Invincible Volume 1: Family Matters

I have a feeling that Roberk Kirkman is known more for zombies than anything else. After all, he gave fans The Walking Dead and dead a lot for Marvel Comics' plethora of undead and nutritionally challenged. But one of my personal favorites is his teen superhero, Invincible. I was thrown off a little by the quirky nature of Mark Grayson being the son of the most powerful superhero on the planet. You'd kind of expect seriousness with something like that going on. Instead, Kirkman plays the whole affair off as a kind of normal thing. Mark even has a schleppy job he hates flipping burgers. You see, even though Mark's dad is a superhero, Mark continues to have a fairly normal life. He dodges homework, doesn't get the beautiful girls, and doesn't ace tests. Two out of three remove him from the Peter Parker superhero range. Mark is well-adjusted, just a regular guy getting through life while his parents do their own thing. Even if one does involve going off to other worlds and other dimensions. That's one of the best things I love about Invincible. Kirkman and Mark work at keeping it all real. Even when Mark gets his superpowers and becomes Invincible, things really don't change much. Except now he can fly, has super strength, and is pretty much invulnerable. Cory Walker's art is superb for the strip, giving it an older, more fun feel. Everything on the page pops. The colors are bright and fun, kind of like Green Lantern Hal Jordan back during the early years. Mark has to take his dad's disappearances in stride and watch his mom hover around breakdowns, but if you think about it, that's the lives of a lot of teens these days. Of course, Kirkman has a lot of twists and turns up his sleeve that he reveals in the strip further down the line, but this is the place to start to get the story. The dialogue is wonderful. Clipped and cut to the bone, only there if necessary to move the plot or show character. I like the relationship Mark has with his mother, how they both worry about his dad but they don't really talk about it. And Mark's relationship with his dad seems honest as well as competitive, which is something every teenaged boy has with his father at some point. Dads are often quick to respond in kind. These first four books are a set piece and leave the reader in a good place. The subject matter makes the graphic novel a perfect gift for a young reader just stepping into the world of superheroes. Mark doesn't have all the hang-ups and history of Spider-Man or Batman, and is a lot of fun to read.

I usually like crime comics, or just not the everyday superheroes. I used to detest superheroes actually. It was this book that was part of bringing me around. Some of the best story and art out there. Not just a fifty year old convoluted story that only a fanboy can get into either. I would say that someone new to comics would enjoy this as well.

If you haven't started Invincible this is a great one. It gives you enough to be satisfying but leaves you wanting to continue. I already have Vol.2 on the way and look forward to where Kirkman is going. Also, with issue 50 coming up I decided I better start now before it got to far ahead of me!

Welcome to the world of Invincible, a young superhero who's father is not only the world's greatest superhero but an alien as well. With this first volume, Robert Kirkman does a fantastic job of creating a new modern superhero who appeals to young and old fans of superhero comics alike. What Kirkman has created, Cory Walker brings to life with dazzling pencils that do justice to both the action scenes as well as the emotional ones. If you're looking for a new comic that reads like comics of the silver or golden age of comics, then I recommend Invincible. But if you're just looking for a good story with incredible art, then I recommend Invincible.

Teenager Mark Grayson is the son of one of earth's greatest heroes, Omni-Man. And, one day while taking out the trash, Mark discovers he too has astounding powers. It's a simple enough way to start a story, and an effective one. Robert Kirkman (The Walking Dead) focuses more on the family aspects than one may expect, and it gives the story a feel of freshness. The dinner-time conversations about the day, and how Invincible's mother responds to them, are priceless and give the reader the feeling that all of these bizarre events; human bombs, inter-dimensional slavers, giant dragons, are all part of the routine the Grayson family has. A nice supporting cast is developed beyond the family as well, as the Teen Team is also introduced. Chief among them is Atom Eve, a fiery redhead classmate of Mark's who makes it clear that she's not in the market for a new boyfriend and Robot, the robotic brains behind the team. Should you buy this book? If you like light-hearted superhero stories you should. The extras are nice to, including an introduction by comic guru Kurt Busiek and featuring several pages of sketches and unused art. And while I haven't mention the art team, it should be noted that they do a solid job, giving Invincible a very distinctive look.