Invincible: Ultimate Collection, Vol. 10

Invincible #20-21

by Robert Kirkman, Ryan Ottley (Illustrator), Cliff Rathburn (Illustrator)

A new beginning for Invincible as things take a turn down a dark path. Everything changes as Invincible is betrayed by one of his own, and Earth will never be the same.

Collects INVINCIBLE #109-120.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Superheroes, Comic Book, Fiction, Graphic Novels Comics, Science Fiction

336 pages, Hardcover

First published November 19, 2015

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

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

So. Much. Happens.

Rex...*sigh*
Well, Rex takes over the world and kills a shitton of heroes in the process. And he wins! Yup. Everyone pretty much has to back down.
Which...yeah! That makes a lot more sense than the good guys always winning the day, doesn't it? And Rex thinks he's the good guy, even when he's trying to kill Monster Girl.
But, yes. I see why Mark (and his dad) eventually backed down. It was unwinnable and unrealistic to think they could take him on.



Then this bitch! Kirkman is amazing because I did not see him going there with this storyline.
Ok, I thought Mark might eventually cheat on Eve with the crazy Vultrimite lady, but never in a million years did I see him becoming the victim of a rape.
Wow.
*tips hat to Mr. Kirkman*









Finally. FINALLY, we get to see Mark & Eve become parents. Not that there weren't a few bumps along the way...


Goddammit, Rex!





Epic Battle!
If you ever wondered which one of these bloodthristy jackasses would win, look no further than this.

You know you've won when you are literally wearing your enemy as a coat.
Just sayin.





The sky is pretty much the limit, and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens now that this family isn't calling Earth home at the moment.



Highly Recommended!
No, seriously. Why aren't you reading this title yet?

[The Lion's Share · Rating 4 out of 5]

These chapters are really what feel like transitional periods in the story. A lot is changing and things will change and develop in new and interesting ways.

[Blindzider · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was a lot to like about this volume. The first couple issues put Mark through the wringer, and while this series has never been short of shocking moments, one in particular stopped me in my tracks. The resolution of this particular plot thread isn't what you would expect (something this series is good about), and it gives Kirkman the opportunity to "discuss" both sides of the dilemma. It's a tough one and I'm not sure what I would have done.

The rest of the volume was more lighthearted and grounded, dealing with Mark's new home life. It's definitely needed after the heavy and dark themes of those first issues, although you can clearly see a major conflict is brewing.

One minor complaint about the entire series is that all of the characters sound the same. There's very little dialect difference. Speech patterns all match. While characters voice different opinions, the way they express them is exactly the same as everyone else. Not Kirkman's strength in writing, but this is minor.

Heading toward the conclusion of the series...

[Vismund · Rating 5 out of 5]

RIP Battle Beast...

[Koen Claeys · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tenth big hardcover of the ultimate collection of the ultimate superhero/space fantasy rollercoaster comic book. Every page of every single issue varied from really good to superb. Writing, art, inks, colouring, lettering,... Perfection. As a reader, you just feel this is being made with a lot of love, enthusiasm and dedication and the efforts really pay off.

[Jesse A · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good edition of this series, which I kinda low-key love.

[Ostrava · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's one thing I really didn't love about this comic and it happens in this arc. The execution is a bit tasteless. But it's okay, the rest is fine...

[Mattthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good. This series does not disappoint. Only two more volumes left and it's still as good as it was in the beginning. This series is definitely one of my favorite comics I have ever read.

[Richard Guion · Rating 5 out of 5]

The stakes get raised higher and higher with each volume of Invincible. After the last volume ended this one picks right up afterward, with Mark trying to get out of a horrible situation. When he returns to Earth he finds Anissa, the Viltrumite he first met in issue 44, waiting for him...and what happens next is both violent and shocking. It's not for the faint of heart. But again, it really has never been done in any mainstream comic. A huge turning point occurs in the next arc with Mark / Robot / Monster Girl. This will rip out your guts if you're invested in this series. Atom Eve and Mark have an off world adventure. Finally it concludes with an epic fight between Battle Beast and Thragg.

[Oron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. The ideas just keep flowing. The only superhero book you'll ever need indeed.

[Nina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not sure the sexual assault here was REALLY necessary or added anything to the story (except I'm guessing as a plot device to create a future additional Mark baby). I'm annoyed about Eve's weight being directly tied to everything Mark does. Also, I think it would have actually made it MORE interested if Battle Beast had just killed Thragg and then it was more about the ant Thragg babies. Thragg is honestly very boring. Plus I just don't care about Telescria or whatever the alien world is called.

At this point I will finish the series, but this volume felt like a downgrade to me.

[SamScotMosher · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit of an in-between edition of Invincible that sets up what I imagine will be the series’ two final villains. I’m excited by the prospect of both, and each storyline packs jaw-dropping twists and deaths. But there are some choices made by (or for) Mark and Eve that feel rushed, waved away, or mishandled, and the Earth conflict is just a slightly revamped version of the Dinosaurus conflict from only a few issues ago.

[Davy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! What an awesome edition! Kirkman did things and took characters to places I did not expect, and in the best way possible. He didn’t play it safe and it worked!!

[s · Rating 5 out of 5]

robot is pissing me off. bye

[Charlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

DAMN THIS BOOK FOR BEING SO GOOD!!!!

I finished the Invincible Ultimate Collection Vol. 9 and immediately started Vol. 10 the same day. Finished this a day later — I couldn’t resist reading it through!!!

So, I’m about to start Vol. 11...! I hope Vol. 12 comes out soon!!!!!!!

[Adam Stone · Rating 2 out of 5]

I recommend this volume to people who hated the first six ultimate collections of Invincible. As this series is almost unrecognizable at this point. The writing is over-over-the-over-the-top, the constant melodrama between every romantic pairing is excruciating, a word I've used (along with suffering) many times when describing volumes seven, eight, nine, and now ten of this series. Kirkman handles the subject of his protagonist being raped with the same incompetent bulldozer hands as he used in his abortion storyline.

This is another absolute Must Skip for fans of superhero comics.

[Ted Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

A solid five star book, lovely art and cracking story that wraps up several ongoing plot lines, and sets up a whole new set of cool subplots effectively acting as a semi-reboot.

It clearly shows that ten volumes in Kirkman isn't running out of steam and Invincible still has years to go, as the book feels fresh, fun, and crackles with energy.

[Ross Alon · Rating 4 out of 5]

forget the walking dead. this one just keeps getting better

[Andy Mendez · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the biggest issues I have with super villains with intentions to bring peace through violent means in comics and even media in general is that they never set their targets are truly guilty people. The core conflict in this issue was that Mark's (a.k.a. Invincible) close friend, Rex, takes over the world via a robot legion and the massacre of several gov't officials and heroes who would've opposed his hostile takeover. The takeover was planned long in advanced and paid off as the world was left unaware of the murders. Mark admits and submits to Rex's plan for a peaceful world as the best option for the Earth and I have such huge problems. The story frames Rex's coup as beneficial because Rex plans to address issues of resource scarcity and over population. My issue is that the issues Rex addresses aren't issues but rather eco-fascist talking points and an uncritical analysis of capitalist institutions. There is no overpopulation issue but is often one mentioned in various media but is in reality an eco-fascist idea that lends itself to conversations of genocide as a means of controlling populations. Resource scarcity is another such faux dilemma as resources aren't dwindling but rather over-exploited to satisfy the over-consumption pushed by capitalism. All this to say that Rex and any other super villain's plan of bettering the world always use these issues to leverage whatever crazy plan they want to use. In this case, Rex not only successfully begin his plan by killing other heroes but also convinces the protagonist, the super hero we hope to win against insane super villains, that he's right. The story continues to say that the days following the coup, that the public is unaware of even happening, the world entered an era of progressing peace with stuff like free healthcare and robot cops on every street corner to stop crime immediately; a world that somehow gives both leftists and conservatives heart attacks. The world is left in ambiguous state however, as other super heroes who are aware of the coup and plan a revolt against Rex. That conflict is left unresolved intentionally as our hero decides the best course of action is to leave the planet with his girlfriend and newborn daughter. The small family begins there lives on an alien planet. Overall, Mark should've fought hard to free his planet despite the good Rex promises because 1) Rex was not elected to the status of world leader and puts down any resistance to his position 2) he violently and put himself in that position 3) the public is unaware of the actions that their new background leader committed 4) REX LITERALLY TORE OFF MARK'S PREGNANT GIRLFRIEND'S LEG WHICH INDUCED HER INTO LABOR. Thinking on it now, there are legitimately good reasons Mark shouldn't fight back against Rex but it would've been interesting to see the story of this series go from bare knuckle brawls to high-stakes planning of bringing down an all powerful system and super being similar to The Boys. My library interloaned the last two volumes of this 12 volume (I thought it was 8) series and I can't wait to see how it ends.

[Bryan Stoffel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Invincible Ultimate Collection vol 10 is a return to form for the series, and brings the story to new and interesting places.

The cliffhanger in volume 9 did a great job of setting up this book. The first issue shows us what lengths Mark goes to to get back to his home dimension, and it was fun to see Mark pretend to be his evil doppelgänger (although ripping his hair out to form the Mohawk looked painful!). From there the book cranks it up to an 11 with not only Eve dumping Mark after his return, but to then ha e Anissa rape him afterwards. Kirkman does a great job showing the trauma Mark experiences from this, and I give him props for not only going there, but to turn the tables from how this plot point usually plays out was refreshing to see, and show that at times men can be victims too.

But it doesn’t stop there as Robot turns on his friends to successfully take over the Earth. It’s fun to see these kinds of betrayals and to see the demise of so many heroes we grow used to seeing. Shocking moments like Eve losing her leg and the baby finally being born after the chaos were really effective here. And the fact that though his methods may have been bad, for now seeing the world being better than it was before brings the grey level to the front and makes for some fun debates between our cast of characters.

Mark and Eve decide to leave Earth to live on Telescria which brings some fun new locations and dynamics to our main characters. It’s great to see Allen and Oliver again, and I love that Oliver is in a relationship with a bug like alien. And finally we learn that Thragg went to the planet where Nolan exiled himself for a time and where Oliver comes from to create his own army of Viltrumites. After his victory over Battle Beast we see him take off into space once more with his army which sets the stage for the next volume.

For me volume 10 was a return to form for this series. While the last few weren’t bad, I just found myself not as invested in what was going on than I had in previous volumes, and the elements I did find interesting I felt like we were quickly rushed through them and didn’t give them time to breath and live up to their full potential. This volume was pretty action packed, had some real weight to it and went to real darker places I didn’t expect. It changed the scene and makes me excited for what they’re setting up. Out of the 12 hardcovers that make up this series, volume 10 was a stand out for me, and makes me feel like the creative team can stick the landing for the series finale.

[Brendan · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

Thought I would attempt to finish this series but soon realised volume 12 wasn't available, insert forehead slap. This book was on its way to gaining a 5 but fell short with some of the same issues I have had with this series. Kirkman has created a grand series but the central character is a little predictable for my liking, the series really hasn't come that far for the lead character.

The best part of this book is the Rex storyline, it is one of the most complex storylines I have seen in this series. This has always been the ultimate question, would you kill a handful to save the many? It's a philosophical and morale question but one thing is for sure, Rex crosses that line and slowly convinces the few survivors of the bloodbath to follow him. The only issue I had with this storyline is the no payoff, Invincible essentially accepts the defeat and knowing this character for so long now feels wrong. Just my little gripe on the best part of this volume. Something happens to Eve and that's the end of it, I was super annoyed with this beat.

The end game is now in sight and the best part of this volume is the bloody confrontation that takes part throughout, I won't give it to you as you need to witness it yourself. This is the long arc section of the book that is interesting but has that inevitable conclusion I expected. The villain is the best part of this series, he has a clear objective and would make a grand cinematic villain, much like Thanos of the Marvel film universe.

Why the 3.5?

The book never hits the highs I thought it would, it treads water and leaves you doubting the choices of Invincible. Now that I'm long enough through I'll talk about the Eve moment, so look away. Her leg is ripped off and they leave Earth. Am I missing something here? Invincible watches friends being ripped apart and he chooses to leave. I just didn't buy this moment and it felt like Kirkman backing himself into a corner and going for the easy way out. This is essentially the end game here, it might even be bigger than the actually big villain moment we have coming. I have to finish this series but this moment annoyed the hell out of me. Disappointment is an understatement.

My next book was volume 11 which I'll review next. Big weekend of catch-up.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Often in the Marvel & DC comics, heroes make decisions that are always for the best, but in this series, Mark is always making mistakes. He often learns and grows from them, but chaos and death often follow him. His determination to kill Levy drives a wedge between him and Eve, and he has to figure out how to get out of a dimension that Rex stranded him in. Months go by, and Eve is nearing the birth of her child when he returns. Mark tries to warn people that Rex has gone insanely evil, but his pleas come too late, and Rex attacks all the heroes resulting in many of their deaths. In the midst of all this, the Viltrumite Anissa assaults Mark, demanding he father a child with her. She rapes him in a very uncomfortable scene. He understandably is reeling from her attack, and it throws him off his game while he deals with all that is happening around him. That his and Eve's baby daughter is born is a bright spot in this grim volume.

Battle Beast and Thragg get into a fight to the death when they encounter one another, as Thragg has settled down on a familiar planet and has worked VERY diligently at increasing the Viltrumite ranks. The planet he picked is actually brilliant and his children will be ready soldiers in no time. Speaking of other planets, Mark & Eve with their baby daughter Terra leave Earth as they can't cope with Rex's betrayals and how everyone is looking past his choices. They meet up with Oliver, who due to his mother's bloodline, has aged rapidly and they are now are about the same age. We meet Oliver's girlfriend, Haluma, who looks like a giant grasshopper/lobster but turns Oliver on (love the mandibles joke).

As we now move towards the conclusion, some threads are being tidied up. We see Mark's first girlfriend with a new boyfriend, and some bow ties are added to Art the superhero's tailor, Eve's parents and William & Rick's character arcs. This was a more poignant story than usual, although you can't have an Invincible volume without battle scenes throughout. The last page was a gut punch for what it symbolized, and in the enjoyable sketchbooks at the end of each book, artist Ottley said it was rough to draw.

[Jinji · Rating 5 out of 5]

Invincible Ultimate Edition Volume 10!!! Wow, I’ve really been following some long-running titles, huh? Anyway, it has been a while since I’ve read Invincible, I re-read 10 issues before the ones in this volume. So, after Robot, I mean Rex, travelled with Mark into a different dimension where Angstrom is being kept, he killed their version of Invincible, and left Mark trapped there to do his dastardly plan. Mark came back to his dimension with the help of the alternate dimensions’ Rex, I mean Robot since he didn’t have the body transfer. What Mark came back to is a horny Viltrumite determined to have his child, Rex’s destructive plan of killing anyone who disagrees with his vision of world peace, and father duties! Well, there’s so much happening that with these 3 things, one gets forced on him, one he accepts, and one they just had to deal with (not gonna tell you which is which). While all of this is happening around Mark, a battle of epic proportions is happening at the other side of the galaxy. Battle Beast finally finds Thragg, who was breeding (a lot) with another alien race. It’s an all-out fight with a grweat ending. I can’t wait to read volume 11!!!

[kami · Rating 4 out of 5]

man WHAT THE FUCKKK???? Literally everything bad that could have happened, HAPPENED. every character that showed an OUNCE of an arc just got that shit slapped away by this volume. this is literally "the boys" typa issues bro, literally WHYYYYY did robot to that shit broo...... mark gets RAPED by anissa, ALMOST GETS DIVORCED WITH EVE IN THE SAME ISSUE, half of everyone dies, mark becomes a father, SEA SALT gets disrespectfully clapped, and thragg just made like 1000 new olivers. like WHY?? WHYY??? and on top of that, EVERYONE IS SO DAMN ANNOYING. mark is still a hypocrite, because WHYY were you SOOO obsessed with angstrom, you were gonna kill him, and now that robot is the new hitler, you DONT GIVE A FUCK? the guy ALMOST KILLED YOUR GIRL BRO. think about it, if mark listened to eve and hadnt had robot build him the portal, THIS WOULDNT HAVE HAPPENED THE WAY IT DID. like if immortal is making sense thats how you know something isnt right. well... mark checking up on amber was cute. art finally reuniting with nolan was cute too. oliver glow up AND HE GOT A BUG GIRL?? DAMNNN

[Nickonero · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me lo he bebido. No he podido parar. Es injusto que algo así tenga una página final.

Es difícil que esta historia pueda superar a cada número, pero lleva 120 grapas. 120. (algún día las compraré una por una porque el arte de esas portadas debería estar expuesto en un museo). Lo hace. Invencible se ha vuelto a superar. A cada vuelta de hoja yo exclamaba un «no puede ser» un «no seréis capaces» un «esto es lo mejor que podíais haber hecho».
Ottley no hace una cosa mal. Los mejores giros están aquí. Se acerca el final de esta serie, sólo faltan dos tomazos y yo los leería inmediatamente uno tras otro. Qué cosa tan grande.
Estamos a febrero, y este es el cómic del año para mí. Si aparece otro mejor, lo pondré con mayúsculas, pero lo dudo de forma muy seria. Se necesitan obras así, se necesitan obras que dejen a uno temblando.
Qué barbaridad. Qué subidón. Qué felicidad.

[XOX · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oliver and Allen working together on a virus that could harm Viltrumite.

Mark is trying to stop Oliver and in the fight, he got the virus. He was sick and the Viltrumite are helping to cure him. In turned out he has the royal blood that threaten the Viltrumite general.

Mark is fighting for his life. Fortunately, his immune system is able to survive the virus but with a cost. He lost his superpower. He could no longer join the fight against monsters.

Robot who called himself Rex has a backstory. Of his version of peace is to put himself in control.

That's horrible and bad. But also effective.

[soonat · Rating 5 out of 5]

SPOILERS!!

Rex “Robot” finally drops the mask, and holy hell, it’s vile.
I never trusted that smug tin can from day one, but watching him gut Eve like that? My blood froze.
Cecil’s fate? I saw death coming a mile away… yet the way it hit still punched the air out of my lungs.
Mark’s helplessness against Rex infuriated me, fists clenched, screaming at the pages, and that rage proves how perfectly Kirkman hid the monster behind the smile for 100+ issues.
Then the final gift: Terra.
One tiny panel of Mark holding his daughter and every scar, every broken bone, every tear suddenly made sense.
I’m not crying. You’re crying.

[Freddie Domaille · Rating 4 out of 5]

What's that? Personal stakes? Consistent characterisation? Antagonists I actually give half a damn about?
Thank god we're not doing the "Mark disappears for a year" plotline AGAIN.
Anyway, the story's written better again, the characters are written better again, and the sensitive topics this particular volume is so famous for are handled about as maturely as can be hoped for.
The art's still good, even if there is a flagrant overuse of splash pages and full-page spreads.

Honestly I'm just glad I don't have to try and care about Dinosaurus anymore. Even after death he haunts me.

[Daniel Roy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I kinda dig where this is going. Eve is no longer fat so by writer logic she's no longer a killjoy who never smiles, and the space adventure is all kinds of fun.

I like where the story went with Robot, too. My only gripe is the rape story. I'm not seeing it add anything interesting to Mark's story and it's not saying anything original or insightful. It's just setting up Mark to have an illegitimate child, and it's as painfully obvious as it is trite.

[Craig Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

i don’t have much more to say other that what i’ve said about previous volumes, this series is just mind blowing, every single volume somehow gets crazy and crazy, the art gets better, the writing is fantastic

Ryan Ottley’s art literally makes me WOW out loud when i see it, i just can’t get enough of that art and this series in general, sadly it’s almost over but i will 1000000% be revisiting this in the future many many times