Broken Frontier

I must confess that Invincible has been on my “to read” list for far too long.  As an avid fan of Robert Kirkman’s The Walking Dead, it’s almost a travesty that I’ve waited this long to jump into the series.  With this issue being my first official exposure to the series, it’s safe to say that I’ll be catching up as quickly as I can.

Kirkman wastes no time diving right into the story as Nolan and Deborah Grayson reveal to their son, Mark (a.k.a. the superhero Invincible), that they’re getting back together and immediately depart to explore alien worlds.  What follows this brief sequence are several different “talking-head” scenes not entirely dissimilar to other Kirkman books, but this issue stands out because of the comedic tone that completes the package.  A two-page scene, for example, where Mark’s friend William reveals his homosexuality is rife with uncomfortable and hilarious tension that made me want to duck and hide.  You can truly grasp how awkward the characters felt simply by gauging their exaggerated facial expressions and body language.

In addition to the comedic sequences, moreover, are several scenes of entertaining character exploration and comic-industry commentary.  We learn, for example, that Mark is capable of embracing empathy, even if it means giving a gravity-powered bank-robber a break.  And if you were ever curious about the reading habits of a superhero, you can follow Mark on a tongue-in-cheek trip to his local comic shop, complete with a smug clerk who takes a few pot-shots at sluggish writers, and at publishers for continuously resetting their issue numbers (possibly a well-timed jab at DC?).  For those who are able to pick up on the parodic nature of Invincible, there are many more Easter eggs to find in the last scene of the issue.

For long-time fans of Invincible, issue 80 is another great chapter filled with fantastic storytelling and outstanding art.  For those looking for a jumping-on point, this issue displays all the strengths of a writer hoping to bring in new readers.  You don’t need to be caught up on the last 79 issues to feel like you’re right at home with this eccentric and hilarious book.