8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Invincible embodies everything great about comic books, May 11, 2009
This review is from: Invincible: The Ultimate Collection Volume 4 (Invincible Ultimate Collection) (Hardcover)
Man, I thought this book would never arrive! I've been following Robert Kirkman's amazing series Invincible through these deluxe hardcover collections, and after the events in
Invincible: Ultimate Collection Volume 3 (Invincible: the Ultimate Collection), waiting a year and a half for book 4 to arrive was almost more than I could take!
As usual, the stories collected in this hardcover were more than worth the wait. There weren't any really cataclysmic events like the Angstrom Levy saga or another confrontation between Mark and his father, but Kirkman definitely keeps things moving. Mark's college career is a wreck, his government bosses are hiding something, his alien half-brother is developing super powers, the Martians are coming, Allen is back (hooray!) and his love life is a 90210-style mess. Honestly, I normally could care less about superhero love stories, but the Invincible/Atom Eve relationship is so darned compelling. Why can't those crazy kids work things out? Sniff.
Between this series and The Walking Dead, Robert Kirkman is about the best thing to happen to comics in years. He totally gets what makes teenage superheroes work, his dialogue is brilliant, and he has built a supporting cast that is just as vibrant and interesting as Invincible himself. Of course it doesn't hurt that he has an artist of Ryan Ottley's caliber providing the visuals. Ottley's characters practically leap off the page, and the colors...dear God, the colors! I don't toss around the term "flawless" all that often, but I think it's perfectly applicable to Invincible.
I should also point out that the problems with paper quality that plagued Book 3 have been corrected here. The pages are sufficiently sturdy this time around, which makes it easier for me to justify the book's hefty price tag.
Once again, Robert Kirkman and Ryan Ottley have delivered another fantastic hardcover collection of one of the absolute best comics on the market today. With luck, we'll be reading these hardcover collections of Invincible (and seeing him on lunch boxes and Happy Meal toys) for decades to come.
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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Robert Kirkman keeps taking my money, September 1, 2009
This review is from: Invincible: The Ultimate Collection Volume 4 (Invincible Ultimate Collection) (Hardcover)
Robert Kirkman keeps on writing some of the best comic books out there, with THE WALKING DEAD and with INVINCIBLE, and, for a change, his stuff is even coming out on schedule. Whereas THE WALKING DEAD is a slow burn psychological approach to zombie horror, INVINCIBLE is a study in exuberant superhero storytelling. And, after all these years, INVINCIBLE still feels fresh and exciting and still sits at the top of my pull list.
INVINCIBLE ULTIMATE COLLECTION Vol. 4 collects issues #36-47 (basically, the same issues collected in the TPBs, INVINCIBLE Vol. 8: MY FAVORITE MARTIAN and INVINCIBLE Vol. 9: OUT OF THIS WORLD). As a bonus, ULTIMATE COLLECTION Vol. 4 offers a 48-paged sketchbook with commentary from Kirkman and Ryan Ottley and also reprints the covers to the INVINCIBLE trades, Vols. 8 & 9.
In these dozen issues Mark Grayson finds that the demands on him as a superhero are seriously eating into his personal life. He's been neglecting his academic responsibilities; Mark isn't even certain he wants to continue attending college. His relationship with his girlfriend Amber is going downhill fast. And, after certain recent events (the ones in which he was tossed into all those alternate realities and learned that thing about Atom Eve), he really doesn't have his act together, romantic wise.
For a series ostensibly featuring one central protagonist, INVINCIBLE showcases a sprawling supporting cast, most of which are given evolving character arcs. Kirkman expands on the lovey-dovey soap opera by delving into the relationships between the newlyweds Immortal and Multi-Kate and between Monster Girl and Robot (who is clearly the Reed Richards of the Invincible universe). Matter of fact, Monster Girl and Robot together form a sweet AND bittersweet love story.
On the bad-guy-stomping side of things, there's plenty of movement. I don't think we really have to worry that this series will ever slow down and take a load off. Robert Kirkman is excellent at juggling busloads of plot threads - there's always one or two on center stage, and plenty more brewing in the pot. The current batch of shenanigans kicks off with Mark and his best friend William's search for their long missing buddy Rick. This then leads to an encounter with the cyborged-up Reanimen.
Then there's the four-part arc featuring Invincible, Atom Eve, and the strongest members of the Guardians of the Globe launching into space to avert an invasion by that NASA astronaut guy what got possessed by the more dangerous than you think Sequids, alien squid thingees which share a single intelligence, a sinister hive mind of sorts. This is a pretty awesome deep space adventure, and the heroes find themselves really up against it. But, as the heroes in space make calamari, back home, the leftover Guardians of the Globe face off against the formidable Lizard League, who'd taken over a missile silo - and it doesn't look good for the good guys.
A while ago Invincible, being half-Viltrumite, had been designated by the Viltrumite Empire as the agent tasked with preparing Earth for the inevitable takeover. If I remember it right, he was given 100 years to do this. But that doesn't stop the Empire from sending someone to check on Mark's progress (which is, of course, nil). Invincible learns yet again that he's got far to go to match the power and prowess of a mature, full-blooded Viltrumite. And this one's a chick!
And more stuff happens.
Kirkman has a knack for writing interesting characters. Shapesmith is very likeable. Allen the Alien returns, and he's still this cool dude with one honking eyeball. And there's a sighting of Mark's dad Nolan, who was last seen being captured and led away for execution by his fellow Viltrumites. We check in on the progress of that cute little tyke Oliver Grayson, Mark's purple half-brother. Oliver, half born of an alien race with a diminished life span, demonstrates accelerated aging and growth spurts. Mark's powers developed with puberty. With Oliver, it might not take as long. And, heck, even Brit drops in for a cameo.
Ryan Ottley, the artist, keeps laying down fantastic pencils and inks. His stuff is pitch perfect for the mood and the look of INVINCIBLE. I don't think more needs to be said.
What Kirkman has going for him is his ability to tell stories that feel contemporary yet resonate with that Silver Age enthusiasm and clarity. I think, for right now, the best word I can come up with is "joyous." Kirkman's stuff reeks of this joyousness and you can't help but be swept along. And yet the lightness of the tone carries this undercurrent, of epic doings and big consequences. Kirkman is steadily building up Invincible to become the preeminent superhero in his universe, but there are learning curves and stumbling blocks along the way. And it's partly this hook, of watching Mark Grayson grow into his role, that lends his series gravitas.
The lightness of the tone, the cleanness of Ottley's art, the college atmosphere, all these elements lull you so that, sometimes, you forget that tragic, awful things have happened in this comic book. Kirkman is so adept at keeping it real, or as real as you can make a superhero story, and the key is in his writing of dialogue that feels believable and rings true. I'd like to point out, as an example, Mark's conversation with his mother about why he should or shouldn't stay in school. Mark submits a pretty strong and lengthy argument, and he punctuates it with this comment: "You know I don't really need school. What -- am I going to be a dentist? Why would I do that?" To her credit, Mark's mom listens and ponders his words. A real conversation, I dig it. It's little things like that which lend substance and a relatability to all the crazy superhero bluster. INVINCIBLE is one of the best superhero comics out there, if not THE best! And if you haven't sampled this series yet - well, first, what the eff? - and then, second, what are you waiting for? Because if you don't know, now you know.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The best superhero comic of the decade charges on!, June 11, 2009
This review is from: Invincible: The Ultimate Collection Volume 4 (Invincible Ultimate Collection) (Hardcover)
Invincible is the story of second-generation superhero. For years his father Omniman was hailed as the world's greatest hero but eventually was revealed as an alien invader out to prepare the world for conquest. Now Invincible is trying both to live up to his father's reputation and to redeem his father's legacy.
In this volume Robert Kirkman chooses to build on his existing characters rather than throw too many new things at the reader. Invincible must face relationship problems, an invasion from Mars, the return of his father's people and a new brother who's growing up way, way too fast.
As usual everything is handled in a very grown-up way. Whether Mark is breaking up with girlfriend or fighting a life and death battle it's clear the Kirkman and Ottley have give thought to what will happen and what will make sense.
The little touches really make this special. While having lunch with his mom Mark the college student has a big burger while his mother picks at a salad. Later when Mark catches his best friend trying on his costume he flies home and asks his mom to wash it. Twice.
In terms of both art and story Invincible is a cut above most comics and certainly the best old-fashioned superhero story of this decade.
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