Advance Review – Not Enough Battle Or Beast In ‘Invincible Universe: Battle Beast’ #7

Battle Beast is back. More or less.

After a hiatus of several months, one of the best-drawn series of the last year has returned for its second story arc. That’s the good news. The bad news is that the titular Beast is barely in this issue.

Having survived a massive battle against the monstrous Juggernaut, Battle Beast spends most of the issue off page healing his wounds. That leaves the secondary characters, including Prince Salaka and the ship’s computer, now a humanoid robot named Zoolah, to take up more real estate.

In writer Robert Kirkman’s hands, the pair are amusing, but little more than a diversion. Salaka, for example, had most of his body previously eaten. He rejoices early in this issue as his snail-like penis and able derriere have grown back while Zoolah largely tries to ignore him. Still though, Salaka’s character has evolved. He actually stands up to Battle Beast for once. It’s a welcome change.

Kirkman spends most of the issue setting up events for the future. We see plenty of Juggernaut terrorizing — and occasionally eating — her subjects. And perhaps most tantalizingly, we get another glimpse of a familiar foe from the legacy Invincible series who will play a major role in this arc.

It’s a lot of appetizers though, with no main course. In other words, this issue of Battle Beast has neither enough battle nor Beast.

It does treat us to Ryan Ottley’s artwork, which is again in top form. Ottley’s Beast is always fantastic, and he clearly is enjoying the wide latitude he has in drawing these fantastical creatures. We just need more battles for Ottley to render!

Set-up issues are fine, as long as they pay off quickly. So this chapter gets a pass, for now. Let’s just hope next month’s installment delivers more meat.

Invincible Universe: Battle Beast #7 will be available in comic book stores on and digital platforms on Wednesday from Image Comics.