREDEEMABLE ANT-MAN, his utter garbage run on ULTIMATE X-MEN for about two years all but cancels that out for me. He's been at his best at Image, though, and so far INVINCIBLE and WOLF-MAN look to be on time. Glad to see him playing to his strength, which is creator run work.

 

[BAH HUMBBUG!]

Screw Powerplex that's all I have to say. No tearing up at all. I have no sympathy for the *****e because that is exactly what he is. Although issue 60-64 seem like they are going to be huge. It is going to be hard to really go up from here as far as big stages and massive events for the Invincible world.

Here is what I think may happen probably going to be way off but just MHO.

Spoiler

mark gets completely wrecked by Conquest and almost dies. Atom Eve jumps in and does die. Mark can't beat conquest though and is going to die trying but Oliver steps in to take a decent pummeling when, du du du daaaaahhhh. Here comes Nolan and Allen The Alien to save the day. Of course with Mark now being completely wrecked and Eve dead, Mark has had it with Earth and no longer cares. When he heals and is all better his dad tries to talk to him about there only being 50 virltumites left alive.

Mark could care less, he has had it with Earth and now is showing more his true Virltumite heritage. Oliver obviously cares nothing for the people of Earth and is on Mark's side. Nolan and Mark again start to throw down but with Allen being there he is able to talk them both down a bit and keep the peace. Mark has had it though and he and Oliver leave to go back to Oliver's home planet for the time being. Nolan has to try and return to Earth as their hero and work something out with Cecil to precent the oncoming slaughter of the Virltumite empire.

Like I said, I am probably way off but just my two cents.

 

[Spike_x1]

I don't want Eve to die. I mean, I will probably cry if/when Kirkman kills her off.

 

[Kahoot]

Is no one safe? She's been in it since the start. It's like killing off Spider-Man's grilfriend... Oh wait they did that once.

 

[Dark Victory]

I picked up the first trade and thought it was decent at best. A little too fast paced for me.

 

[Kahoot]

I'd agree with that a bit.

 

[echostation]

bah humbug... my tearing up or reaction wasn't for that lame ass power plex and his cohort... I was talking about the little kid... that little child who did nothing.. i mean just the graphic nature of how they revealed him getting toasted... that was haunting and sad,

 

[BAH HUMBBUG!]

Bah, I guess I am just jaded.

 

[BAH HUMBBUG!]

I picked up the first trade and thought it was decent at best. A little too fast paced for me.

Well it slows down a lot once you hit issues like 40-50 and there on. But to each their own.

 

[Upset Spideyfan]

Ah, the wonders of the decompression era.

 

[BigBlue1055]

I don't want Eve to die. I mean, I will probably cry if/when Kirkman kills her off.

I agree, its gonna suck. Why do writers always feel the need to kill off good women characters?

 

[Andy C.]

I am going to rage-vomit for a day and a half if Eve gets killed (especially since [BLACKOUT]her near-fatal beating in #60 happens completely off-page[/BLACKOUT]) Seriously, I liked how the series is always able to switch between light-hearted and bleak so quickly, but this would come off as just a gimmicky way to make Mark go bad or whatever. It's Girlfriend-in-the-Refrigerator all over again.

 

[Dread]

I kind of doubt that Eve will die, but who knows. I agree, it would suck. They just got together.

 

[BigBlue1055]

I am going to rage-vomit for a day and a half if Eve gets killed (especially since [blackout]her near-fatal beating in #60 happens completely off-page[/blackout]) Seriously, I liked how the series is always able to switch between light-hearted and bleak so quickly, but this would come off as just a gimmicky way to make Mark go bad or whatever. It's Girlfriend-in-the-Refrigerator all over again.

Exactly what I was thinking, killing Eve would just be a completely unnecessary plot device at the expense of one of the best developed and likeable characters in the series.

 

[Spike_x1]

Spoiler

Spoiler

 

[O'Haire]

Finally got the Ultimate Collection Volume 4 today. Man I love this book. Ottley's has gotten so much better it's insane.

Bring on Volume 5.

I hope they don't kill Eve.

 

[Dread]

Spoiler

Spoiler

Yikes. It certainly doesn't look hot for her. But, I'll wait for the finished comics before freaking out yet.

 

[Anubis]

God damnit. I miss this book.

 

[BigBlue1055]

I am seriously so angry about this that I am pretty sure that I'm going to drop the book once she dies. I really thought that Kirkman was better than this.

 

[Andy C.]

I'm just really hoping that this is one of those misleading covers, but frankly, I wouldn't put it past him. After watching everyone even remotely likeable in Walking Dead die horrifically, I would not be surprised to see Eve go too.