Invincible Returns #1 – Review

by Robert Kirkman (writer), Ryan Ottley (pencils), Cory Walker (pencils & inks), Cliff Rathburn (inks), FCO Plascencia (colors), and Rus Wooton

The Story: Mark tries to put the past behind him as he prepares for the Viltrumite War.

What’s Good: If anything, you have to respect Kirkman for writing this issue.  The entire book’s motivation seems to be to place some of Mark’s moral, ethical, and emotional issues at a more stable position before heading into the Viltrumite War.  Kirkman could’ve very easily just glossed over all of these character points and just left them by the wayside, to be dealt with after the big event.  That he isn’t content to do so is certainly admirable, and really is the sort of ethic that I wish we’d see more of in comics.

So really, that means that, barring one action scene that is a rather cool reunion with some of the wacky tertiary villains we’ve seen in Invincible, we have an issue that is pretty much exclusively devoted to characterization.  A lot of the grey areas surrounding Mark’s current position are temporarily remedied.  All told, we get to see Kirkman’s very likable leading man in close quarters, as we get to see how his mind moves as he attempts to resolve his fears of self.

While Mark’s introspection is the keystone to this month’s issue, Eve and William also have their moments and remain their very likable selves.  I’ve always loved these two simply because Kirkman writes them so naturally, without frills or gimmicks, and yet they never seem bland or indistinct.