Advance Review — The Battle Royale Begins In ‘Invincible Universe: Battle Beast’ #10

Finally, the battle we’ve been waiting for has begun.

That’s right. Invincible Universe: Battle Beast #10 features the lead up and beginning of the epic fight between the canine hero and the Viltrumite Empire’s champion Conquest.

It’s just the beginning of the battle, mind you. Something this big can’t be contained to a single issue. In fact, look for it to stretch out for the remainder of this story arc.

That’s probably a good thing for several reasons. First is that it allows artist Ryan Ottley to show off even more than he has throughout this series. Ottley’s illustrations have consistently been the high point for this title, and here we see the expert storyteller again rises to the occasion.

Before the fight breaks out, Ottley focuses on the two characters’ eyes. We can feel the tension build as our focus is pulled to the way the two opponents are sizing each other up. Everyone knows what is about to happen, but it doesn’t matter because how we get there is more important.

The other overriding reason this battle is so important is that Battle Beast has had too easy of a time thus far. The big cat just wants to die a glorious death in battle against a worth foe. For the first 10 issues, though, he’s dispatched his opponents with relative ease. Now he’s in for the fight of his life. The stakes are where they need to be.

Writer Robert Kirkman knows what those stakes are and makes the most of the situation with his characteristic humor. Battle Beast is no comedian, but Conquest quips throughout the issue.

Kirkman also understands the ebbs and flows of important battles — even when they only involve two fighters. So the battle doesn’t feel intentionally drawn out — at least not yet. If anything, it only leaves us wanting more. And that is exactly what the creative team’s job is. The only issue is that the chapter ends oddly, which is somewhat understandable given the two are locked in battle. Still, some kind of pause in the action would have made more sense.

The last issue, which was laying the groundwork for this fight, was the least successful of the series. If this first part of the epic battle is any indication, that previous chapter will soon be a distance memory in readers’ minds.

Invincible Universe: Battle Beast #10 — written by Robert Kirkman, illustrated by Ryan Ottley, colored by Annalisa Leoni, and lettered by Rus Wooton — will be available in comic book stories and on digital platforms Wednesday from Image Comics.