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So I read issue 1 and 2 last night for the start of my (usually every 4 or so months) latest re-read of the Invincible series. And I was curious to see if anyone else would want to re-read at the same time and discuss the old issues as we go along? I thought about just posting a few thoughts as I went myself but I don't want to be the only person reading and discussing things.

So, anyone interested?

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My comicartfans.com collection. Lots of Ryan Ottley:
http://www.comicartfans.com/GalleryDetail.asp?GCat=49719

My first 4 books are being lent out... ill re-read with you, but I wont be able to get them back until this weekend

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Cool. I'll post some thoughts on the first couple of issues and then maybe keep some notes in a Word document or something that I won't post until people catch up with me.

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My comicartfans.com collection. Lots of Ryan Ottley:
http://www.comicartfans.com/GalleryDetail.asp?GCat=49719

I never read invincible. How good is it? What is it about?

Best superhero comic book on the shelves.... if not the best comic book period.

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What Quest said. This is my all time favorite book. If you like superhero books you will love Invincible. Good humor, well done characters, great art (Ryan Ottley is my favorite comic artist), a coming of age story, epic and brutal super powered fights. It's everything you could want in a superhero comic. If you're interested let me know and I explain a few different ways to get caught up on the series.

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My comicartfans.com collection. Lots of Ryan Ottley:
http://www.comicartfans.com/GalleryDetail.asp?GCat=49719

I'm all up for a re-read. It'll give me a chance to break out my library editions. I actually haven't opened the third one, it's still shrink wrapped.(Should have checked it for possible errors. Too late to return it now)

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I want you to remember the one man who beat you.

I'm going to get this started. And just a quick note for those not completely caught up on the series - I will be discussing my thoughts on the series as a whole and how everything is tied together so there might be spoilers for recent, future issues in here. You have been warned.

Some thoughts on issue 1:

- Gonna start with the art because at this point I'm so used to seeing Ryan on art that it can't help but be a bit jarring going back to Cory's art. Especially because even Cory's own recent work on the series doesn't look much like this. I actually prefer how he does Mark and Eve (in issue 2) here but I think he's improved on all the other characters as well as his backgrounds (which are a little plan here). I do like to search for all the little details like band names he puts on the shirts. Also either issue 1 or 2 has the first of a few appearances of a Charlie Brown looking background character that I find amusing. We also see in either issue 1 or 2 Mark wearing a t-shirt with the Viltrumite symbol on it. I've seen Kirkman discuss this and say that was just a mistake.
- Bill Crabtree is the original colorist. His work here I think is a touch dull - not very glossy and mostly primary colors. His stuff improves dramatically as the series goes on and he's pretty awesome by the time he leaves.
- Kirkman does the lettering at the beginning of the series but I don't know enough about that craft to really notice much about it.
- I think this first issue does a good job establishing a lot of the tone that the series has early - a bit light hearted with humor and a strong and caring family dynamic.
- Kirkman's still working out the details of his character's strength levels here. Nolan is fighting the dragon projection in Taiwan for 8 hours according to the news. It wouldn't take a Viltrumite that long to win almost any fight these days.
- Nolan mentions a mystical flood in Egypt in the issue. This is one of the few times that magic gets mentioned in the Invincible universe. Which I appreciate. Not a huge fan of magic or telepathy as powers (just too generic and easy to use as dues ex machina) and neither of these play much part in the series.
- Still love all of the character designs. Probably Cory's greatest strength as an artist. As seen by the recent re-design contest, it's hard to improve on that original Invincible costume. Love seeing the Bulletproof costume make an early appearance as well.
- Overall a really solid intro issue. Probably wouldn't have knocked my socks off when it came out (and didn't as far as I can remember from back then) but definitely good enough to want the next issue (which of course did happen).

Issue 2:
- A very important early issue, I would say much more important then the standard origin issue 1. Here we get the backstory (greatly modified) of Viltrume, the first appearance of Atom Eve and the Teen Team, and the first appearance of the Mauler Twins.
- The first, very brief, appearance of fan favorite Allen the Alien. I wonder if Kirkman had always planned on him being an important character even at that point or if he just thought Cory's design was cool and decided to use that guy for his general story idea.
- Just saw in a recent interview (one of the ones from Image Expo) that said Eve wasn't originally conceived / designed as the love interest. I wonder when that changed. Because I get a very strong vibe from their very first meeting here that Mark and Eve are going to end up dating. I always assumed that was intentional foreshadowing. That's easy to say with hindsight but I remember that being my impression when I was first reading the series as well.
- This issue also has one of the moments where I think Kirkman does a good job grounding this series in a little bit of reality: When Mark is laying in bed and is just like "I can fly" and gets up and takes off. Seems like that's exactly what a teenager that just got super powers would do. If I just got super speed and flight I don't think I would ever walk or doing anything in regular speed for at least a few months.
- Overall I view issue 2 as a step up from issue 1 and increases my interest and excitement for this series.

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My comicartfans.com collection. Lots of Ryan Ottley:
http://www.comicartfans.com/GalleryDetail.asp?GCat=49719

Do it. I'm doing this re-read with my library editions. I want that oversized art. Sometimes I do the re-read with the Ultimate Collection hardcovers because they're a bit less bulky and easier to read but I decided to go all out this time around. I also have the trades but they are currently loaned out trying to hook another Invincible junky.

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My comicartfans.com collection. Lots of Ryan Ottley:
http://www.comicartfans.com/GalleryDetail.asp?GCat=49719

Really.... huh... I guess I should check out the TPB