Comic Info
Comic Name: Invincible
Publisher: Image Comics
Writer: Robert Kirkman
Artist: Ryan Ottley
# of Issues: 6
Release Date: 2013
Invincible #97
Reprints Invincible #97-102 (November 2012-April 2013). As Mark Grayson discovers his powers have returned, Zandale’s parents learn the truth about his brother and Bulletproof…to shocking results! When Dinosaurus plots to restore the world’s balance, Mark might discover his decision to allow Dinosaurus to live could be his biggest mistake ever. Nolan finds he has a hidden past and his relationship with the Viltrimites. Eve reveals a big secret that changes her relationship with Mark.
Written by Robert Kirkman, Invincible Volume 18: The Death of Everyone is an Image Comic book collection. Following Invincible Volume 17: What’s Happening, the series features art by Ryan Ottley and was also collected in Invincible Ultimate Collection—Volume 9 and the Invincible Compendium—Volume 3.
In Invincible #97, Mark has an encounter with Science Dog writer Filip Schaff. He explains how picky fans are and how he had to “right” Science Dog’s comic book. This of course is a meta concept because Kirkman is “righting” Invincible in this collection and restoring a lot of the status quo of the series while continuing the extreme nature of the comic book.
Invincible #100
Invincible was such a strange comic book because it was both extreme and time actually passed for the characters. That means when there were big changes in the comic book (like Mark losing his powers and Bulletproof taking over), it sometimes big changes actually stuck…ultimately, Invincible is a comic book and this volume kind of proves it. It has Mark returning to the role of Invincible, Atom Eve and Mark advancing with their relationship, Nolan reunited with the Viltrimites, and Mark back to working with Cecil. I didn’t have a big problem with Invincible diverging so much, but it was nice to have the main themes back.
Invincible always goes for the extremes. I liked the origin being set-up for Bulletproof with his parents and his brother, but I didn’t necessarily how it played out (though it was shocking). I actually think it might have been more interesting to see Bulletproof fighting allegations that killed his brother. Mark’s “death” in Invincible #100 (though faked through use of a clone) also felt more gratuitous than actually adding much to the story. The shock value wasn’t believable and the bait and switch reveal was more irritating than “wow”.
I’m never sure where Invincible will head, and I’m still not sure what direction Kirkman will take the character as the series enters its “last third” of stories. Mark has gone from a teenager to a character who is starting to feel like an adult and that is kind of a cool change from most comics where the characters seem to be in their thirties forever. Invincible 18: The Death of Everyone is followed by Invincible 19: The War at Home.
Preceded By:
Invincible 17: What’s Happening
Followed By:
