Invincible 17: What’s Happening

invincible volume 17 whats happening cover trade paperback tpb
7.0 Overall Score
Story: 7/10
Art: 7/10

New storyline paths

The comic feels like it is a bit stale

Comic Info

Comic Name: Invincible

Publisher: Image Comics

Writer: Robert Kirkman

Artist: Ryan Ottley/Cory Walker

# of Issues: 6

Release Date: 2013

invincible #91 cover dinosaurus

Invincible #91

Reprints Invincible #91-96 (May 2012-October 2012).  Mark deals with having no powers after falling victim to the Scourge Virus while Zandale Randolph tries his best to substitute as Invincible.  When the Flaxan decide to invade London, Robot and Monster Girl discover their past might have come back to haunt them.

Written by Robert Kirkman, Invincible Volume 17:  What’s Happening follows the Invincible Volume 16:  Family Ties storyline.  The collection features art by Ryan Ottley and Cory Walker.  The issues in the collection were also collected in Invincible:  Ultimate Collection—Volume 8 and the Invincible Compendium—Volume 2.

Invincible continues to be an odd comic.  It is a comic that rewards regular readers and is painfully obtuse to anyone trying to jump-in in the middle of the series.  To enjoy Invincible, you must start from the beginning…and if you enjoy Invincible, it could be getting a bit old by now.

The comic book reads quite smoothly.  Though touting Mark’s lack of powers, this volume is primarily written around Monster Girl and Robot.  It plays with the continuing Flaxan invasions that have occurred throughout the series and reveals a big moment for both characters.  Monster Girl and Robot are fun, the story feels really out of place.

invincible #96 cover robot monster girl

Invincible #96

While I enjoy the excursion, the Mark storyline is so big (a character called “Invincible” who is no longer invincible) and the idea of a substitute Mark is fun.  It plays with multiple Spider-Man storylines like the clone saga etc. by testing people’s ability to accept another character in the title role.  While most comic books you’d assume would right themselves pretty quickly, Invincible is always a question mark and could easily go a different direction.  That is why a the whole Monster Girl and Robot feels like it is clogging up a good story.

What I don’t like about Invincible is that it just seems to be written for collections.  This is a current state of comics, but it isn’t a very fun comic to read issue to issue (much like Kirkman’s other success The Walking Dead).  I like coherent issues that be read as a stand-alone while being part of a bigger picture.  I feel that Kirkman’s examination of superhero tropes is actually getting a bit tired as well.  The story really moved at the beginning of the run and it feels bogged down here.  I will keep reading Invincible, but I want more advancement.  Invincible 17:  What’s Happening is followed by Invincible 18:  The Death of Everyone.

Preceded By:

Invincible 16:  Family Ties

Author: JPRoscoe View all posts by
Follow me on Twitter/Instagram/Letterboxd @JPRoscoe76! Loves all things pop-culture especially if it has a bit of a counter-culture twist. Plays video games (basically from the start when a neighbor brought home an Atari 2600), comic loving (for almost 30 years), and a true critic of movies. Enjoys the art house but also isn't afraid to let in one or two popular movies at the same time.

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