Written by Robert Kirkman
Illustrated by Ryan OttleyTHE VILTRUMITE WAR CONTINUES!
It’s all been leading up to this: Invincible vs. Thragg, one-on-one! It’s the fight to end all fights, and the fate of the entire universe hangs in the balance. Whatever you do, don’t miss this issue!
Invincible #75 was a power house of an issue, and Ryan Ottley was our #1 artist of 2010. So what are my thoughts on the latest issue? Find out after the cut.
The last time an issue of Invincible came out, David and I sat down and discussed the book, both giving the issue a 9.8 on our 10 point scale. That sets an incredibly high standard all things considered, especially with the mass amount of quality that the book emanated with it’s main feature and two co-features. One would think that a following issue would be rather hard to compete – yet in the world of Robert Kirkman where greatness is the standard, it’s never of any surprise when Invincible always leaves you satisfied.
Picking up after the devastating events of the last issue, this continues to up the ante of violence and entertainment as Mark and his father take on the powerhouse of Thragg. However, as a bit of Thragg’s backstory is given, the odds of victory get smaller and what results is one of the most beautiful battle sequences you’ll find in any comic since the last issue of Invincible. It’s everything you’d want from an “event” type storyline and more, and the issue even takes the moment to allow you to briefly relax in a twist that continues to appease during a series of jaw dropping finales. I will admit that the issue is rather (unevenly) split in two, with the first “half” being pulse pounding action and the second “half” being a bit slow, but the nice thing with Invincible is that even in the slower parts, Kirkman’s handling of storytelling and dialogue offer enough intrigue for the action that is assuredly to come next month with Invincible #77.
Kirkman is one of the most vicious creators out there, quite often making his characters jump through tremendous hoops and quite often barely allowing them to survive (if they survive at all). This issue is no exception, with Mark and Nolan both taking quite a severe beating up against Thragg and Oliver still in critical condition after last issues tremendous battle. This issue even sees yet another loss of life in a character that was actually someone who I quite enjoyed in his appearances, but Kirkman does not disappoint in this execution (and I mean that in the most literal of terms). The issue even goes so far as to put a fan-favorite character in a brand new and quite awesome position, which allows a glimmer of hope before the final page reveals just how bad next issue will be. You have to love Kirkman’s ability to dangle the carrot with a stick to his readers, because it’s his repeatedly fresh takes on somewhat tired tropes that inevitably make Invincible the most solid superhero book currently being published today, and with a story that has been 7 years in the works I can’t think of a more satisfying and Kirkman-esque way to present this uncanny storyline.
Furthermore, to say that Ryan Ottley is a champion of the people is to put it lightly: this comic is gorgeous in every sense of the word, and the battle literally explodes off the pages as blood gets everywhere (in a notably non-tacky way, as opposed to another comic from this month). It is a feast for the eyes. You may have gotten stuffed from Thanksgiving, and your belly might be preparing for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day feasts, but I can assure you that there are few other comics this week that will appease your eyes and leave you so full of corner to corner awesomeness in the same that Ottley’s Invincible pencils and inks will. To put it as simply (and cutely) as possible: this comic high fives and fist bumps your eyes. Ryan Ottley should have been a household name before the Viltrumite War arc, but if he is somehow not by the end of issue #78, I will be sorely disappointed in comic readers everywhere.
Continued belowThis is officially the last time I will review Invincible. With a comic that is this consistently great, I find it rather hard to come up with new ways to express my glee at reading the comic. If for some reason in this crazy world, you are not currently reading this comic, then I feel incredibly sorry for you. In a world of Marvel’s and DC’s standing on the top of the super hero pile, Invincible is the single cape-related comic that rises up and not only matches the top tier books from both companies but, on many occasions, rises above and beyond. The long story short? Read Invincible. Read it now.
Final Verdict: 9.7 – Buy
As a note, Invincible only when down a decimal of a point if only because Kirkman and Ottley didn’t blow up a planet. Again.
