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.
I am reading this after finishing the first season of the wonderful adaptation on Amazon Prime. This was good but since the animated adaptation was similar in style but enhanced and expanded the story. But I am still glad to read the story as well as always there would be some extra details or story arcs that were left from the adaptation.
I have always loved comics, and I hope that I will always love them. Even though I grew up reading local Indian comics like Raj Comics or Diamond Comics or even Manoj Comics, now's the time to catch up on the international and classic comics and Graphic novels. I am on my quest to read as many comics as I can. I Love comics to the bits, may the comics never leave my side. I loved reading this and love reading more, you should also read what you love and then just .
I’m re-reading this for the first time since it came out and after this first issue, I’ve realized I forgotten so much of it that it’s like new all over again and I’m loving it!
Mark Grayson is a typical teenager, except the fact that his father is one of the greatest superheroes known to mankind. Mark is waiting to develop his own super powers - hopefully something incredible - so that he can follow in his father's footsteps, whether that means fighting inter-dimensional aliens or stopping a bank robbery.
While Mark is at work at the local burger mart he throws a trash bag so high into the sky that it disappears. And with that, it begins!
And what better way, Mark figures, to begin than to go out and fight some crime... in a yellow bandanna, goggles, and a track suit. While taking down the thieving villain Titan he is spotted by his dad. Dad's impressed, but not by the costume, and Mark is taken to the tailor, Art, to develop a costume. Ideally, Mark hopes, something iconic.
Later, Mark sticks up for a kid at school who is being bullied, possibly forgetting about his new found strength. The principle - who he's called in to see - creates his moniker accidentally by telling him he's not Invincible.
Soon Mark is taking on some more criminals, some diamond thieves, but now he's Invincible!
In this Image First issue of Invincible, Robert Kirkman and Cory Walker introduce us to the Grayson Family. From vivid colors, and clear lettering to a great storyline, Robert Kirkman brings us another great comic line. Much like my reviews of The Walking Dead I will be breaking up the reviews into categories. "The Best." "The Worst" "Those Remembered" "Criminals" and possibly more as the issues continue as they fit into the reviews. So without further ado...
The Best. The graphics and attention to detail are amazing. The colors really help define this as a superhero comic. When I think of superheroes, I think of bold rich colors in their costumes and symbols, and the issue has all of it. Mark's first costume is a complete joke. It's just what a kid would put together to "play" as a superhero.
The Worst. Mark's first costume. Its the best and worst for the same reason. As a superhero or someone with powers, that responsibility needs to be taken seriously and having a poorly, make-shift costume to hide your identity makes villains and outlaws not take you very seriously and can lead to others being put in harms way.
Criminals. From bank robbers to diamond thieves, Mark is trying his hand at stopping thieves in their tracks within weeks of him getting his superpowers.
Recommend. I recommend Invincible to anyone who enjoyed the Incredibles movie, Smallville or any other superhero comic that starts with their teenage years and progresses. Also for any fans of Robert Kirkman's work, this will not be anything like The Walking Dead. Where The Walking Dead is zombies, blood, gore and violence, Invincible is more a bright fun loving story about a teenager finally figuring out who he is meant to be.
Fun start to a series about a superhero's son who becomes a superhero himself. (Especially since it's non-Marvel/DC and not part of any big shared universe.)
This was a fun, quick read. However, I did not need to see Mark on the toilet after immediately starting the book. It was funny that while devising a plan to test his superpowers, Mark ignores his own logic and reasonings. Furthermore, how he got his name was cute. I was not a huge fan of Mark standing up to the bullies just because it seems to be an extremely overused trope. Overall, the comic was decent.
Borders between the edges of parody and loving tribute. (More love than parody). I happened to really enjoy myself with this one. Art is super simple and the colors are flat- an yet, for the world they set up, none of that feels like a detraction. If anything, this is probably the best looking comic with minimalist art. My favorite part was the origin of Rex Splode. For a mere two pages they sure cram a thoughtful tale down like nothing. Already it's a world you wanna belong to. I'm surprised this doesn't get talked up more than or as much as The Walking Dead. It's tough to strike Lightning twice, but of all people, Kirkman does it. Two super memorable series that will live on in comics history forever. If Walking Dead had never been a thing I feel like this would have been way more revered.
The greatest thing about this series is that it's complete. Darn it the full circle really is pretty satisfying.
This and Y: The Last Man are the comic series that feel the most whole, in my opinion. And both have MCs that, imo, start out kind of annoying and grow on you. Although I like Yorick more ;)
A consistently fun ride. Biggest rip is that Atom Eve wasn't treated as being more OP. She has a fantastic arc tho. Fav character vibes.
I didn’t read the Kindle edition, but a floppy (2021 reprint, promoting the animated series from Amazon), and I was really intrigued! I tend to dislike #1 of anything (too much setup required, not enough pages left for a story), so for this to excite me was a pleasant surprise. I will have to make time for that series and maybe pick up a collection or two of the original comic to see what happens/happened next!
"Invincible #1" bursts onto the comic book scene with an invigorating introduction to a world that challenges the traditional superhero narrative. Created by Robert Kirkman and illustrated by Cory Walker, this debut issue presents readers with a fresh take on the superhero genre, offering both thrilling action and thought-provoking character dynamics.
Robert Kirkman's writing immediately sets "Invincible #1" apart from conventional superhero tales. The story follows Mark Grayson, a seemingly ordinary teenager who is revealed to be the son of Omni-Man, one of Earth's mightiest protectors. Kirkman adeptly balances Mark's journey of self-discovery with the unveiling of a secret legacy, creating a compelling fusion of personal drama and superpowered spectacle.
The character development in this issue is rich and multifaceted. Mark Grayson's transformation from an awkward teenager into a fledgling hero is nuanced and relatable. Kirkman explores the challenges of balancing teenage life with newfound responsibilities, adding depth to the protagonist's character arc. The dynamic between Mark and his father, Omni-Man, adds an additional layer of complexity, offering readers a glimpse into the interpersonal struggles that superheroes face even within their own families.
Cory Walker's artwork infuses the issue with a kinetic energy that mirrors the exhilarating superhero action. The character designs are visually distinctive, capturing the essence of their personalities. The action sequences are dynamic and explosive, showcasing the awe-inspiring feats of superhuman abilities while also conveying the visceral impact of battles.
One of the standout elements of "Invincible #1" is its willingness to confront the consequences of superhero conflicts. The issue does not shy away from violence or the genuine dangers that come with being a hero. This realism adds gravitas to the narrative, emphasizing the high stakes that Mark and other heroes face in their quest to protect the world.
The pacing of the issue strikes a balance between exposition, character development, and action. The narrative flows smoothly, introducing readers to Mark's world and gradually building towards the climactic superhero showdown.
In conclusion, "Invincible #1" is a dynamic and refreshing take on the superhero genre, offering a captivating mix of relatable characters, thrilling action, and thought-provoking themes. Robert Kirkman's storytelling expertise, combined with Cory Walker's dynamic artwork, sets the stage for an epic journey of self-discovery and heroism. If you're a fan of superhero tales that challenge conventions and explore the complexities of heroism, "Invincible #1" serves as a promising introduction to a series that continues to captivate readers with its unique perspective.
Intrigued by the leisurely careful story telling, cape/cowl model that examined the everyday battles of Mark Grayson aka Invincible, in & out of his spandex.
Series creator Robert Kirkman writes a simple beginning showcasing the origins of Grayson developing his superpowers. No cliffhangers or shocking tragedy here, a nice standalone story showing our good-hearted protagonist with a friendly moral compass and some interesting supporting characters that will all showcase, lead, grow, mature & evolve in the titular series hereafter.
The panel explaining his first experience with his newly formed powers is a great contrast to those elibate, popular origin tales for other heroes; sometimes a little goes a long way.
Cory Walker provides the artwork for this issue. The cover doesn’t draw you in with flash or overpopulation of various characters instead using the in-costume portrait nicely.
The whole issue has colorful panels, a huge selling point only & it’s biggest strength, the color looks wonderful, locations & characters stand out with action sequences popping nicely & distinguishing itself easily from all the dialogue & story advancement in the other pages. The first page, an open panel, is certainly a noticeable & pleasant setup.
I enjoyed this debut issue. I was more familiar with Kirkman’s more popular series, The Walking Dead, at the time and found this #1 a relief to enjoy opposed to the other cliche hero titles with long, inconsistent & complicated history & creations . After the final page I wanted more, finding myself hooked after the first few issues & invested fully after a dozen.
This was cute. I've never picked up this series before but I knew ahead of time that it was extremely successful and long running. After reading the first issue I am more curious than ever, since this really didn't have as much of a big impact as I was expecting. Don't get me wrong, it was a nice introduction to a super hero comic and his family dynamics. But it was very cute and for Robert Kirkman I was expecting more gruesome and hard hitting. I don't know this single issue by itself hasn't inspired me to continue on, but curiosity makes me want to see if it takes a darker turn later on.
I like the animated series that spawned from this popular comic book series, so I was keen to get started on these graphic novels too. I was intrigued to see if there were any differences between the two.
In that sense, I was surprised by the differences in character designs, though, I'm not complaining - they're both done well, in my opinion. The story was a good leaping off point, and sets the series up well. Even though I know plenty of the story already, from the TV series, I'm still keen to read on.
I promised myself that I wouldn't log any comics on this site (because I read waaaaay too many of them) but I recently decided to re-read this before the next season of the show releases and I decided I wanted this to be the exception because in my own personal opinion, this is THE modern superhero comic that should be read by anyone and everyone who's even remotely interested in the genre or just comics as a whole.
It's also just really good
and Robot is one of the best characters in all of fiction and no one will ever convince me otherwise
I was introduced to this comic book by going into a book store in Salt Lake City and finding the omnibus of this volume. It was so huge. Back then, I never read a graphic novel before. I thought it was tacky. After getting off my high horse the last few weeks and reading a lot of graphic novels, I decided to give this series a try. So far I enjoy it. The TV show is very popular so I have semi high expectations. I even bought Kindle Unlimited just to read all these.
Mark Grayson, aka invincible is the son of Viltrumite father Omni Man. We see Mark get his powers, his life at school, and him fight a little crime. We also see his iconic costume at the end of the issue.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
The artwork is so "alive" that the reader could almost be inclined to communicate with the characters portrayed therein. Couldn't stop reading until the end.
This was a solid start to a good comic book series. After all the hype surrounding invincible I just couldn't bring myself to wait for amazon to slowly dish out episodes when I could read the story now.
This is a well done comic book with good artwork, excellent pacing, and some decent characterization. I’ll probably give this one to my 10 year old son, but I’d be interested in reading more of the story!
A sort of nothing start. I've watched the first season of the show, so I know it doesn't continue being a nothing series, but if I had picked up the series starting with this first issue I wouldn't be confident this was going places.
A strong start to a very well received comic series. Great art and good writing. Coming of age comics can sometimes be cringey as hell but this one is funny without falling into cringey tropes!