Invincible: Compendium One

Invincible #1-9

by Robert Kirkman, Cory Walker (Illustrator), Ryan Ottley (Illustrator)

NOW A HIT ANIMATED SERIES ON PRIME VIDEO!

The first nine volumes of the greatest superhero comic in the universe from visionary creator Robert Kirkman (The Walking Dead), along with acclaimed artists Cory Walker and Ryan Ottley, are collected in one massive paperback edition, as Mark Grayson discovering that having his father superpowers and being a hero isn't what he expected!

INVINCIBLE comic issues #0-47 (trade paperback volumes 1 through 9)

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

1024 pages, Paperback

First published August 16, 2011

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 5 out of 5]

If pressed, I'd say this is my favorite comic series of all time.



Now, I think saying that might contribute to some wild expectations for first-time readers. So let me clarify a bit.
The whole thing. All of the 144 issues pushed together into one big-ass universe-spanning story?
THAT is what makes this my favorite series. It stays consistently good while incorporating a massive cast of characters that change and grow over decades and beyond.
And it does that while also consistently telling the story of one superhero's life in a way that made me laugh and cry and smile and bite my nails with worry.
But don't go into it with the idea that you're going to be blown away by the first few pages.
I think that's how people get disappointed.



I've read and reviewed this one before in different formats, and I was gifted a beautiful set of the Ultimate Collection that I've read more than once, but this time around I did the digital edition in the Compendium format. And I've got to say, I've always liked how portable digital versions are, but as I get older I also like the option to blow the panels up, so that makes this one an excellent choice, as well.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

[Chad · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you've never read Invincible, this is a great way to start. It's the first 9 trades plus a couple of odds and ends. I would recommend reading this digitally because a physical copy is going to be ridiculously hefty to lug around. This is my second time through the series if that gives you any indication of how much I enjoyed it. I read the original trades and used these compendiums as an excuse to read it again.

Invincible begins as your standard teenage superhero story. Invincible's dad is basically the Superman of this world. Mark's been waiting for the last few years to get his powers. When he does, it's the typical Spider-Man type story until the story twists on its heels around issue 10. Kirkman's focus is on character driven moments as Mark grows into being a superhero. That's what makes this series. Plus, Kirkman really knows how to drop those mind blowing cliffhangers. Those of you who have read The Walking Dead will know what I'm talking about.

The original artist, Cory Walker, leaves after issue 7, and Ryan Ottley comes on board for almost the entirety of rest of the series. Ottley's art is fantastic. It's dynamic. It's expressive. It's just fun.

[Michael Finocchiaro · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this take on superhero by Kirkman. The artwork is fantastic! The stories are fun and poke a lot of fun at the classic DC and Marvel universes. The storyline and the characters are all a pleasure to read - particularly in this first volume. But, like for the 2nd one, you should reinforce your bookshelves because these f*ckers are heavy! But, oh so worth it.

[Shadowdenizen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arguably the best Superhero title you're not reading.

This is the beginning of the Invincible saga, and I guarantee once you start reading, you won't stop. (Though fair warning, it's a hefty bit of reading; as I write this, they're at 130+ single issues, or 21 standard-sized trades.)

BUT, this is a title full of memorable characters, rife with twists and turns, and a smart nuance that builds on itself right from the beginning of the first issue.(A big part of the charm of the title is watching Mark [the titular superhero] actually grow from a naive high-school kid to a mature adult as the issues pass.)

Also, fair warning for the super squeamish, it's a bit graphically violent at times, but probably nothing you haven't seen from Marvel, Dc or other Image titles.

It's a shame that it doesn't receive half the attention that Walking Dead does, as it's (IMO) the far superior title.

[Stewart Tame · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a ridiculously huge book. If you held it up to shoulder height and dropped it, it would probably trigger seismometers on the other side of the globe. Probably destroy any furniture between it and the floor, too. The floor as well. What I'm saying is, an ereader won't give you the full experience for this one.

Mark Grayson seems a typical teen at first. He's a high school senior, works at a fast food joint ... and his father is a superhero, Omniman. When Mark begins to manifest powers, his dad takes him under his wing and trains him to be a superhero as well. This volume collects the first forty-seven issues of the comic book, plus a few side stories that appeared elsewhere. It does end on a cliffhanger, but that's pretty much the norm for this series. Practically every issue ends on something of the sort.

This is a smartly written title. Kirkman puts the standard superhero formula through its paces, but cranks it up a notch or two. I'm impressed by how often battles are resolved without conflict. Characters actually talk to and learn from each other. Kirkman's timing is admirable. Some subplots take years to play out, but he brings them to a boil at just the right moment. This is the series that made a Kirkman fan out of me, and I still think it's one of his best. Definitely recommended!

[Jesse A · Rating 4 out of 5]

It takes a bit for this series to get rolling but when it does its top notch.

[Brandon Baker]

Marking as read so I don’t forget to come back to it if I want- I like it well enough, but I think I probably would have LOVED it in like 5th or 6th grade lol it feels nostalgic in a way.

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

For years, I've been wanting to read this series and was constantly being told that it was one of the best superhero and best indie comics that you should read. And created by Robert Kirkman of Walking Dead fame for Image comics, it had a lot of prestige going for it. Unfortunately, I thought it was simply...fine. It's entertaining enough, about a teenage hero trying to balance his world-saving activities, school, and personal life in the style of Spider-man. But it all reads a bit too lightweight. I wish it would be a bit more nuanced in its recapping and its homages.

Also, I get that it's important to not rehash origin stories and superhero training tropes that we've heard many times before, and it's cool that they did away with all of that. But 40 issues in, I feel like I should have a better sense of how our main character, Mark Grayson, deals with his powers, what he truly loves and fears, and even what his powers actually are. I guess he's a strong man that can fly and is invulnerable, but I'm not totally sure. I just wish that Mark was just more engaging as a character.

It's a perfectly good read to pass the time though with a few really good twists and turns, so the problems I've had aren't enough to keep me from reading more, but it definitely isn't the home run hit that it's touted to be.

[Terence · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mark Grayson is a seemingly average teen that dreams of being a superhero. He's the son of the hero Omni-Man and he fears he'll never get his powers. One day he's at work and it finally happens...

...now he has become the hero Invincible.


Invincible has many of the standard superhero comic book elements. He's a teenager who has to balance school, a social life, and dating with being a superhero. He's not great at it. Overall the comic seem to be a brutal homage to DC comics as the original Guardians of the Globe could easily be the Justice League.

I decided to read this after watching season 1 of the Amazon Prime TV show. The show does a good job of encompassing aspects of the comics, but some things are quite different. The most major difference I've come across is Amber.

comic book Amber (the blonde above)

show Amber

Outside of dating Mark and being named Amber they couldn't be more different. The show Amber is a tough young woman who doesn't put up with Mark's crap while comic Amber is more willing to go along with things. William isn't gay in the comic book (at least not yet). Mark's Mom Debbie in the comics is dependent on her husband unlike her show counterpart. Nolan writes science fiction rather than travel books. Many events happen in different time order. Invincible Compendium One does cover more ground than Invincible Season 1 as well.

Overall I'd say I like Invincible. I don't love it, but it is an interesting take on familiar comic book storylines.

3.5 out of 5 stars

[Lashaan Balasingam · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can find my review on my blog by clicking here.

So much is assumed when it comes to superheroes. So strong. So powerful. So many resources within arm’s reach to do just about whatever they want. So much care for people they don’t even know. What would that all be like from the eyes of a very human person whose father is off doing amazing super-things to keep the world safe? What would it all be like if that very human person someday got similar powers for himself? Co-created by writer Robert Kirkman (The Walking Dead) and artist Cory Walker (who draws the first seven issues), this beloved comic book series follows a young hero’s journey to discovering the very busy life of a superhero while going through all the cumbersome and mundane obstacles that young adults are bound to face in life. This compendium collects issues #0-47 (the first nine trade paperbacks), an Invincible story from the Image Comics Summer Special, and The Pact #4.

What is Invincible (Compendium One) about? The story follows Mark Grayson, a senior who goes to a normal American high school, who is pretty close to graduating and getting ready to head to college. He has a part-time job that sucks the life out of him but he understands that he needs to make ends meet. Although he seems quite normal, maybe even boring to some, there’s one thing that makes him stand out from the rest of the world: his father is the most powerful superhero on the planet and he’s known as Omni-Man. As a kid, his father revealed to him that he was part of an alien race called Viltrumites and that someday he too would develop powers like him, from superhuman strength to high-speed flight. Fortunately for him, he discovers these powers at the age of 17. Unfortunately for him, he also discovers a terrifying secret regarding his father that will leave a permanent mark on this young hero’s life forever.

This comic book series is a fantastic homage to superhero stories. With the first couple of issues, writer Robert Kirkman draws upon the rich and diverse superhero worlds established through both DC Comics and Marvel to present his own universe. At first conveying a parodic tone, reeling readers into this world by teasing them with innumerable references, it is only upon the grand reveal regarding young Mark Grayson’s father that the series flips the tropes upside down and redirects his narrative to focus on the myriad of characters he’s established, especially his young and growing protagonist. His series isn’t just about casual superhero action through an episodic story-telling format, although there is plenty of that brilliantly interspersed throughout this compendium, but rather looks into these characters’ plights and their day-to-day quandaries. From dealing with psychological trauma to unraveling love interests, the series brilliantly explores these characters on an intimate and individual level while building up the overarching story revolving around countless villains trying to wreak havoc on Earth despite all the heroes it houses.

If its appropriately paced story-telling and incredibly ensnaring cliffhangers weren’t enough to keep readers going, its wonderful artwork will surely draw many readers’ attention. Impactful, colourful, and expressive, the artistic design for this comic book series never drops in quality. Mostly advocating larger panels, giving the characters much more room to breathe (or rather to talk), the artwork strategically flows by investing more time on character-to-character interactions, while occasionally rewarding readers with intense and epic action sequences that are highlighted periodically with gore, and crowned by beautiful splash pages. Speaking of characters, the sheer imagination, although sometimes simply inspired by already beloved superheroes from the two known giant comic book publishers, is quite impressive, never failing to tickle readers with thanks to the creative team’s silly artistic concepts. The universe in itself is also without frontiers and continuously explores various settings, often also sending readers to intergalactic universes that naturally expand the lore, fantasy ideas, and science-fiction elements. While the series does take some time before truly taking off, it’s safe to say that once it does, it’s hard to ignore its potential.

Invincible (Compendium One) is a grounded, vivid, and at times graphically violent young adult’s coming-of-age story that juggles the young hero’s everyday life with superhero duties requiring him to save the world.

Yours truly,

Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/

[Brady Billiot · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is no way in hell I’m spending the $100 ish to read 2&3 any time soon but now I can watch the show

[Siona Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun coming of age superhero comic. Some of the humor is very… mid aughties, but otherwise this still holds up. If I’m being honest I do like the show a little bit more, besides some of the changes they’ve made I also like how it’s more concise than the comic, but I still think the comic is worth reading! Atom Eve is probably my favorite character

[Vinicius · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comecei a ler Invencível por conta da série do Prime Video, tendo em vista que na época, havia apenas 2 temporadas e a Panini ainda não tinha anunciado a publicação no Brasil. Assim, comprei esse compendium volume 1 para continuar a jornada de Mark Grayson além da animação.

Considerando o tamanho desse quadrinho e suas 47 edições, é um pouco complexo comentar tudo, principalmente porque acontece muita coisa. São vários arcos desenvolvidos ao longo dessas 47 edições, que as vezes variam na qualidade de um para o outro – não que eu achei algum arco ruim, mas a inconsistência nos desenhos e a “enrolação” de algumas subtramas me cansaram um pouco – assim como abordam diferentes temas.

No geral, foi um compendium muito bom de ser lido. Essa primeira parte da jornada do Mark me conquistou, fazendo com que o personagem tenha um carinho da minha parte, já considerando-o um dos meus personagens favoritos dos quadrinhos.

No que tange o Invencible, ele passa por uma transformação drástica durante seu desenvolvimento. Desde criança, ele fora criado por seus pais, até o ponto em que ele descobre que seu pai é um super herói, daquele padrão Superman que ajuda as pessoas e preza pela segurança da população necessitada. Assim, Mark cresce com esse ideal de super herói, que quando desenvolve seus próprios poderes, ele se baseia nessa virtude para guiar suas ações. Porém, quando acontece uma ruptura com esse ideal/paradigma vigente envolve sua concepção de herói, principalmente se tratando de sua figura paterna, a vida de Mark e sua mãe mudam para sempre. E ainda, após ele continuar agindo como herói e depois ultrapassar uma linha que até então ele não havia cruzado, seus traumas e seu pensamento em ser semelhante ao seu pai, trazem uma carga melancólica para o personagem que eu não esperava.

Embora eu já ache interessante o começo de Invencivel, quando ocorre essa ruptura envolvendo o pai do Mark, a HQ engata uma crescente muito boa, trazendo a tona algo novo para o gênero de super heróis para a época, tendo em vista que Invencivel é de 2003. Toda essa violência que permeia a HQ, as escolhas de roteiro e as ações que os personagens sofrem e/ou executam, tem uma consequência a altura e sem retorno. Por exemplo, a morte de um personagem é algo imutável, não havendo brechas de cronologia e roteiro para traze-lo de volta. Assim, o sentimento de angustia e urgência em certas páginas, tornam a HQ muito boa, prendendo o leitor para querer saber o que irá acontecer. Essa ideia de ações tem consequências funciona muito bem ao longo da HQ.

Ainda falando do Mark, é muito interessante acompanhar sua evolução enquanto herói tanto quanto humano. Ao mesmo tempo que ele precisa lidar com a desconfiança da população com o invencível e pensar em como enfrentar os Viltrumitas, ele também precisa lidar com a faculdade, relacionamento e no luto que sua mãe está vivendo após a incidente com seu pai.

E falando sobre a mãe do Mark, que baita personagem de apoio ao protagonista que temos na trama! Apesar da Debbie ter poucas aparições no começo e ser a esposa do herói, após as ocorrências com o pai do Mark, ela se torna mais presente na trama, se mostrando uma mulher forte, mas que ao mesmo tempo está feridas e busca melhorar. Ao vê-la no fundo do poço em alguns momentos, faz com que sentimos pena da Debbie, mas ela retorna com garra e busca superar seus traumas de maneira bem interessante, e sem dar apoio ao Mark nos momentos em que ele precisa. Embora também mereça ser destacado a relação de apoio de Mark para com sua mãe também, pois a relação e união dessa família é sensaonal.

Além da Debbie e do Mark, destaco também a Eve, que logo no começo demonstra ser uma personagem forte, cativante e com proposito de heroína muito exemplar. Seus poderes são sensacionais, abrindo uma margem para criatividade e exploração excepcionais, possivelmente levando-a ao patamar de uma das personagens mais fortes do quadrinho quando ela atingir seu potencial máximo. Ainda sobre a personagem, eu comprei bastante o background da Eve em relação aos seus pais e como eles a enxergam. Esse relacionamento conturbado envolvendo seus pais e seus poderes, fizeram com que eu me importasse ainda mais com a persogem.

Ademais, destaco toda a galeria de personagens como sendo bem bacana e bem desenvolvidos. Ainda existem muitas outras subtramas e, embora alguns personagens pareçam genéricos da Marvel e DC, eles possuem desenvolvimentos peculiares, deixando a semelhança apenas para o design.

Por fim, acredito que Invencível irá crescer ainda mais em qualidade nas próximas edições, considerando todo o terreno desenvolvido e preparado até então. Houve muita violência, espionagem, suspense, traição e moralidade envolvido nesse volume, e espero que tudo isso continue e me surpreenda ainda mais com o que está por vir.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm about 20 years late to the party but this is good shit. It feels like early Spider-Man but without the constant resets. No illusion of change here. Everything has consequences that will be felt later on. It's one of the better super hero books of the last 25 years. It's not a deep, thought provoking book by any means though, straight up super hero stuff. It's like a smarter version of Savage Dragon in that way.

[Joe Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Robert Kirkman - writer
Cory Walker - illustrator
Ryan Ottley - illustrator

This book collects issues #1-#47 (or, volumes #1-#9 if you prefer) of the seminal superhero comic Invincible. There's an incredible amount of story collected here (see below the spoiler break for a brief synopsis) but suffice to say that this is a fantastic graphic novel with gorgeous art and addictive, enthralling writing.



The main character is teen everyman Mark Grayson. Mark's dad is the superhero Omni-Man, a fairly obvious allegory for Superman from the power-set to the "benevolent" visitor-from-another-planet shtick. Mark is a senior in high school when he begins to develop super powers similar to his dad, and so he decides to fight crime as the superhero Invincible.




While the premise is solid, it's not particularly innovative. What makes this series special is the combination of Kirkman's trademark steady character development and whiplash plot twists with Ottley's* strong figures and dynamic action sequences. Kirkman crams a ton of story into each issue, and the universe he creates has substance and consistent rules. Characters die and stay dead, or return in unexpected ways. A plot point will be set up several issues in advance and payoff in spectacular fashion just as the reader is least expecting it. Readers of The Walking Dead know Kirkman as a master storyteller (of a particular kind) and he is in fine form here. Thankfully, the art in this book is just as engaging as the writing. A relative unknown when he started on Invincible in 2003, Ottley has blossomed into an iconic artist with an engaging, dynamic style. His characters are lively and easily recognizable, while his action sequences are gorgeous depictions of horrific, superhuman violence that feels like it drips right off the page and into your lap. Really great stuff!



5/5 - Highly recommended. If you like superhero comics even a little bit, do yourself a favor and check this out.

*Ottley took over for co-creator Cory Walker starting with issue #8 and, except for a brief stretch in 2017 (issues #127-#132), has been the artist for the series throughout it's publication.

[Lukasz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review to come once I have finished off the series (is this just an excuse to put off doing a review and then knocking out three reviews at one? Yes, yes it is). But sufficed to say this was a great read and the differences from the show were interesting to uncover. This makes me even more eager for both the next season of Invincible as well as the next compendium.

[RG · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally finished this brick of a novel. It had its ups and downs. At stages I wasnt in a rush to return to reading. However as it developed I became more hooked. I like how it doesnt follow the usual superhero tropes.

[Sydney Fiore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was phenomenal. So entertaining with complex characters and plot lines. I will definitely be reading the other two compendiums. Wondering how the season finale will match up to the comics 🤭

[Billy Jepma · Rating 3 out of 5]

As someone with a tremendous fondness for superheroes, this totally worked for me. It's optimistic and colorful, and Kirkman's enthusiasm for the genre is infectious. But it's that enthusiasm that stops the series from reaching the heights I hoped it would. For all of its stellar art and endearingly down-to-earth characters, Invincible ultimately amounts to pretty standard superhero fare. There are moments when Kirkman subverts genre tropes, and it's in those moments that the story he's telling starts to feel like something new and exciting. But throughout the nine volumes and over 1,000 pages I just read, those moments are more infrequent than I expected them to be.

Kirkman's writing is the thing that holds this back, ironically. He's obviously a creative treasure trove, but it often seems like his plots are too big for their own good. He also has a weird habit of summarizing the story over and over again. If I was reading this every month as it was coming out, I might appreciate those recaps. But they grind things to a halt and don't feel remotely organic.

Of course, there are also plenty of times where Kirkman's writing is emotional, rich, and wildly creative. But then there are times where it feels rote, like Kirkman's going through the motions a superhero story is supposed to go through, but without the excitement or conviction to make it all that memorable. There are exceptions, obviously, but for the most part, these nine volumes do a lot of narrative worldbuilding and significantly less character development. I certainly care about the cast Kirkman's put together, but not as much as I should (or want to), especially after spending this much time with them. Also, it's worth noting that some of the vocabulary used has aged very poorly, with characters sometimes dropping a casual slur that was relatively commonplace in the early 2000s but is rightfully off-putting today.

Ottley's artwork is stellar across the board, though. Cory Walker's artwork laid an excellent, vibrant foundation for the series that Ottley does some great stuff with. It's rarely, if ever, groundbreaking stuff, but it embraces the feel of superhero comics and essentializes it, distilling it down into its most recognizable and enjoyable parts. Some of the layouts are a little crowded, especially in some of the fight scenes, and Kirkman's dialogue-heavy pages can lead to some overly dense pages, but the design of the series is top-notch. The characters are the biggest highlight, and I'm consistently surprised and enamored with how much creativity goes into the costumes and designs of the many heroes, villains, monsters, aliens, and locales we get introduced to.

It's also fun to see a comic so unabashedly in love with superheroes also be willing to rip them apart––literally. And that's ultimately the most subversive thing Invincible does: violence. The action is brutal and bloody and always shocking, yet never to the degree that it feels gratuitous. It gives the combat the kind of stakes that Marvel and DC rarely achieve and gives you a sharp reminder that the costumed heroes you're invested in are inherently dangerous, regardless of whether they want to be or not. I don't necessarily wish the comic was more violent, but I do wish its violence wasn't the most consistently provocative thing about it.

Outside of the first major story arc––which is adapted and arguably improved upon in the animated show on Amazon prime––and a few other exceptions, very few of the story beats hit as hard as they should. The ones that hit are incredible, though, and easily rank among some of the best moments in a comic book I've come across. That, paired with my general affection for the protagonist(s) and the lovingly rendered world they live in, earn this collection a 3.5/5 from me. I can't wait to read more, but I hope it's able to step up its game, too, because there is so much potential here just waiting to be set free.

[Pat the Book Goblin · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW!! 1000+ pages, nine volumes, and countless hours later I finished one of my favorite books this year! Mark Grayson is probably my favorite superhero ever, even over the DC and Marvel heroes.

I really liked how even though Mark is a superhero with great strength, he does have an "everyman" kind of quality to him. Yes, he does save the world countless times, but he also has the same problems we all have.

There were many times I found myself laughing out loud. Kirkman has a very fun way with how he writes. All of his characters were relatable, and there wasn't one issue I read that I didn't like, so kudos to you Rob!!

I also found I had to pay attention to every detail in the pictures because something might come back later. Just for example, Mark discovers he has powers by throwing a bag of trash into the dumpster, but instead accidentally launches it off into the sky. Later, the same bag of trash comes plummeting out of the sky down on someone out of the blue. There's more examples but that is just a small one. So watch out for all the details!

At first, I just thought this was the typical superhero story but as I read I found how different Invincible is from all the other superhero stories I've read. There were many twists and turns I NEVER saw coming, especially in Volume 3! This is definitely a comic I'll be rereading next year, and the year after just because I'll miss the characters if I don't.

I loved the first compendium to the Invincible Saga and I can't wait to read the rest. If you haven't read these comics why the F not??? You won't be disappointed!

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

They should make a show about this.

[Judah Gentino · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! It’s very refreshing to dive into a superhero universe that isn’t Marvel or DC, and doesn’t have sixteen million parallel universes.

I got into Invincible (probably like most people) through the show on Amazon. It’s pretty neat to compare and contrast the way the show takes from the comic, and what it changes along the way. The Amazon Invincible is probably the best superhero show I’ve ever seen, and it’s awesome to see how the comic made that happen. Having watched the show first, there’s a lot of things I can’t get out of my head, like JK Simmons’ deep, pure voice anytime Omni-man speaks, or Run the Jewels music every time the Mauler Twins show up.
Though this review is technically for the Invincible book, I like comparing it to the show because both are so awesome and groundbreaking.

A few general things:
-People say Amber generally is better in the comics, but I disagree. I dislike her equally in comics and show for two different sets of reasons.
-Mark’s mom Debbie is MUCH better in the show. She’s a little flat in the comics, part of why I knocked off a star.
-I do like how in the comics, we see more of the teams just casually mentioned in the show. Shout out to Cyberforce, Lizard League, and Capes Inc.
-Also, the comics are faster paced in general than the show, but the show has some amazing character development.
-Battle Beast is way cooler in the comic.
-I wish the show included the storyline with the wolf dude. He was pretty cool.

I’d definitely recommend this for any comics fans looking for a new series that has a fresh take on the superhero genre with plenty of humor and action along the way. The amount of gore is pretty consistent between comic and show, but I do appreciate that they keep the language pretty clean in the comic as opposed to the show. The art in the comics is also incredible. If anyone has the stamina for all the violence in the show, I’d probably recommend watching it before the comic, but honestly it’s a toss up between comics and show as to which route you should go first.

[Emma Huettner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the best book I’ve ever read!!! Highly recommended!!! To be fair I’ve only read like 2 books outside of school that I liked and this is the second one and I enjoyed it from the beginning to the end. Love you Mark Grayson <3

[Matthew Harvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A masterpiece. A great introduction into Kirkman’s superhero world filled with impossible choices, fun cliffhangers, and in-depth character development!

[akacya ❦ · Rating 4 out of 5]

2025 reads: 85/300

invincible follows a teen who has recently developed his powers, which he’d always expected, seeing as his dad is omni-man, earth’s defender. honestly, i finished season 3 a few weeks ago and missed the characters so much i just had to read the comics. at this point in time, i prefer the show, but maybe as i continue the series and get to different plot lines, i’ll start to prefer the comics. nevertheless, i enjoyed this compendium and i plan on reading the second one soon.

[Eric Mesa · Rating 5 out of 5]

While speaking to someone at work, I came up with the most succinct way to describe Invincible. Invincible is to Superhero comics as Scream is to Teen Horror Movies. Both are self-aware of tropes and do a combination of deconstruction and reconstruction of those tropes. If you don't know what that is, deconstruction is to point out what's ridiculous about a trope. Usually this is done in parodies. Reconstruction is to take a trope, point out what's ridiculous, and then show it could be fixed. Another example would be Watchmen which points out that the type of people who would dress up as Superheroes would be pretty messed up psychologically. Unlike Watchmen, and like Scream, Invincible is a much lighter look at Superhero comics than Watchmen. In fact, Invincible reminds me of Spider-Man at its best: a sense of humor combined with true drama.

I would also compare Invincible to web comics based on two criteria. First of all, it tends to have lots of callbacks that come to fruition months to years later (in real life timeline). For example, someone hurled into space some time around issue three or four is seen when Invincible goes into space around issue ten or so. Second, the story telling is extremely decompressed - in the mainstream (non-web comics) world, Brian Michael Bendis is the best writer I can think of that matches how slowly the story unfolds. Just like a web comic, there are story plot points that build and build and build over the 47+ issues in this collection. Some of them (like the overarching plot of the Mauler Twins) still are unresolved at the end of this compendium.

Frankly, at this point, if I were going to introduce my kids to super hero comics, I'd just introduce them to Invincible. It seems to be taking the lessons of 80+ years of super hero comics without the baggage all those decades can have on some of the heroes at DC and Marvel.

[Victor The Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Revised on March 5, 2025)

I’ve read plenty of superhero comics from the likes of DC and Marvel, but I’ve have heard about this superhero series from “The Walking Dead” creator Robert Kirkman. I went in with solid expectations and came out astounded.

Our young hero is Mark Grayson, a high schooler who is the son of the beloved and powerful superhero known as Omni-Man. His father came from a planet of an advanced civilization and came to Earth to be its protector at all costs. It doesn’t takes long for Mark to gain his own superpowers and he will quickly join a group of other teen supers like him and learn to fight, train and protect like his father. On top of that, he also has to live a normal life as school student with his best friend and getting a girlfriend.

As Mark’s life is finally becoming balanced, it alls changes when he sees a vastly and violently different side of his father and learns the shocking real truth of why he came to Earth and how he is responsible for a tragic event. After a tense battle with his father who retreats back to space, he must deal with the tough and quick changes that occur at home, school, and in his social life. His superhero life, however, will become his top priority as well encounter new worlds, new enemies and even more drama.

“Invincible” takes everything we’ve read from other superhero comics and makes it so surreal. It’s exhilarating and emotional tale, thanks to Kirkman’s personal touch. The story starts off like a modern-day “Superman” story and feels that way for the first batch of issues, but then turns into an intense ride that never slows down with a great cast and artwork. We of course get to see many different worlds and following many characters. My favorite part about this series is that it never tries to tone down its story and really goes out in many places. A super odyssey. A (100%/Outstanding)

[Rituraj Kashyap · Rating 5 out of 5]

For the first 6-7 issues it feels like a Spiderman-Sky High hybrid, but then shit gets cranked up to eleven and it turns into a universe-spanning (and sometimes dimension-hopping) adventure. However the character development does not take a backseat due to this and one will see the characters grow and their relationships develop with every curveball life throws at them. Looking forward to more Invincible.

[Hunter Gatchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I probably like the show more but still doesn’t take away from the fact that this is a fantastic read with really cool ideas. Also, Atom Eve is by far my favorite superhero not named Spider-Man so if anything happens to her then it’s hands on sight with Robert Kirkman