Customer Reviews

Invincible: The Ultimate Collection, Vol. 2

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This hardcover graphic novel collects issues #0 and 14-24 of Invincible as well as at least part of the Image Comics Summer Special #1.

The collected issues represent a superb run on this comic. The world Robert Kirkman is creating is fleshed out more thoroughly, the main characters develop more fully, and the flow of unusual and bizarre side character heroes and villains continues unabated. Ryan Ottley handles almost all the penciling work on these issues, giving this collection a more consistent look than the first hardcover volume, where the initial artwork was done by the talented Cory Walker.

In terms of production values the hardcover looks fantastic. Ottley is developing a real talent for depicting character's facial expressions and thus hinting at their inner emotional life. This is one of those comics where you can recognize and distinguish the major characters easily even when they are not in costume. The art reproduces beautifully here and is worthy of the slightly oversized pages you see. The coloring in particular really seems to "pop" off the page.

Ottley's talent for conveying the feelings of characters is necessary to keep up with Kirkman's scripting here. He's managed to produce a comic that feels character-driven while still throwing in big plot twists in the grand tradition of silver age comics.

The best description I've heard so far of Invincible's appeal is that it is a Silver Age comic book for adults. Many of us have fond memories of the comics we read when we were young. For me it's the early Spider Man. Yet when you re-read those issues, you find that the characters are often one-note, the continuity is shaky, and characters experience massive personal upheavals in one issue only to return to the same personality in the next as though nothing had happened.

The characters in Invincible may fall into certain familiar archetypes at first, but over time they change with their experiences. There's a hint of realism thrown in to discussions of how the bills are going to be paid without going overboard into trying to portray "heroes in the real world." In this delicate balancing act Kirkman's writing resembles Kurt Busiek's Astro City comics, except the focus here is much more firmly on the trials and tribulations of the heroes. You even get much more insight and personality from the villains than is typical. And you can never be sure when a minor villain from one issue will reappear as a major player down the line. It feels like a lived in universe.

Most of all, Invincible reads like a story produced by people who love superhero comics and want to bring out the elements that made them love those comics--the scope of the stories, the challenges of balancing heroism with a normal life, the ethical questions of when and how to get involved, the sheer wow factor of having superpowers and making a difference. There's no deconstruction of the genre going on here or blatant satirizing of superhero comic book tropes.

Which is why I say Invincible is fresh and yet nostalgic. It is a classic being born before your eyes and the opportunity to own it in these lovely and durable hardcovers is a definite treat for fans of superhero comics.

Invincible is still a fairly recent discovery for me. I just sort of came across it one day, but everything I heard about it was positive. I decided to check out the first hardcover, and I was hooked. Though the story started off a little slow, the early character development paid off many times over after the series' first big twist. This second Ultimate Collection hardcover is even better than the first; the characters grow naturally from the events that they have experienced, new villains and allies are introduced, and many subplots are set up. Some of them come to fruition in this collection, others are merely hinted at.
Mark Grayson is the teenage superhero Invincible. As the son of Omni-Man, one of Earth's most powerful superheroes, he has powers such as flight, invulnerability, superspeed and strength, and the ability to hold his breath for a very long time. He and his dad fought a lot of villains together, but just when Mark was getting the hang of the superhero gig, he learned a terrible secret: his father was a member of an antagonistic race of aliens bent on galactic domination. Omni-Man's mission on Earth was to survey the planet and get it ready for conquest. This revelation caused Omni-Man to nearly beat Mark to death, though he had a sudden change of heart, and left Earth. Now, Mark and his non-superpowered mom Debbie are trying to pick up the pieces of their lives. Mark finds himself unable to speak with even his closest friends, including Atom Eve, a fellow superhero, William, his best friend and future college roommate, and Amber, his girlfriend. Debbie, on the other hand, turns to alcohol to make the pain go away.
As Invincible, Mark has taken on a job with the government. He answers to a creepy higher-up named Cecil who communicates with him through a beeper and an earpiece. Cecil expects Invincible to drop everything whenever he is called upon, making his personal life and school work hard to manage. The issues in this collection begin to introduce villains that are actually a threat to Invincible. In the first 13 issues, most of the villains that Invincible dealt with were pushovers, the main exception being his father. Now he is fighting the worst of the worst, and begins to realize that he may not be as invincible as he once thought.
One of the best things about this book is the huge universe of characters who all exist in this one title. DC and Marvel have universes that encompass dozens of books, but Invincible has a comparable continuity that only needs one book to tell the story. Most of the protagonists introduced in the first collection are expanded upon (Amber and Dupli-Kate actually get dialogue this time around), and we actually learn some of the characters origin stories, all of which are great. Furthermore, numerous future stories have their foundations set in these issues. While there are many seemingly one-shot issues, they all serve to sow the seeds of future stories. I don't want to give away too much, but let's just say that it takes about 10 issues for the story of Angstrom Levy to finally pay off, but the journey itself is very fun.
While a few side characters are still a little one-dimensional (Rex Splode is just the "jerk" until we see his origin at the end), most everyone has a lot of depth to them. Mark and Debbie get the most development, but Eve, Amber, and William are also expanded upon. Derek, who was a side character for most of the first 13 issues, reemerges and there are hints that he may play an important role in future issues. The writing is amazing; the plots are consistently interesting and the humor is always great. The biggest improvement is the art. While I believe that the art style in the first hardcover was supposed to be part of the theme of the book, I greatly prefer the more professional-looking visuals of this collection.
Another thing I love about this series are the numerous references to more famous series, especially Spider-Man. Mark's trials and tribulations are fairly similar to those of Spidey, though Invincible is much more well-received by the public and is funded by the government. Also, many supporting characters in Invincible mirror supporting characters in Spider-Man (William/Harry Osborn, Amber/Gwen Stacey, Eve/Mary-Jane Watson, Derek/Flash Thompson), and many villains are caricatures of established villains.
Once again, the term Ultimate Collection is appropriate. In addition to issues 14-24, the Free Comic Book Day issue, issue 0 (which is a recap for new readers), and the origin stories, there is a huge extras section which includes numerous sketches, a script for issue 23, and an introduction by Damon "LOST" Lindelof. Kirkman and co. have outdone themselves with this collection; the story is great, but the extras are the icing on the cake (I just wish that they had included more Invincipals, those were hilarious). This book is worth every penny, it is hard to find a story this good packed with such extensive extras.

Don't get me wrong this is easily one of the most engaging comics I've ever read but i can't bear to give it a 5 and i'll tell you why. Vol. 1 was unbelievibly awesome, and although this collection was also good there was no closure on any of the plotlines. Kirkman explains that this is all just a big set up for whats to come but it didn't leave me with the same feeling as when i finished the first one. So my four isn't saying this isn't great its just saying that the first one was better.

In this second hardcover collecting Robert Kirkman's Invincible Volumes 3 & 4 (issues 14 - 24 and Origins) we see Mark Grayson maturing into the world's soon-to-be most powerful superhero. After the climactic and disturbing events in the first collection where Mark discovered the truth about his father our hero is left to figure out things for himself. Without the guidance of his super-parent Invincible sets off for college and starts working for Cecil Steadman and the government, which pits Mark against villains and monsters capable of mocking his superhero monicker by actually hurting and beating him. Relationship troubles with Amber and his Mom who is still dealing with his dad's absence put a strain on Mark's life that not even his superpowers can alleviate (a la Spider-man). I am glad to say that I enjoy this comic because of the fact that Invincible is, strangely enough, NOT invincible. Sure, Mark doesn't have a weakness like Kryptonite, and can't be hurt by conventional weapons, but other supers can with a bit of trying inflict some damage upon him, either by thrashing him physically or going after his loved ones, showing that a secret identity is not as easy to hide as in the Superman universe. Kirkman handles his character much like Alan Moore handled Miracle Man all those years ago, pointing out that even the most invulnerable of beings has limits, and that the world does not always recover when these creatures cut loose. Often violent and bloody, the Invincible comics in this collection also contain moments of tenderness and genuine feeling between characters that make each story addictively readable and leaves you begging for more.

STOP reading this, if you haven't yet gone thru Invincible: The Ultimate Collection, Vol. 1 or INVINCIBLE, Vols. 1-3 (FAMILY MATTERS, EIGHT IS ENOUGH, and PERFECT STRANGERS).

As Invincible, teenager Mark Grayson may be one of the most powerful superheroes on the planet, but Robert Kirkman writes him as such a likable, down-to-earth kid that you find yourself easily relating to him. INVINCIBLE is one of the best comics going on out there today. You're really, really missing out if you haven't yet checked out this title. Anyway, about INVINCIBLE ULTIMATE COLLECTION, Vol. 2...

As we found out in the previous volume, Omni-Man (the erstwhile Defender of Democracy) turns out to be a humongous super-villain. Having confessed to his son Invincible (and, unwittingly, to the rest of the world) his true goal of conquering the Earth for his home planet of Viltrium, Omni-Man ends up beating the living snot out of Invincible in a cataclysmic battle and then blasts off into deep space, leaving his son in critical condition. The betrayal leaves Mark and his mom in deep shock, and their coping mechanisms kick in. Mark's mom takes to drinking and passing out on the couch; Mark internalizes everything.

One immediate fallout to Omni-man turning traitor is that Invincible becomes an agent of a top, top, top secret government agency. As such, Mark is directed to various trouble spots around the world where his powers would be put to best use. This frequently keeps him on the move, and soon Mark's girlfriend Amber is getting fed up with the chronic lateness, abrupt departures, and frequent absences (she suspects him of drug-dealing). Yet one more repercussion to Omni-man's betrayal is that Invincible is instantly regarded with suspicion by a few in the superhero community (*cough*theImmortal*cough*).

Averting disasters, saving lives, beating up on the bad guys, picking up the pieces of his life. Then there's school. An alien invasion causes a delay in the graduation of Mark's high school senior class, after which Mark only has two weeks to prepare for his first day in college.

Writer Robert Kirkman keeps it real, or as real as he can get in the world of comic books. From the get-go, this comic book has kept it coming with unexpected twists and stories that are fresh and so enjoyable to read. Kirkman offers up offbeat takes on superhero conventions. He's already taken characters who were clearly based on recognizable DC superheroes and made them (or what happened to them) integral to the story (of course, I'm talking about the Guardians of the Globe). I'd like to think that Kirkman's characters, for the most part, behave just as real people would if put in the same abnormal circumstances. I like that Kirkman doesn't resort to Clark Kent-ism, where a disguise becomes impenetrable by virtue of donning a pair of glasses. Two of the folks who know of Mark's dual identities actually figured it out on their own. Heck, even one villain saw thru the costume and instantly recognized Invincible's civilian identity. Given, that was Mark's evil physics teacher (see ULTIMATE COLLECTION Vol. 1), so he already knew Mark.

With the wild success of the comic book (it's about to hit the issue #50 landmark), Kirkman gets even more diligent about building his Invincible universe. I love numerous sub-plots, love that feeling of stuff always happening, with more stuff waiting just around the corner. Kirkman weaves in boatloads of sub-plots. Lessee, in no particular order, there's that ill-fated expedition to Mars (the endpage of which lets you know more will be heard from this); there's the Titan-turning-over-a-new-leaf arc; the continuing machinations of the dimension-hopping Angstrom Levy; the one with the Reanimen; and there's that issue devoted to Allen the Alien, which gets us closer to the monster Viltrumite arc.

Kirkman invests more time into the supporting cast, fleshing out characters such as Robot (awesome!), Monster Girl, and Allen the cyclopic alien (also awesome). Mark's mom gets more face time and meets a friend with whom she shares a common ground. Even the guy who makes superhero suits is developed further. Also more on Mark's lovelife, more on his best bud William's love life, and even on Atom Eve's lovelife. Because, c'mon, who doesn't dig teen romance in a teen title?

I love the seemingly throwaway touches. What Mark does with his graduation cap (the same cap, which, by the way, turns up in a later issue); his mom packing him lunch on his Mars excursion, and what happens with that. I like the fact that Kirkman isn't shy about involving his characters in heart-to-heart dialogues. #22 and #0 are two of my favorites, two issues which consist mostly of dialogue, stemming from Amber and Mark's heading-downhill relationship. And, in issue #23, Kirkman shows why Allen the Alien is such a popular character.

The art? Ryan Ottley, who took over from Cory Walker back in issue #8, boasts pencils and inks that are visually compelling and elegant in its simplicity. In all this, Ottley retains much of Cory Walker's style. Credit, too, to Bill Crabtree, who with his crisp coloring definitely adds to the clean look of INVINCIBLE.

INVINCIBLE: THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION, Vol. 2 collects issues #14-24, #0, and a story from IMAGE COMICS SUMMER SPECIAL #1. Brief origins of Monster Girl, Rex Splode, the Immortal, Dupli-Kate, and Atom Eve are also included. As a bonus, there's a ton of sketches with commentary by Kirkman, as well as the script to issue #23. By the way, if you already own INVINCIBLE, Vol. 4 - HEAD OF THE CLASS and Vol. 5 - THE FACTS OF LIFE, then you basically already have the issues reprinted in this Ultimate Collection Hardcover.

Otherwise, go get this one.

I read the first volume and HAD to get the second. Once I finished the second I ordered the next FIVE! It's one of those reading experiences where you just can't stop. The art is great and fun, the humor is awesome, and the story telling is fast paced and takes twists and turns that really keep you sitting up in bed reading.

Before I talk about this particular book, here are a few things you should know about Invincible:

* Invincible is written by Robert Kirkman and was created by Robert Kirkman and Cory Walker.

* The character first appeared in an issue of Tech Jacket - another comic written by Robert Kirkman - in November of 2002. The original issues of Tech Jacket are collected in this book: Tech Jacket Volume 1: The Boy From Earth (v. 1)

* Invincible is published by Image Comics - a company built by and dedicated to comic book writers and illustrators. Creators who publish their work at Image retain full ownership of all properties they create. Because of this, in Image comics you will regularly see things that don't occur in books published by the "Big 2" - Marvel and DC. Namely, characters that die tend to stay dead, and the overall voice of the characters remains pretty consistent, and continuity actually has some meaning.

* Invincible is one of the most popular comics published by Image. This comic and other comics written by Robert Kirkman have had such strong sales that Image invited Robert Kirkman to share in ownership of the company. He accepted.

* Invincible is an on-going comic series that has been published on nearly a monthly basis since 2003.

* Invincible story arcs have been collected into many TPBs. The first 13 of these all share titles with sit-com television shows from the 1980's.

* Invincible exists in a shared universe with other popular Image comic book characters, including Spawn, Savage Dragon, Superpatriot, Brit, Youngblood, Shadowhawk and others.

* Invincible's costume design features a large "i" on the front of it - mirroring the company logo of Image comics.

One other note: I will attempt to avoid spoilers as much as possible in this review. I enjoyed this book and feel you would best enjoy it if I don't tell you the entire plot summary in this review!

This book collects the fourth and fifth story arcs of the Invincible comic book, which are collected separately in the books Invincible (Book 4): Head of the Class (v. 4) and Invincible (Book 5): The Facts of Life (v. 5). This book introduces new villains, including Machinehead, Titan, Angstrom Levy, the Sequids,Tether Tyrant, Battle Beast, Furnace, and Magnattack. Also included are spotight stories showcasing origins of several main characters, including Atom Eve, Dupli-Kate, The Immortal, Monster Girl and Allen the Alien.

Mark and his mom try to pick up the pieces of their life after the startling conclusion of the last story arc. Mark integrates himself more into his fellow company of heroes in the Guardians of the Globe and goes on an important "away mission" to Mars.

Just as much fun as the first book, this book goes full steam ahead and greatly expands the Invincible universe of characters and fleshes out the characterization of the the main cast. A great book for you to check out!

This comic is really very well written! Kirkman has created a wonderful universe of fun characters that will draw you in and keep you reading! The art is also great, I love Ryan Ottley's work.

I am loving rereading these books in this large book format. No advertisements and nothing but art and story. I have read all 6 of these and can hardly wait for the 7th one to come out.

The Invincible series is the best thing to come along in comics in a long time. It's beautifully drawn, the characters are relatable, the plot lines are interesting, and it is seriously funny (I cannot recall ever having ACTUALLY lol'd while reading a comic book before). Volume 1 is a masterpiece. Vol 2 is great, but not REALLY great. There is a lot of set-up. Major villians are introduced and I can only imagine will play a much bigger role in the books to come. I can't wait to dig into Vol. 3.

INVINCIBLE PUNCH!!!!