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A review by thekarpuk
Invincible, Vol. 8: My Favorite Martian by Robert Kirkman
4.0
Not every writer needs high concept hooks. Robert Kirkman tends to pull impressive ongoing stories out of the most worn out, utterly played out territories.
I just finished "Invincible" volume 8 in one sitting, and I'm considering tearing into books 9 and 10, an insane course of action considering it's 1:25 AM. That's how good this series is.
It's also worth noting that it's a super hero story and not even one with a crazy twist like Dark Knight or Watchmen or any of the pretenders who've followed after.
The only apt comparison I can draw is with Jeff Smith's Shazam miniseries. Both take the super hero formula, strip it back down to its essence, and build a good story on top instead of the labored, exposition heavy junk people have become so sadly accustomed to. They remind you of why super heroes should fill you with giddy, child-like excitement. Flying is supposed to be an exciting act, remember?
The amazing thing is that Kirkman is using the same philosophy he applies to "The Walking Dead" (which is good in the bleakest, most soul-killing way imaginable), which is to follow the characters' development to the furthest logical progression possible. This series doesn't spin its wheels when it runs a plot through its course, it sends its protagonist on his merry way to the next stage of his life.
It's such a refreshing way to deal with an ongoing series that I'm amazed so few comics have ever tried it. All you have to do to is let the character live his or her life in between adventures. A few Japanese artists have done it with great success (Dragonball Z owed its longevity to that in part), but I can think of few other American artists who don't just keep throwing new twists at characters who seem eternally arrested in development. Frank Miller himself pointed out that Batman is eternally 29.
The only shame here is that Kirkman can't write more comics like this at greater speed.
The Invincible series is the Labrador of comics, it's just pleasant to be around. I may just have to put off sleep and sneak a peek at book 9.
I just finished "Invincible" volume 8 in one sitting, and I'm considering tearing into books 9 and 10, an insane course of action considering it's 1:25 AM. That's how good this series is.
It's also worth noting that it's a super hero story and not even one with a crazy twist like Dark Knight or Watchmen or any of the pretenders who've followed after.
The only apt comparison I can draw is with Jeff Smith's Shazam miniseries. Both take the super hero formula, strip it back down to its essence, and build a good story on top instead of the labored, exposition heavy junk people have become so sadly accustomed to. They remind you of why super heroes should fill you with giddy, child-like excitement. Flying is supposed to be an exciting act, remember?
The amazing thing is that Kirkman is using the same philosophy he applies to "The Walking Dead" (which is good in the bleakest, most soul-killing way imaginable), which is to follow the characters' development to the furthest logical progression possible. This series doesn't spin its wheels when it runs a plot through its course, it sends its protagonist on his merry way to the next stage of his life.
It's such a refreshing way to deal with an ongoing series that I'm amazed so few comics have ever tried it. All you have to do to is let the character live his or her life in between adventures. A few Japanese artists have done it with great success (Dragonball Z owed its longevity to that in part), but I can think of few other American artists who don't just keep throwing new twists at characters who seem eternally arrested in development. Frank Miller himself pointed out that Batman is eternally 29.
The only shame here is that Kirkman can't write more comics like this at greater speed.
The Invincible series is the Labrador of comics, it's just pleasant to be around. I may just have to put off sleep and sneak a peek at book 9.