Advance Review — The Epic Battle Continues Epically In ‘Invincible Universe: Battle Beast’ #11
by Tom Smithyman
Overview
If you like big battles, look no further than this issue. It’s the middle chapter of the biggest battle involving only two combatants that you’re likely to read anytime soon. And it’s great!
Overall
9.5/10Writing and illustrating a battle in a comic book is no easy feat.
It requires smart pacing, enough dialogue to break up the panel but not too much to get in the way, and intuitive yet inventive visuals to clearly depict what is happening. Doing that over a few pages is standard fare, though still not simple. Doing that over three entire issues is an entirely different matter.
That’s what makes this middle of the battle royale in Invincible Universe: Battle Beast #11 so remarkable. Thanks to writer Robert Kirkman and artist Ryan Ottley’s storytelling talents, the fight never drags or wears on the reader. It has its own ebbs and flows, naturally, but it is an enjoyable a battle as you’ll read.
That’s to be expected, given that this story arc — and practically the entire series to date — has led up to this fight between two near immortals, Battle Beast and Conquest. Kirkman and Ottley knew this was an event, they prepared for it, and now they are paying it off for their readers.
Ottley gives us plenty of punching, stabbing, biting, and even throws in a dragon for good measure. Kirkman delivers trademark quip after quip, showing these two are truly enjoying themselves as they fight to the death.
Is there a ton of substance here? Not really. But we didn’t pick up this issue for existential navel gazing. We wanted a fight, and the creative team delivered.
The only truly troubling part of this battle is the upcoming ending. We know — spoiler alert for those who have not read Invincible — that both combatants will survive. That leaves Kirkman and Ottley to come up with a satisfying draw after three issues of fighting. It won’t be an easy task, but it’s literally an issue for another day. For now, we can enjoy this high-water mark of the series.
Invincible Universe: Battle Beast #11 written by Robert Kirkman, illustrated by Ryan Ottley, colored by Annalisa Leoni, and lettered by Rus Wooton — will be available Wednesday in local comic book stories and on digital platforms from Image Comics.
