Robert Kirkman‘s “other” series, Invincible, hit the milestone of issue 100 today. Kirkman and artist Ryan Ottley craft a superhero comic that pokes a bit of fun at other superhero comics, while also delving into what being a superhero really means to a teenage boy and how he deals with the pressures it entails. Never afraid to kill a character or two, Kirkman titled this latest arc “The Death of Everyone”, leading to much speculation of which members of the main cast would be around long enough to see issue 101.

Dinosaurus floods the coastline of countries all over the world, putting millions in dangers. It’s all part of his crazy plan to save humanity by making human society more sustainable. Mark/Invincible helped Dinosaurus in the past and feels at least partially responsible for this catastrophe. When he attempts to stop Dinosaurus, Mark is pummeled and left with a crushed on live television. Does Mark escape? Does he die? Is this truly the death of everyone?

Invincible

Invincible

For the last ten years Robert Kirkman has made Invincible a quality and engaging comic. He’s made it a bit humorous and told a story that frequently references back to earlier points, showing that no part of the story is wasted. With issue 100, he gives the reader quite a shock, flirts with a couple of comic industry tropes, and sets up a new status quo for the series as a whole. Kirkman makes Mark Grayson/Invincible’s growth and personal change seem like a natural progression of his character, rather than merely a device to advance the story.

Ryan Ottley has developed his art immensely over his run on Invincible and it shows in issue 100. Ottley puts gore and action on the page in a wonderful way, but handles the humorous and emotional moments equally well. Whether it’s blood splatters, tear drops, or a look of surprise, Ottley’s art gives Invincible a life all its own.

Invincible

Invincible

This is a landmark issue and while it bucks a few trends, it lives up to its potential. The status quo is changed, there are a few surprises, and the comic keeps up with its overall quality. Kirkman doesn’t pull any punches and keeps the story moving along on the track he’s set for it. Any fan of the series should get this issue, collecting all eight covers or just the chromium variant.

Related posts: