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Invincible
Hardcover Ultimate Collection Vol 1
Book Released: 5 October 2005
Review posted: 12 October 2005
Writer: Robert Kirkman
Artist: Cory Walker
Artist: Ryan Ottley
Colors: Bill Crabtree
Publisher: Image Comics
4.50 out of 5 Stars
Reviewed by Matt Yocum
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Let me begin by quoting writer Robert Kirkman in his afterword for this hardcover edition: “I love superhero comics. I friggin' love them. I love everything about them.” Let me further quote someone, this time Brian Michael Bendis, in his introduction to the hardcover: “I love this comic book and have from the very first moment I laid eyes on it … Loved the storytelling, loved the art, loved the color choices and particularly fell in love with the rarely-seen-anymore John-Workman-like lettering that reminded me of the powerful lettering on Walt Simonson's work on Thor.”
To these comments I say, amen and amen.
I came to Invincible by way of fellow Kentuckian Robert Kirkman's work on The Walking Dead (his human drama that's also a zombie comic). I came to The Walking Dead by way of research for my own in-progress zombie novel, Devolution. I came to Devolution by way of helping a friend develop a story when she was potentially on tap to write a zombie screenplay for Ghost House Pictures, a Sam Raimi-owned production company (the director of the Spider-Man movies). I came to this friend by way of a writers' conference in … you get the idea. A long chain of events led me to Invincible. And I couldn't be happier. To steal from Kirkman, I friggin' love superhero comics. And to further purloin from Bendis, I love this comic book.
I haven't pushed aside work, mail, bills, errands, and whatever else came between me and a comic book in a long time like the 13 issues contained in this ultimate hardcover collection of Kirkman's somewhat nostalgic yet wholly new take on a teenage superhero. Kirkman's hero, Mark Grayson, enters our focus as he enters puberty, the time his powers manifest. He learns his dad is actually the most famous superhero on earth, comes from another planet, and Mark stands to inherit someday as much power and strength as his dad. This comic is loaded: from incredible action to heartfelt family moments to daily problems we all face to betrayals of monumental proportion.
Cory Walker serves as artist for the first 8 issues, Ryan Ottley stepping in on issue 9 and, as Kirkman explains, “saved the book.” There is little difference between the two artistically, although I felt Ottley's clean angles and splash pages better suited the book. The colors are superb and the lettering, as Bendis commented, are nostalgic and oh-so-perfect for this title.
I once proposed an idea to Marvel Comics of doing an addition to their website called “Comic Book Live” where they would chose one issue of one title and show its genesis, from initial script ideas to finished story and art.
Each day they could show us a piece of the puzzle on the internet as the comic was birthed. At the time, the Fox channel was running endless showings of “Secrets of Magic Revealed” and DVD special features and commentaries were escalating in popularity. I felt that people really did want to understand the magic trick. They love to see how it's done. In this Invincible hardcover, you see the closest thing to this that I've yet seen. The commentary, sketches, script, promos, and other extras in the bonus section at the end unlock the history and magic of Invincible as a comic.
This hardcover contains the issues from the first three softcovers (it's slightly cheaper to get the hardcover than the first three softcovers). Also, there is a fourth softcover trade currently out and a fifth soon to be released.
I believe comics should include all genres: horror, science fiction, human drama, comedy, satire, historical, you name it. I hope that comics gain in popularity and acceptance as they have in other parts of the world.
But for me, I have and always will friggin' love superhero comics. When it's done right, as it is here, there's just nothing better.
Comments about my comments? Feel free to email me at myocum@comiccritique.com.
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