Capes #4 is a rare animal. Not only does it continue to flesh out its own little corner of the Invincible Universe, but it’s also technically a reprint of a story that’s nearly been lost to time. Specifically, it collects some of the Capes backup stories that originally appeared in issues of Invincible. Said stories have rarely been reprinted outside of a single trade paperback, so this is a pretty big deal for fans of Invincible or anyone who read the original Capes miniseries.
It also shows how Robert Kirkman and Mark Englert are using Invincible‘s newfound popularity to their advantage. Most creators would kill for the chance to revisit a past series, and very few get the chance outside of a few miniseries scattered here and there. By digging this story out of the past, Kirkman and Englert get to revisit the characters they’ve created while also expanding upon their stories in ways fans wouldn’t expect.
The best example of this is Englert’s work. Originally possessing a rough hue that recalled Walt Simonson’s Thor or the work of Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman in the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics for Mirage, Englert has given his characters a more hi-def vision. You can see the definition in certain characters’ muscles, or the waves of water that make up Capes, Incorporated member Holy Water (another sign of how the Invincible universe takes turns of phrase and makes them into unique superhero characters.)
Englert’s most impressive work comes with the time-traveling Chronodile, set up as the issue’s major threat. The creature doesn’t just stand out for being a massive crocodile adorned in Egyptian clothing, but also for his sheer size; a whole page is dedicated to showing off his resurrection and how he continues to grow in size after it. As his name suggests, the Chronodile has the power to affect time, which gives Kirkman the chance to explore the aspect of “superheroism as a business” – if time itself resets, does that mean you’ve worked a double shift or a single? – and pokes fun at the concept of retcons. Kirkman’s entire script is full of little jokes like that, including pairing Holy Water with a hero named Hawaiian Crest and having Bolt utter “s***” when encountering the Chronodile. It keeps readers invested and provides a sharp contrast to the emotional gut punches that Invincible delivers or the nonstop carnage of Invincible Universe: Battle Beast.
The best moments in Capes #4 concern Knockout and Kid Thor, who had become a couple around that time. The duo is arguably one of the most underrated couples in the Invincible Universe, as they provide one of the best looks into what it’s like to be in a romance in the superhero world. Kid Thor has to deal with his discomfort over everyone paying attention to Knockout’s…shall we say, “enhancements”, while she often reassures him that she only has eyes for him. I always feel that the best stories are rooted in real human emotion, which is why I’m drawn to Kirkman’s work.
Capes #4 doesn’t just bring a long-out-of-print comic back into the public eye – it’s also a reminder of how unique Invincible’s world is. That’s the kind of energy that more comics need, whether they’re in the superhero genre or not.
