Advance Review — Massive Battles Dominate ‘Invincible Universe: Battle Beast’ Vol. 2
by Tom Smithyman
Overview
This creative team delivers one of the best comic book battles you’re likely to read. There is plenty of blood and gore along with quips galore. There are some slow spots leading up to the fight, which doesn’t resolve itself in the most satisfactory way. But it’s still a lot of fun.
Overall
9/10This one is all about the battles.
After a slow start, Invincible Universe: Battle Beast Vol. 2 — which includes issues #7 to #12 of the ongoing series — serves readers an amuse-bouche by pitting the Beast against a brother and sister pair of monsters. That battle is visually stunning, as we’ve come to expect from illustrator Ryan Ottley, who is at the top of his game here.
Once that fight concludes — another in a series of layups for Battle Beast — the tale takes another dip in storytelling momentum. But we can see what’s coming. And what’s coming is Conquest from the Viltrumites.
Why exactly writer Robert Kirkman put the alien warrior in Battle Beast’s path doesn’t even matter. Their fight dominates the second half of the trade paperback and gives us eye candy for page after page, thanks to Ottley.
What’s remarkable about the battle is that it never drags. There are natural ebbs and flows — as well as the chestnut where the two briefly team up to dispatch another threat — but it is as thrilling a fight as you’re likely to read.
Of course, all good things must come to an end. And the battle doesn’t end in the most satisfying manner. But how could it possibly please us? We know from the original Invincible series that — spoiler alert! — both these characters meet their ends in different fights.
In this case, it’s better to focus on the journey, not the destination. And that journey is a glorious blood-soaked one!
Invincible Universe: Battle Beast Vol. 2 — 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 Wednesday, September 16th, from Image Comics. The volume will be available in other bookstores beginning October 13th.
