It is true. I have a tendency when recommending things to you kind folks to go a little overboard in my praise when I see something I like. If I see something I think is special or different or just really cool, I’ll share that enthusiasm to such a degree that at times some might pick up what I have recommended and wonder, “What the hell is he on?” It’s like that old discussion we’ve all had with that friend that uses the word “love” a little too much. “I love this movie! Could I love strawberries any more?!! You don’t know how much I love dryer lint!!!”
I provide this disclaimer because I really want to stress how much I love what I’m about to force down your throats again. I’ve recommended it at least once before, if not more. And guess what? It is still awesome.
I’m talking, of course, of Robert Kirkman’s amazing and incredible comic series, Invincible. This comic makes all other comics look like steaming piles of dog…well, you get the idea. Volume Seven came in the mail today.
You keep saying to yourself, OK, this is going to be the one where things start to go downhill. The guy has got to be running out of good ideas. But not only has Kirkman not run out of good ideas, he’s regularly come up with BETTER ones. It’s rare you find anything–much less a comic–that can make your jaw drop consistently every issue.
Invincible is a comic both for people who have never picked up a comic before and for the hardcore addicts out there. If you watch Heroes, TRUST ME, you’ll love reading this. It starts out at square one and slowly builds into this enormous universe filled with interesting characters and numerous side plots that you just know are going to come back into the storyline in the future in some big way. Surprises are around every corner. But what really makes the series work is how down to earth the dialogue manages to be in these, frankly, incredible and unbelievable situations. People talk like real people talk, act like they should act, and behave in a way that is totally believable…in a world where superheroes save the day from interdimensional galactic baddies on a regular basis. And it’s funny. Really funny. I love every character in this, even the characters I hate because the writing is just…that…good. The writing is so effective that you can balance a scene of Mark just talking to an old friend, trying to decide which of two girls he likes with another story of a mad scientist, master of different dimensions, seeking revenge against Mark for turning him into a deformed freak with his oversized brain running down his back, without having the whole thing feeling forced or trite. You believe every second of it and every crazy plot twist without question because it is written so good and has you so breathlessly awaiting the turn of the next page.
I haven’t even gotten to talking about Ryan Ottley’s pencils, which deserve an award for getting across Kirkman’s crazy ideas with a breezy ease that makes it look like the comic just magically appeared perfect on your doorstep one day. How he comes up with all of these character ideas, these new poses, these perfect reaction shots, I’ll never know. Every Invincible trade comes with a liberal amount of sketches in the back, which are almost better than reading the actual comic. I love it. If you are interested, start here. But beware: once you start you’ll be hooked for life.
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