This week’s book of the week is none other than Robert Kirkman and Ryan Ottley’s monumental 75th issue of Invincible. This book comes from Image Comics at a whopping $5.99, and it features an mammoth sized main story, a Science Dog back-up AND a Tech Jacket back-up. Before you find out what we thought of the main story (which you’ll find out after the jump), I have to say this: we didn’t mention them in the review, but the Science Dog AND the Tech Jacket back-ups were great. Particularly the always superb Science Dog from Kirkman and co-creator of Invincible Cory Walker.
Also, before you get into the review, this review features spoilers. If you have not read the book yet, avoid like the plague!
David: So Matt, the unquestioned book of the week this week had to be Robert Kirkman and Ryan Ottley’s Invincible #75. Let’s not beat around the bush: what’d you think?
Matt: I …. I loved it.
David: Interesting periods of ellipsis.
Matt: This is the best superhero comic book in the universe, David.
David: No doubt. What was it about it that you loved so much? And why the pause?
Matt: I was building up tension!
I loved it so much because from start to finish this book very much defined everything I thought it would be. This is issue #75, which is a tremendous milestone for the little book that could, and it promises a truly epic battle scene from the cover alone.
You open it up and right from the first three pages, you know what you’re in for. And as the story goes on, you get a comic that … well, can only really be described as quite cinematic.
David: No kidding. Everything about this book felt momentous and just on a grander scale than any other comic out there. The fight scenes outside of Viltrum, the destruction of Viltrum…all of it…it just felt like you were reading one of the biggest superhero comics ever.
Matt: Heck, the destruction of Viltrum is the biggest thing I’ve ever seen. That whole sequence of events was just … explosive. I remember picking up the issue and thinking, “Gee, this has some mass to it,” and once you get into the story you see – well, this is why.
As far as events go, I’m pretty sure Kirkman has the corner on the market for massive down.
David: It wasn’t just huge though, it continued the trend of anyone being on the chopping block if Kirkman saw fit. And with Thaedus and, more importantly, Oliver dying (or at least probably dying in Oliver’s case), it was perhaps more intensely so. I do have to note – if I was going to choose anyone to die in this, I would have placed 100% of my votes on Oliver.
Matt: I wouldn’t have! Poor Oliver. I feel bad about it, and you’re going to hate me for saying this, but I would’ve rather seen someone we loved more than Oliver dying.
David: You have beef with Oliver?!
Matt: Or, probably dying.
I have no beef with Oliver!! I want to see more of the character! I was ready for him to take over the role of Invincible after Mark died!
David: Oh, I gotcha. Well, I think I even said this in my review of #74, but it just made sense for OIiver to be the one. It’s the most devastating to both Mark and Nolan (who are the main characters), they spent the past few issues developing him a bit more, and he’s arguably the least likable of the trio. It just made sense that they would kill him.
I thought it was kind of interesting that Invincible’s reaction was to quickly follow Thaedus’ orders immediately afterwards and blow up Viltrum. Recently, it seemed more likely that he would fly off the handle and try killing Thragg.
Matt: I would’ve rather him stayed alive for the fact he is unlikable. I mean, it was mildly teased that he was going to try something twisted when he took on the role of Kid Omni-Man… I would’ve liked him to become a Damian character, who starts off as more of a jerk with less people liking him, and he grows with us over time.
Continued belowYou know, the Viltrum explosion has this AMAZING moment in it that I think speaks VOLUMES to both Kirkman and Ottley here. Mark is devastated after the attack against Oliver, and he has no idea what he’s about to do but he goes along with his father, and right before they plunge through the center of Viltrum, there’s this moment where Omni-Man tugs on his suit, and they just look at each other.
It’s this great father/son moment that I think really ties their story together from where it was after issue 12. We’ve seen the two rekindle their relationship as father and son throughout the book, but that moment… I was really happy it was there.
David: Yeah, it was a really cool moment, but we’ve known all along they don’t have any beef. I mean, when Mark went to the planet Oliver was from, he totally was all about hugging it out immediately. Even after all the controversy!
Matt: Yes, but there’s always been that tension there. Even in this issue, Mark asks his father what he’s going to do when all is said and done, and you can tell his answer doesn’t thrill him. That small moment gives us this reassuring little nod, as if to silently say, “It’s going to be ok, Mark.”
David: Right.
Matt: “His answer” referring to Omni-Man, and “thrill him” referring to Invincible, of course.
David: I figured.
Needless to say, Ryan Ottley killed it on this issue, right?
Matt: PUN INTENDED?
David: Ha. Not quite. There was a lot of death in this issue. Crazy intense death.
Matt: Man, how about Allen punching someone through his chest with his fist coming out the guys mouth?
David: Yeah, that was insane. That was my favorite death, besides possibly Thaedus’ decapitation.
Matt: Ottley is fantastic.
David: I’ve been saying for a while that Ottley was the best superhero artist out there, and I think this issue pretty much solidified it. He’s a really, really underrated artist.
Matt: I don’t think there can be allowed any questioning of this after an issue like this. I mean, Ottley has had some fantastic issues recently, ever since Conquest came into the scene, but this and all of the Viltrumite War really just seals the deal on his talent. I have the issue with me right now, and I can flip open to any page at all in the book and it will be just astoundingly good artwork.
David: It really, really is. We keep going back to it, but the destruction of Viltrum was absolutely astounding visually.
Matt: You gotta also love Ottley’s “big angry Viltrumite face.” He does that alot, and it’s always awesome.
Such as the final page of this issue’s story.
David: haha yeah. No doubt. Props to Cliff Rathburn and FCO Plascencia as well. They take Ottley’s art to the next level, and the book is all the better for it when the three of them are together.
Which is always.
Matt: It’s the best superhero comic book, David.
In the universe.
David: I agree!
Alright, so we’ve agreed this book is freaking amazing and well worthy of the book of the week. Where does the next issue take us, do you think?
Matt: Well, there’s no real chance for explosions anymore because everything explode-worthy is gone. It exploded! So with next issue? More blood, more guts, Thragg poking out Mark’s eyes (or attempting to), and Invincible coming out triumphant as he always does, because he’s Invincible.
Although, what that will cost him, I’m not sure yet. Oliver isn’t necessarily dead.. he is definitely not going to be playing the violin anytime soon, but I have a feeling that knowing Kirkman, he’s not going to let Mark and his family off THAT easy.
And after what happened to Oliver, when I say “THAT easy,” I mean that Kirkman is probably going to do something truly sadistic next issue.
David: Right. Well, I can say I saw a solicit accidentally for the last part of the Viltrumite War, and it pretty much tells you who won’t die. But I won’t share that with you. It’s kind of crazy though – the numbers seem really, really against them. But we know they’ll prevail.
Continued belowNext question: do you think Oliver is really dead?
Matt: Good question.
Short answer is no, but I think I’m being optimistic.
David: If it weren’t for the fact we literally saw Mark’s insides turned into outsides 3 issues previous (and then fixed with bandages), I’d be 100% on the side of “Oliver’s dead.” But now? I don’t know.
I do know it’s going to be awesome finding out.
Matt: Yeah, I mean… Atom Eve died. But then… she was ok! She obviously had different circumstances, and it’s not unlike Kirkman to just have someone killed because … well, because! But… I’m optimistic here. Oliver is definitely screwed, but I don’t want to believe he’s dead yet.
David: We’ll see.
Alright, what would you give it sir? 156.4 out of 10?
Matt: Yeah, that sounds about right.
Maybe 156.5 even.
David: Intense. Alright, what would you give it really?
Matt: I would give it a 9.6.
I would even be comfortable with going a bit higher than that. I could give it a 9.8.
David: I can agree with that. I’ll give it 9.8 Olivers out of 10, to commemorate the 0.2 of himself he’s currently missing.
Matt: Ouch!
That’s way more than 0.2 that he’s missing… I mean… Thragg is vicious.
David: Well, at least he wasn’t decapitated. I don’t see Thaedus coming back any time soon.
Matt: Yeah, but as I said earlier. His violin career is dead. And if he wants to start a band and be a lead singer? I mean, it worked for Arseface in Preacher, but somehow I don’t see Oliver being so lucky.
David: Let’s just hope he’s dead then.
