Recommended Reading - Invincible by Randy Lander Last Updated: December 16, 2005 Publisher: Image Comics Frequency: Monthly (sometimes late, on more of a bi-monthly schedule) Price: $2.99 Status: Ongoing Series (5 trades are currently available, collecting issues #1-25, and the series is currently on issue #27) Jumping-On Points: Given that Invincible twists and turns often with regard to the status quo, it's an easy book to jump onto, and the most recent jumping-on issue was #25, which began the "A Different World" story. However, the ideal jumping-on point really is the trade of volume one or the hardcover that collects #1-13, which lets you experience the whole ride from the beginning. Creators: Written by Robert Kirkman Illustrated by Ryan Ottley (originally Cory Walker) Colors by Bill Crabtree Letters by Rus Wooton Website: Image Comics website (Robert Kirkman and Ryan Ottley both have websites, but they're both very out of date, so Image Comics and its multi-creator blog is really the best place to get information about this title) The Basics: College-bound kid Mark Grayson was delighted when he finally manifested the superpowers that were his birthright, given that his father was the world-renowned superhero Omniman. However, Mark quickly learns that superheroing has more than its fair share of perils and pitfalls, including team-ups, alien invasions and even the revelation that someone close to you might be a little, well, evil. My Overview: Invincible is a strange blend of old school, Stan Lee and Roy Thomas comics crossed with the haywire energy of the early Image days in the '90s. It feels classic in its use of superhero archetypes, but where Lee emphasized the "illusion of change," Kirkman has embraced more of the feel that Erik Larsen went for with Savage Dragon, which is to say actual change, and on a regular basis. Invincible started out looking like a twist on the superhero formula, a father-son formula, but it soon turned out that it's gimmick was really about a constantly shifting status quo and a constantly growing protagonist. Unhindered by licensing and marketing concerns, Kirkman turned Invincible into a regular dose of superhero adventure where anything could happen. He's unlikely to suddenly kill his protagonist, but otherwise, all bets are off. With this storytelling approach, Kirkman and artists Cory Walker, Ryan Ottley and Bill Crabtree have crafted a world that is recognizable to superhero fans but notably different. Invincible's powers are pretty straightforward, and his secret identity angst pretty familiar to anyone who has read superhero comics in their lifetime, but the twists and turns in the stories take these superhero cliches to different places. The reveal of the true nature of Invincible's father, the job that Invincible takes on in the wake of these revelations, the ever-expanding supporting cast and constantly developing subplots, all of these things are a mixture of classic superhero genre storytelling structure and a no holds barred approach that is considerably more new. Invincible has a pretty solid blend of character development and superhero action, all delivered by regular series artist Ryan Ottley, who has a distinctive style packed with plenty of detail, and Bill Crabtree, who uses a bright, clear color palette that is less flashy than most modern colorists but perfect for the tone of Invincible. Who's It For?: Fans of superhero comics who wish for a bit more in the way of status quo change, fans of Image's Savage Dragon series and DC and Marvel fans looking to branch out into the indy waters a little without getting too far away from their comfort zone. Currently Available Trades: Invincible Vol. 1 HC (Collects Invincible #1-13 plus 80 pages of extras including a sketch gallery, unused covers, promotional art, cover and character design features, a script, the original proposal and an introduction by Brian Bendis) Invincible Vol. 1: Family Matters (Collects Invincible #1-4 plus unused covers and layouts, promotional art, design sketches and an intro by Kurt Busiek) Invincible Vol. 2: Eight is Enough (Collects Invincible #5-8 plus unused covers and layouts, design sketches and an intro by Erik Larsen) Invincible Vol. 3: Perfect Strangers (Collects Invincible #9-12 plus sketches and an intro by Tom Brevoort) Invincible Vol. 4: Head of the Class (Collects Invincible #13-19 plus the Free Comic Book Day issue, sketches and an intro by Mark Waid) Invincible Vol. 5: The Facts of Life (Collects Invincible #0,20-24 plus sketches and an intro by Mike Wieringo) Reviews: Invincible #1 Invincible Vol. 1 TP Snapshot: Invincible #6 Invincible #7-8 Invincible Vol. 2: Eight is Enough TPB Snapshot: Invincible #9 Invincible #12 Invincible Ultimate Collection Vol. 1 HC Snapshot: Invincible #14 Invincible #16 Invincible #19 Snapshot: Invincible #20 Snapshot: Invincible #21 Invincible #22 Invincible Vol. 4: Head of the Class TPB Snapshot: Invincible #0 Snapshot: Invincible #23 Snapshot: Invincible #24 Snapshot: Invincible #25 Invincible Vol. 5: The Facts of Life TPB Recent Issues: INVINCIBLE #26 Synopsis: Mark learns what happened to his father after he left Earth, and finds out the reason for their current reunion, which has something to do with his father's new home. Review: The last page reveal of issue #25 was quite a jaw-dropper, and I was wondering how Kirkman would handle the follow-up. This was not so simple as an archnemesis reappearing, or a long-missing supporting character, but instead a combination of both. The relationship between Mark and his father is very complex, akin to the feelings a child of divorce might have for a cheating parent, but with the addition of an abusive relationship and more unique elements like his father's mass-murder of superheroes. Kirkman and Ottley do an excellent job of showing Mark's conflicted feelings, and while it would also have been easy to see him going the other way and becoming more violent, the nature of this reunion rings true. What's nice is that once you get past this fascinating point, there are still any number of questions? Where did Nolan Grayson go, and what led him to flee a fight he was winning? Why did he contact Mark now? What are his plans for their future? Kirkman answers these questions, while always leaving the reader reminders that Nolan lied more than once, and there could be something else here, and Mark knows it. The resulting read is fraught with tension and genuine emotion. And since this is Invincible, there are also a couple subplots being moved forward, including a funny scene between Mark's mother and his boss and a reminder that Robot has a secret agenda that we still don't know the whole of. Highlights: Ottley showing the tension and uncertainty of the Mark-Nolan reunion through clenched fists, Debbie Grayson walloping Cecil (you know he deserved it for something), the cool science-fiction aspects of Nolan's newly adopted world and another memorable cliffhanger. Quote: "Mister Stedman! How many times have I told you not to teleport directly into the house? You're going to give someone a heart attack." -Debbie Grayson INVINCIBLE #27 Synopsis: While the gathered heroes of Earth defeat a would-be interdimensional conqueror, Mark agrees to help his father defend his new home from another group of conquerors... but his chance will come sooner than either of them thinks. Review: One of the things I really respect about Invincible in general is Kirkman's ability to balance character drama with superhero action, and that's absolutely on display in this issue. The opening pages are a great superhero brawl, with Ottley really delivering slam-bang exciting stuff and the whole thing having the feel of the last issue of a Marvel or DC crossover of the old school without issues of setup to get in the way. These in media res openings help give Invincible the feel of being a window into a superhero world, rather than just a single superhero book, and it's nice to see the wider world that comes out of Kirkman's head co-existing with Invincible. Those who enjoyed Kirkman's weaker-selling projects like Capes or Brit can rest secure in the knowledge that while there may not be any more standalones with those characters, their creator will definitely be using them in the pages of his other books, so they'll never just disappear. After a really spectacular action opener, Kirkman diverts to the story of Mark and his father, and fills in the rest of the story after the cliffhanger of last issue. I have to confess, I'm wishing that Mark would express his anger a little more and not just his relief at seeing his dad, because Nolan's really getting off relatively light considering what he did to Mark's mother, but it's a believable conflicted reaction for the character. The sudden appearance of the bad guys is also a nice touch, because Kirkman doesn't spend a lot of time building up suspense, but jumps right to the next exciting part. It's the opposite of the decompressed trend of superhero storytelling, and it's a welcome change. Highlights: The variety of guest-stars in the opening pages, Eve's jab at her cheating ex-boyfriend, a gorgeous double-page splash of destruction by Ottley and Crabtree when the Viltrumites arrive and, as always, a cliffhanger that has me anxiously awaiting the next issue. Quote: "Donald!! You're a robot?" "Pretty much." -Rex-plode and Donald Email Randy Lander comments about this column.