Advance Review — The Battle Royale Concludes, More Or Less, In ‘Invincible Universe: Battle Beast’ #12
by Tom Smithyman
Overview
After three issues of epic fighting, the fisticuffs (pawicuffs?) between Battle Beast and Conquest comes to an end. Of course, the ending was bound to be a bit of a letdown, but the fight itself is still worth the chance of a letdown.
Overall
9.5/10It had to end sooner or later.
After three issues, the epic battle between Battle Beast and Conquest finally concludes in Invincible Universe: Battle Beast #12. After three amazing chapters jam-packed with gorging, clawing, biting, and worse, it should be easy to say something to the effect of: “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.”
To be sure, there is plenty to smile about, from artist Ryan Ottley’s amazing illustrations to writer Robert Kirkman’s many (many) quips. But two related issues stop this conclusion from living up to the setup. The first is that the issue ends without a clear winner. (Kirkman insists it’s not over yet.) Even worse, this issue is the end of the story arc, and the series won’t be back until March of 2027. Oh, the (in)humanity!
To be fair, it would be virtually impossible for this fight’s ending to truly satisfy fans. First — Spoiler Alert — we know that both these characters die at others’ hands in the main Invincible series. Second, readers’ expectations are through the roof, and no resolution is likely to satisfy them.
Given that, it’s best to focus on what this creative team exceled at during the fight, which was to keep it fresh across several issues. In this chapter, the pair briefly team up to fight a common foe but then resume the battle between them. Suffice it to say that colorist Annalisa Leoni probably ran out of blood red paint given the carnage.
Ottley finds a new way of demonstrating the ferocity of a fight as Battle Beast guts the Viltrumite and begins munching on his intestines. “Stop eating me!” Conquest calls out, once again showing Kirkman’s twisted sense of humor.
How this series moves on after this fight (Kirkman refuses to reveal the number of issues he has planned), is anyone’s guess. But we know we won’t learn much more for several months.
Invincible Universe: Battle Beast #12 — written by Robert Kirkman, illustrated by Ryan Ottley, colored by Annalisa Leoni, and lettered by Rus Wooton — will be available in comic book stores and on digital platforms on Wednesday from Image Comics.
