THIS ISSUE RELEASES ON 5/21/2014

The Good

After last issue’s jaw-dropping horror, I honestly had no idea what to expect from this particular outing. Invincible manages to make himself semi-presentable and immediately goes to Cecil to tell him about everything that occurred in the other dimension, but explanations can’t be fully given as things escalate quickly and viciously. Then they just keep RIGHT on escalating until the very last page. It didn’t really occur to me that last issue was actually the FIRST of a new arc, or if it did, I’d forgotten by this issue and if this is how this story STARTS in its first two issues...I’m terrified to know how it’s going to proceed. Robert Kirkman keeps the cast small and everyone comes off extremely well-defined and the villain in particular has an absolutely great motive, even referencing Dinosaurus and Invincible working together. It’s been fascinating watching both Invincible and his antagonist develop so well both against and in tandem with one another, so both their motives are fleshed-out and make a certain degree of sense. When Invincible returns home, the scene is written with grotesque brutality and things are at their most desperate by issue’s end.

Ryan Ottley’s pencils, Cliff Rathburn’s inks and John Rauch’s colors...I’m not sure what more I can say. It’s amazing how every new artistic team completely redefines the tone and becomes the default look almost immediately. The tone and tenor of the book shifts and molds its way around the art (which is also a credit to Kirkman as a versatile writer). The sheer level of detail present in every panel is astounding, and no panel looks boring nor static, and it all looks like it belongs in the universe (as in possessing backgrounds).

The Bad

Just once I’d like to see someone fool the villain into thinking the have the upper hand. Situations where the villain doesn’t know the full extent of what the hero knows, but instead of keeping it close to the vest, they declare it. I realize that’s an awkward sentence, but without tipping my hand into spoiler territory, I’ll just say it’s like a reverse-James Bond villain monologue. In this case it may not have averted what comes next, but a nod to it would’ve gone a long way.

Speaking of well-worn tropes, we get another one that is very specific to this book between Invincible and Eve. It’s not problematic YET, but it’s verging on becoming repetitive and almost cliche.

The Verdict

Books often dip after a particularly shocking or high-quality issue. Not Invincible. Invincible shines under pressure like the diamond it is and ascends to an even higher quality. At this point, I’m pretty sure it’s in lower-Earth orbit. I used to joke that Invincible got better and better with every passing issue, but the longer the series went on, the less it became a joke. And while it hasn’t been true 100% of the time, this is one time among many that the issue tops the one that preceded it. Who KNOWS what #112 will bring?

Holy crap, talk about advance review.

When is this issue even out?

is this a jumping on point?

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<jealous

h8 u

I'm so excited for this series that I just can't hide it.

Oh god.........I cant wait a week. This is too much. I couldn't even read this review. Curse you.....6 days....wait 5/21/2014........................................wth

I can't imagine it would be. Invincible is tough to jump on to. There are a few spots made purposefully for jumping on though. If you really want to get into Invincible, I would recommend starting with the Viltrumite War trade, and working your way up through trades from there. That's a little ways back, but it would be well worth it.

Last year, I tried to jump on, and got through two issues before I fell in love. I then went back and slowly bought every trade since #1 and read every issue until I was caught up. Even though Kirkman uses the tag line "The best superhero comic in the universe" as a joke for Invincible, I wouldn't disagree with it.

I got really excited thinking that I missed this book this week until I saw the date.

I agree. Try out a few issues, if you don't like it (you're crazy) then don't buy it.

But I can't really stress enough just to start at the first issue. Its so worth it.

Dropped off of this series a while back, just like Walking Dead. People complain about the grittyness of the New 52, but the stuff Kirman writes is down right snuff film material. I have no problem with violence, but this shit is mind numbing. The cover for this one alone makes me a little bit sick. Really don't get that noone else seems to mind that though.

I really liked both Walking Dead and Invincible a lot during during first few years, but its too much detail in the violence for me. Its just too focused on showing everything in excruciating detail and I cannot enjoy that.

110 did not start the arc for this issue. It has been a long building one. If any issue was the jump on point for this issue it would be 108.

Probably not a great jumping on point (issue 105 was advertised as one but this series really deserves to be read from the beginning) but if you're interested in trying the comic out you can take me up on this offer for free:

http://www.comicvine.com/forums/gen-discussion-1/interested-in-reading-invincible-an-offer-for-you-754628/

Love this book, one of the best comics out today. The writing is consistently great and I love the battles, and the violence. It gives importance because you know a character can die or damn near die at any time and I love the fact that when a 400-500 tonner hits another 100+ tonner blood spills and sometimes people's heads explode too.

@scouts1998: From the Image website: "INVINCIBLE #111 packs the punch of three #1 issues combined and is the perfect jumping on point for new readers, that will blow the minds of long-time Invincible fans."

So disappointed with this issue. I mean, I was really hoping Kirkman wouldn't pretty much ignore Mark being raped, but alas, it seems like more violence is the superior alternative. I'll give this arc a try but, like I said, I'm very disappointed and I may end up dropping this title if Kirkman keeps ignoring that previous development.

@smashbrawler: Didn't that just happen last issue? You have to give it time to ferment and develop naturally. It makes sense that Mark is just ignoring it for now, wouldn't you?

@netshyster: No? He just got raped. I'm not going to ask for Kirkman to write an entire issue of Mark lying down in that crater weeping but some acknowledgement would be nice.

Anyway the issue was pretty good, It's literally just a barrage of shocks and violence -- very entertaining and intense.

@smashbrawler:

Lol that's exactly why I would ignore it for now and do something else, not a lot of other options are available to Mark at the moment; all he can do is either soldier on or break down.

What bothers me almost as much as the unnecessary, over-the-top, exploitative violence is the pure glee with which Kirkman and the artists seem to put it in the book and talk about it. It's off-putting and a little disturbing.

This issues was great, deserves its 5 stars Kirkman is a beast I didn't see this one coming I should have, knowing him he would not wast his time on 2 characters lost in the Flaxan's dimension the repercutions of this is now. It's like the flaxan got their revenge against earth after all it's their culture and war which corrupted Robot and now the dice are thrown. I pity Mark this war will be worst than the Invincible war and the Viltrumite war and a lot of people will die.

I forgot this review was posted 3 weeks in advance.

HOLY SHIT THIS SERIES.

Yeah same here...had to go look for it...imo they shouldn't be posting reviews so early but whatever

awesome issue!!!! love this book!

@theacidskull said:

I'm sorry but that's not enough for me. The readers can't hypothesize about what's going on in the comic book, both the writer and artist (especially the former) have to put that into the pages. I don't want the characters to loudly express their feelings like in a Claremont comic book but, like I said before, I want some real acknowledgement. Mark just went through a highly traumatic experience many people (including men) have problems dealing with in real life and I expected Kirkman to tackle the consequences maturely, not hide behind a bunch of gore porn.

Also, no idea why I got a notification about this post just now o_O