Invincible Universe: Battle Beast has never shied away from the signature carnage that peppered Robert Kirkman, Cory Walker and Ryan Ottley’s run on Invincible. In fact, that’s been a major draw of the story: who doesn’t want to see a badass character like Battle Beast literally rip through some of the strongest beings in the universe? Invincible Universe: Battle Beast #6 has saved its best fight for last, as Battle Beast finally comes face to face with the monstrous Juggernaut.
This is a fight that’s been building over the course of the series, since Battle Beast rescued the prince Salaka, who was devoured whole by Juggernaut’s brother, Colossus. Juggernaut is also said to be stronger than Colossus, meaning that Battle Beast could potentially receive the death he craves. Obviously, that death won’t happen since this takes place early in Invincible‘s timeline, but I commend Kirkman and Ottley for setting high stakes in their opening arc.
I’m also awed by Ottley’s artwork. Years after Invincible‘s end, he still knows how to deliver truly brutal fight scenes. Battle Beast is impaled by one of Juggernaut’s talons, then uses his teeth and rips out a massive chunk of her shoulder. If that wasn’t enough, he also swallows it before declaring it to be “delicious”. In a mere two pages, Ottley not only delivers some of his most gnarly art, but he also more or less declares via art that he and Kirkman are going to continue to push the envelope with this comic.
Invincible Universe: Battle Beast #6 wouldn’t look as good as it does without Annalisa Leoni’s colors. Leoni gives each of the aliens – and their respective innards – a vibrant color that really makes the gore stand out. While Battle Beast’s blood is your standard red, Juggernaut’s is a bright green that rivals a Predator’s, and it gets everywhere during the course of their fight. In stark contrast, the lush forests of Salaka’s home are shrouded in a golden light from the sky, serving as a peaceful backdrop to the absolute chaos. Leoni is proving to be Skybound’s secret weapon, since her colors elevate already amazing art to a godlike level.
BOOM!
Kirkman doesn’t just dedicate Invincible Universe: Battle Beast #6 to the fight scenes, however – he also starts laying out threads for the next story arc, and two of them in particular are a big surprise. One calls back to the very first issue of the series, while the other ties into the plot of Invincible in a big way. Without spoilers, I can safely say that it is something nobody is expecting, but also something that longtime Invincible fans have been clamoring for.
It also means that the series will be taking a brief hiatus, as Kirkman explains in the letter page. While an announcement like that would usually spell trouble for a series, it shows that the Battle Beast team would rather take their time and deliver a great comic rather than rushing to meet deadlines. It also builds anticipation, especially with the way this comic ends. Invincible Universe: Battle Beast #6 is how you close out a story arc: it’s action-packed, it looks gorgeous, and it leaves you wanting more.
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