Invincible. Image Comics' young hero.

22:30 / 09.05.04

I just got the two trades of this and I'm really enjoying it. I think it has a lot of potential and the art is fantastic. The only think I have a slight problem with is his parents (not Omni Man as a hero) but as a husband. And his mom is like not even a character she's almost like a prop or part of the setting, but I've only gotten to issue 8 so maybe Mark's (Invincible's) parents become more realistic.

Thoughts? Anybody else getting this?

23:33 / 09.05.04

I've been following Invincible since issue #3(?) and I think it's excellent. It show teenage superheroes done right without Spider-man's uber-angst.

You're right about Mark's mum, she gets one or two good moments but she's mainly there to serve as a contrast to Invincible's crazy super-hero situations rather than actually develop as a character. I personally think she's way to blasé about what her husband and son get up to, even if she has been married to Superman for the last 18 years.

Slightly spoilerage: I've also been liking Atom Eve/Rex Splode/Invincible/Girlfriend triangle. Lots of confusion and well-meaning fuck-ups and things-you-shouldn't have said and everything else that makes relationships the best and worst things to happen to you.

SiliconDream

00:28 / 10.05.04

I too just got into it.

I don't know about more realistic, but Mark's parents certainly get more interesting. I don't want to ruin anything for you before you read the most recent issues, but suffice to say, Nolan's characterization just gets better and better. He does some very surprising things which, in retrospect, nevertheless seem very consistent with his character.

One of the things I like most is how...uncomfortable most of the superguys seem with their iconography. Names, costumes and dialogue are all self-consciously silly; these are humans trying to assume godlike roles and not completely succeeding.

The only one who seems fully comfortable in his role as Hero is Omni-Man, and in #11 we see the consequences of that.

Jack Denfeld

02:17 / 10.05.04

Excellent. He's gonna be my favorite Superhero's new writer. Captain America!

04:27 / 10.05.04

Cool, can't wait to read it. I do think Omni Man is a great character he's just to creepy. And the Atom Eve and Rex Splode thing is fantastic (such great names too).

I personally think she's way to blasé about what her husband and son get up to, even if she has been married to Superman for the last 18 years.

Yeah, it's like she's on pain killers or something. Like she's just going through the motions but totally unhappy (in numb sorta way.)

10:59 / 10.05.04

GET OFF MY PLANET!

There's one or two moments when Nolan does lose his cool at home and because of writing and emotional investment you do feel a little scared for Debbie at times. Even if she's got the emotional range of concrete.

I don't think the author will turn it into a Giant-Man/Wasp thing but I can't feel Mark is being setup for a conflict with his dad at some point.

15:44 / 10.05.04

I hear this is really good, well-told superhero fun - I want to check it out. I think my library has the first paperback (free comics from the library are always fun, even if they're just on loan)!

15:11 / 17.05.04

I love how on the planet where the father comes from, practically all the men have big dark moustaches like the father and sorta look like him!

At first I thought the mom's charm was just that she's so accepting of the whole thing, but I too want to see her explored more in-depth. (I've only read the first paperback though - that's issues 1-4, I think)

15:12 / 17.05.04

The 3rd trade comes out in Aug. Man, I can't wait to see that happened with Omniman and the G.O.G.! (No spoilers, though, cause finderwolf is only on the first trade).

15:16 / 17.05.04

Also, do we ever find out more about the Robot dude?

15:26 / 17.05.04

Not in the two trades I have. Hopefully we do in the 3rd.

00:25 / 21.05.04

Oh my god

I just read Invincible #10.

With Omni-Man and the thing with the stomach! Oh my god!

Can someone PM me with a synopsis of issue #11? Pleeeasee? I needs me spoilers!

02:40 / 21.05.04

Ah! Don't post any spoilers here yet please! I have read past the second trade. Tease all you want though. Damn, I may haven't to start buying the issues.

SiliconDream

04:36 / 21.05.04

And #12 just came out, too! Ha ha!

00:02 / 22.05.04

Thanks for the synopsis Silicon

Basically, Impulsive, the entire comic does a complete 180 centered round one particular character. We're talking on the level of finding out Xorn is Magneto or Cassandra actually took over Xavier's head, that kind of thing. A completely headfuck.

Reading #10 in the work breakroom I actually said "oh my god" outloud. That's the first time any comic has made me do that.

Good stuff.

05:01 / 22.05.04

Damn, it sounds great.

Warewullf

23:56 / 22.05.04

I've read a few issues of this and it's really good.
Like, surprisingly good.

And I fucking love the art. Gorgeous colours.

16:49 / 24.05.04

I just need to say that I love the writer LETTERS the book, too. How often does that happen? Very cool to see a writer get involved with the drudgery of art chores on some level -- and it must feel so cool for the writer to work on the pages he's written! His lettering is really good, too - he clearly is very influenced by the lettering (especially sound effects) of John Workman (sometimes known as John Workman, Jr. - but they're the same guy as far as I know). Workman lettered, most notably, Simson's THOR run.

not nervous

20:59 / 24.05.04

Somehow I missed #11.. i bought #12 thinking it was the next one and... i just hope i can still get #11...

I love it, it's like a completely pure version of the thrill i used to get out of Spiderman in my younger days. My only complaint is that it's so incredibly readable that i'm finished each issue in minutes. The momentum is so strong that i find it impossible to reexamine, i try to go slow and i'm just shuffled along from panel to panel and spat out at the end.

21:09 / 24.05.04

It is the fucking daddy.

Should we make an Invincible thread with a spoiler warning? I want to talk about some of the stuff that's happened but I don't want to fuck up the suprise for people still gettin thru the trades.

21:52 / 24.05.04

Okay okay, I'm being selfish! I don't want to ruin anybody's fun so please feel free to post all the spoilers you want. Just make sure to clearly state SPOILERS before any comments so I can skip the post.

02:11 / 29.05.04

Robert Kirkman talks about Invincible on CBR.

Warning: There are some spoilers.

15:34 / 01.06.04

I especially liked that they address Imp's point about the Mom's nonchalance (no spoilers here):

>> Something of interest to readers looking a bit deeper is that Mark's mother seems very nonchalant about the superheroing of her family- but is that because she's well adjusted or because she feels her place is second or is it something more? "Like I'm going to give it away here," laughs Kirkman.

21:55 / 15.10.04

Is the third trade out for this yet? I thought it was gonna come out in Aug. but I haven't see it at the shop.

Without giving anything away, those of you who have been following this monthly, what issue are they on now and has the story gotten better?

13:04 / 18.10.04

I've been reading/skimming it in the store monthly and the subsequent paperbacks and single issues haven't grabbed me as much (and haven't gotten me interested enough to pay for them). They're fun and mostly very inventive and creative - I would probably get a real kick out of it if someone lent me the issues or I read the paperbacks for free in the library, but they haven't had that extra something to push me over the edge.

chucklehound

01:02 / 19.10.04

they're on issue 16 now (and i think the third trade is coming out shortly) this was the first issue where i've been aware of the cross-continuity in kirkman's image universe (most of the action of the issue takes place in the most recent issue of "brit," which led to a lot of confusion until someone lent me the "brit" trades)

overall, i think it's been treading water a bit since issue #10 (which was as good as previous posters have said) still, it's a lot of fun to read. i've been recommending it as a pretty useful way to introduce superhero comics to non-comics readers, particularly to fans of "smallville" (as they have somewhat similar themes, which i can't get into without spoiling things excessively) the art, particularly the cory walker issues, was good enough to get my non-superhero-comic-reading wife to start reading it over my shoulder.

14:02 / 19.10.04

Yeah, Cory Walker's art was definitely a treat - Walker kicked ass on this book in a way that the artists after him haven't quite matched, even when they ape his style.

Walker drew a Kirkman-written Spider-Man short story in an issue of Spider-Man Unlimited (stupidest title in the world, IMO) that was fun. Nice to see Walker work his magic on Marvel characters, esp. Spidey.

Bard: One-Man Humaton Hoedown

03:34 / 18.11.04

Just got Invincible Vol. 3 and it was great! I loved the fight with his Dad and the new government measures. The mom being in shock was quite a shock? Seeing as how that’s how she normally acts!

Also I'm hearing what you're saying about the art, FinderWolf... but I think Ryan Ottley (new artist) gets better with each issue. I don' know if it's my eyes getting used to the new artist or if Ottley is getting more comfortable with the book... but by the end I didn't really miss Cory at all.

Bring on the next trade!

01:38 / 27.11.04

Just finished TPB 3. I will not post spoilers.

...dear sweet god. Dear sweet god. Amazing. Just amazing.

Invincible just keeps getting better. The emotional level of this one was fantastic. There was a real sense of realism to the personalities of the characters.

Also, very good explanation for Omni-Man's aging and Mark's growing power level. It's something that makes total sense, and I really wish it had been employed as a cop out for Superman.

Also...the True Story of Omni-Man. So much goodness.

02:47 / 27.11.04

After the last trade I really want to see Mark go to his "home" planet and try and talk them out of it. I also really want to see what Omni-man has been up to in space.

17:36 / 31.01.05

Does anyone know if the 4th trade of this is out yet? I just checked Amazon and it says March but I thought it was much sooner than that (like Jan.) Did anyone get it?

17:01 / 02.03.05

FYI:

---cinescape.com--- 3/2/05

Paramount Pictures has bought film rights to Robert Kirkman's teen-superhero comic "Invincible." Kirkman will adapt his own material which the studio hopes will become a franchise.

The story centers on the coming of age of teen Mark Grayson, son of the world's most powerful superhero, and his relationship with his father. Mark, who appears to be a normal teen, begins to exhibit his father's powers.

Lorenzo Di Bonaventura and Circle of Confusion will produce the film.

17:11 / 02.03.05

OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG!

This is AWESOME.

Glad it seems, at first glance anyway, that Kirkman will get to plot bible the whole thing. Very excited about this.

DREAM CASTING MACHINE GO:

Invincible: Jake Glynenhaal
Omni-Man: Tom Fucking Selleck (with low-light dye job)
Debbie: Fork knows. Teri Hatcher? She's doing a good goof/withdrawn mum over on Desperado Housewives.

Woot!

17:57 / 02.03.05

Atom Eve: Laura Prepon (get her back as a redhead!)