Advance Review — The Big Battle Leads To Little Change In ‘Invincible Universe: Battle Beast’ #6
by Tom Smithyman
Overview
Despite the great visuals, the story continues to get old. Once again, Battle Beast is up against a seemingly unbeatable foe. And like most of the characters around the uber-serious Beast, this baddie spouts silliness. The only real difference this time is their fight is largely unresolved to make way for the launch of a new story arc next year.
Overall
8/10From the start, the overriding issue with Invincible Universe: Battle Beast has been the ease in which the main character dispatches his enemies. While he’s sustained some minor injuries, Battle Beast has never been in any real danger, which dampens the story’s impact.
Not that we want this wonderful cat with a death wish to go away. But just like other invincible (ahem) character, we need them to struggle as part of their hero’s journey. For the Beast, his journey won’t end until he dies a glorious death.
And when — finally — he finds a foe capable of granting his wish in this chapter…well let’s just say it ends unresolved.
That doesn’t diminish from the battle royale that dominates the first half of this issue. As usual, Ryan Ottley’s illustrations are top-notch. He makes the fight a page-turner despite some uninspiring dialogue from Robert Kirkman. As is his wont, Kirkman pits the ultra-serious Battle Beast against a dopey-sounding foe. That schtick works once in a while as a foil to the Beast. But so many of the surrounding characters are purely for comic relief, that it gets old fast. More shades of grey, please!
Grey is not in colorist Annalisa Leoni her palette, thankfully. She mixes the Beast’s red blood with the green goo of his enemy, helping bring Ottley’s illustrations to life. And Ottley wisely mixes multi-panel pages with some splash pages for maximum effect. It’s easy to find the big moments here.
Once the battle is over – well not over but suspended — Kirkman spends the rest of the issue setting up the series’ next story arc. The hinted direction will excite longtime Invincible fans and set up what will hopefully be a more nuanced second act.
Invincible Universe: Battle Beast #6 will be available in comic book stores and on digital platforms Wednesday from Image Comics.
