Are you one of those people that reads X-Men or Avengers and thinks, ‘Man, there are way too many characters in this book, it’s a bit convoluted and confusing at times’? Then you, my friend, have seen nothing yet!
Invincible Universe #1 begins with a chat between our title hero, Invincible, and his former boss Cecil Stedman. Invincible is a mess thanks to being slightly killed by Dinosaurus in Invincible #100 and is looking at being locked up by Cecil for his actions. As Invincible flies off to say his last goodbyes before being sent down, we stick with Mr Stedman as he and his assistant, the latest incarnation of Edelman, undertake some major damage control. We are walked through as the pair coordinate a world-wide relief and rescue effort after the devastating attack from Dinosaurus puts the death toll at nine hundred thousand and rising.
As super and high tech heroes do their utmost to save as many people as possible, we join Kid Thor and find out that his resurrection from the dead has not come without consequences, for both his everyday and his sex life. The books comes to a head as devout bad guy and enemy of Stedman, Mr Liu, turns up with his massive friend to ask for help with a problem that could have dire consequences for the entire planet – but are they too late to help??
I am a newbe to the world of Invincible, having only read maybe two of the on-going series, and really didn’t know just how big the Invincible universe was. Robert Kirkman and his collaborators have been busy boys indeed. There are an unbelievable amount of characters in this book and I imagine we will get to know them all a little better as Invincible Universe continues, making it a book to get invested in rather than just drift in and out of. As introductions and jumping on points go this, is a very good one and I found it interesting and engaging. There is a lot of reading in this book, which as you may know is something I tend to bitch about, but it’s justified. Phil Hester uses issue #1 to introduce us to a hell of a lot of characters and information in a very short time in a way that is clear and direct, all the while setting up the first story arch in the series. No easy task, but Hester does an amazing job. Todd Nauck’s art is extremely detailed and fits perfectly with the story and Hester’s style of writing, which makes for a great book and a brilliant example of what a first issue should be. Taking over, sort of, from the comic machine that is Robert Kirkman is no easy feat, but these two more than managed to pull it off. Great job fellas!!
Writer: Phil Hester
Art: Todd Nauck
Publisher: Image Comics
Release Date: 10th April, 3013
