Advance Review – Vanishing Men Conclude ‘Universal Monsters: The Invisible Man’ #4
by Tom Smithyman
Overview
Don’t cry because it’s over; Smile because it happened. That sentiment probably best describes readers’ feelings after this excellent limited series has wrapped its run. The story and artwork have been excellent, and the unexpected conclusion should leave fans wanting more.
Overall
9.5/10Maybe it should be called The Invisible Men.
The excellent Universal Monsters: The Invisible Man series wraps up its limited run featuring not one but two disappearing guys. For those who waited several issues to see – well witness – the diabolical Jack Griffin vanish, you finally get your wish. And he has company.
As seen at the end of issue #3, Griffin’s experiments finally advanced to a human trial, in this case the street kid Tommy. At the end of the last chapter, Tommy completely disappeared and escaped Griffin’s machinations. In this concluding chapter, he’s out for revenge. The only cure for reversing the invisibility is death. And the clever Griffin has worked out a care gameplan.
It’s not the ending that most readers will have expected, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Honestly, this miniseries has been so fantastic that virtually any ending will seem like a letdown. So readers will likely feel a sense of melancholy by the time they reach the end. But as with the best writers – and James Tynion IV is definitely one of them when it comes to horror – you are left wanting more. What more could you ask for in a four-part series?
Great art is also a prerequisite, and Dani is more than happy to accommodate. Dani’s style perfectly captures the tone of early 20th century London. The old cars, the outfits and hairstyles, and the street scenes transport readers across the years and the Pond.
And lest you think that drawing an invisible man, much less more than one, is an impossible task, Dani uses silhouettes – think white cut outs – to effectively get her point across. They shouldn’t be taken literally, but they are an innovative way of effectively getting her point across. And as she has done across the four issues, we almost never see Griffin fully revealed. Even when he’s visible, he’s covered in shadows or the panel cuts off key features.
Yes, we’re going to miss the compelling story of Jack Griffin’s descent into madness and invisibility. But we’re better for having witnessed it.
Universal Monsters: The Invisible Man #4 will be available in comic book stores and digital platforms on Wednesday from Image Comics.
