Skinbreaker #1

Skinbreaker #1

by Robert Kirkman, David Finch (Cover Art), Annalisa Leoni (Artist)

SERIES PREMIERE FOR FANS OF INVINCIBLE BATTLE BEAST COMES YOUR NEW FAVORITE SERIES! The dream team of ROBERT KIRKMAN (THE WALKING DEAD, INVINCIBLE) and superstar artist DAVID FINCH (Batman, New Avengers) present a visionary action epic unlike anything you’ve ever seen. Enor has led his tribe for many seasons, but his time as Chieftan is coming to an end. He wields the mighty SKINBREAKER, but at his age, he can barely lift it. Will Enor’s reluctant heir, Anok, take over before their world falls to ruin? As a bloody power struggle begins, an even bigger threat lurks in the darkness beyond their village. SKINBREAKER tells the story of a people on the verge of collapse and their fight for survival as the many threats they face close in for the kill.

Kindle Edition

Published September 24, 2025

About the author

Robert Kirkman is an American comic book writer best known for his work on The Walking Dead, Invincible for Image Comics, as well as Ultimate X-Men and Marvel Zombies for Marvel Comics. He has also collaborated with Image Comics co-founder Todd McFarlane on the series Haunt. He is one of the five partners of Image Comics, and the only one of the five who was not one of the original co-founders of that publisher.

Robert Kirkman's first comic books were self-published under his own Funk-o-Tron label. Along with childhood friend Tony Moore, Kirkman created Battle Pope which was published in late 2001. Battle Pope ran for over 2 years along with other Funk-o-Tron published books such as InkPunks and Double Take.

In July of 2002, Robert's first work for another company began, with a 4-part SuperPatriot series for Image, along with Battle Pope backup story artist Cory Walker. Robert's creator-owned projects followed shortly thereafter, including Tech Jacket, Invincible and Walking Dead.

Reviews

[Machiavelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Opened the first page and literally said “Wow.” Finch’s art is insanely detailed — every panel feels massive, dangerous, and alive. Leoni’s colors add depth and vibrancy, and Kirkman keeps the pace tight with just enough character work to hint at the bigger world and conflicts ahead. It’s a debut that feels epic and immediate all at once.

Full review on Substack 👉 MachLedger.com

[Craig Schorling · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, the art is absolutely stunning. Each and every page is dripping with detail. The story starts off a little familiar and doesn't explain too much but enough is given to understand the basics of the tribe. An aging elder must be defeated in combat to name a successor. We also learn what the title of the series means and it was interesting and well introduced. This would not normally be my ideal theme and style but the creative team behind this made it an easy choice to give it a try. It is off to the start I would expect.

[Andrew Hale · Rating 4 out of 5]

The tribe of the Skinbreaker observe and practice tradition that exhibits the newly formed strength of each child from their weakend birth state. Chieftain Enor feels his strength has wanted, and noble Anok is desired to challenge for the chief spot but nefarious Thul wants it for himself. All the while, Emom, son of Anok, cannot seem to break free from his weakend skin.

Being the first issue, I wasn't sure of the atmosphere for what Robert Kirkman was setting up but it did, of course, reveal itself. We don't know the history and the make-up of the race but we see motive and tradition. David Finch's art is good. It does take some getting used to the alien environment, from the people to the wildlife and the fauna and basically everything in the panel.

Character Reference:
- Anok
- Enor - chieftain
- Dala - mate of Anok
- Emom - son of Anok
- Paca - son of Thul
- Thul

[Jillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an exciting first issue in the Skinbreaker series! It is created by a fantastic creative duo, written by Robert Kirkman (The Walking Dead, Invincible) with art by David Finch (Cyberforce, Batman: The Dark Knight, New Avengers).

The aging chieftain Enor’s strength is failing, and to protect their tribe he pushes his son Anok to challenge him for leadership. But Anok is conflicted, weighed down by his own struggles, including a young child who doesn’t fit in with the other warrior boys of the clan.

This series starts off with a bang! The artwork is intense and immersive, capturing a strange planetary landscape and its alien humanoid tribe members. Finch’s gritty, detailed style brings this world vividly to life. It’s clear Kirkman is setting up a story that goes far beyond simple tribal politics, and I’m excited to see where it continues.

I can’t wait for issue #2!

Art:5/5
Plot: 4.5/5
Writing: 4.5/5
My Enjoyment: 4.5/5

[Marcus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kirkman + Fantasy genre, I had to at least give this a try.

What we get here is simple but good, it’s not explained what race are characters are but they’re basically orcs and the tribe’s leader finds his strength is beginning to fail him. He wants his student, Anok to succeed him but asking someone to kill their mentor and take their place isn’t an easy request. Not everyone shares the same sentiment though…..

The dialogue here is succinct, there is more emphasis on showing rather than telling with David finch’s art on full display. Fantasy can sometimes get caught up in its own worldbuilding but this was a nice quick read and though I haven’t connected with the characters quite yet I quickly empathized with Anok and Chief Enor

[Joseph Crook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Visually stunning and intricate. Immensely evocative. Ok the story doesn’t go places but it has to provide space for this world and these characters to breathe and it does that well. The relatively sparse and uncluttered writing works so well with the art.

Excellent first book and I’m looking forward to exploring this world more.

[Aidan Bonner · Rating 4 out of 5]

On one hand it's hard to gauge a run's quality off of one issue (especially in a sci-fi/fantasy epic where very little is directly explained), but on the other hand the art is stunning

[Ryan Gasser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful. Astounding. Simple but Precise Storytelling. Thank you Mr. Kirkman, Mr. Finch and your team!

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finch’s Orc Art is stunning

[Todd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome…..so far

Great story so far. You can kinda guess where it’s going a little bit but still reading as an enjoyable comic.

[JM · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple story and words contrasted with detailed illustrations, I’m curious to try a few more issues before I decide if it’s for me.