The Daily Think

Okay, just finished Invincible Universe: Battle Beast first story arc issues 1-6 from Robert Kirkman and Ryan Ottley and Annalisa Leoni and had to say it was pretty damn impressive! I know this is an appreciation post for a comic book and what am I 12 years old? But part of this journey through the world and life is about what interests me in my off time and between government shutdowns, first amendment violations, time between Stranger Thing seasons, life is happening and so is art and fantastic storytelling. Let’s get into this.

Battle Beast was first introduced in the Invincible comics issue #19, Thokk has become one of the more popular characters. Many of us were introduced to Battle Beast via the Invincible season 1 animated series on Amazon and we were blown away. In walks this HULK sized warrior through a portal and BOOM he lays the ever living smackdown on Invincible. Sure, Mark Grayson was in his infancy as a superhero and a rematch would be on the horizon, but damn we were intrigued by this creature who seeks combat and is technically considered a big old kitty cat!

Kirkman knew he had a hit on his hands, so they had to rollout something for the BEAST and it was going to be a 6-issue story arc following Battle Beast and his further adventures away from Invincible and the TV show, but within the universe. So, when it came out, I HAD TO HAVE THIS BOOK.

At my local comic shop Comickaze in San Diego, New Comic Wednesdays are separated by DC, Marvel and Indie/Other publishers. And instead of starting with those Marvel and DC main staples, I searched those Image comics looking for Battle Beast each week. Yeah, call me old fashioned, I don’t care about the hype mags and release calendar, I like to genuinely be surprised and walk in on a Wednesday and be captivated by the interior art, the cover, the framing and get surprised/suckered into buying something. I’ve picked up plenty of stuff based on a cool homage cover or just based on a sick looking battle that never materializes on the interior. So, each week the Battle Beast covers looking more menacing and also being printed on a harder card cover stock than other comics, stood out to me.

From Issue 1 on, it was a helluva ride! I won’t be spoiling anything but will jump into some of the basics you pick up and why you will enjoy this. Battle Beast from each issue to issue does one thing: Search for Battle. And it’s refreshing to find a character with a single purpose these days and not brooding over his radioactive spider bites. And so, who will you meet in this series:

Battle Beast – THOKK of DORNN and this panel basically illustrates what he wants.

There is the ships AI that is trying to rid itself of him. How cool is Battle Beast when you have software that even tries to kill you!

And you eventually run into Prince Salaka from the Fantanian Empire a basic Miek facsimile from Planet HULK to me. He serves as the witness to the Battle Beasts cruel run of combat in this arc and has his own fun moments.

From Issue to issue you get battle after battle, interspersed with some humor and great interior artwork from Ottley and colors by Leoni, and its just a wonderful mash-up. Some of the little Easter Eggs I enjoy are the names and references to the Marvel heavyweight fight division fans like me, when you hear Battle Beast fighting “Colossus” or “Juggernaut” you go, oh hell yeah! I already ran through fantasy fight matchups in my head. YouTube videos have already been made, and even AI gives us a stalemate in the most obvious fight of all time. OMNI-Man and Battle Beast in a fight is on the horizon, you can’t ignore us Kirkman!