At the end of the first arc of Invincible Universe: Battle Beast, Robert Kirkman and Ryan Ottley sent Invincible fans into a frenzy by teasing that Battle Beast would engage in a fight with the Viltrumite warrior, Conquest. Given that Conquest was one of the most ruthless foes Mark Grayson ever fought, and the Invincible animated series brought him to life perfectly thanks to Jeffrey Dean Morgan, saying this is a big deal is a major understatement. Invincible Universe: Battle Beast #9 finally brings the two into each other’s orbit, and an end to the fight between Battle Beast and the Juggernaut.
Fans who were hoping for Battle Beast and Conquest to finally throw down may be slightly disappointed, as their meeting only takes place during the final pages of the comic. Still, Kirkman manages to lace those pages with plenty of anticipation, including Conquest delivering his iconic line, “Stand ready for my arrival, worm,” and Battle Beast boasting of his latest victory. When this battle does happen, it’ll be one of the most intense fights in the Invincible Universe – and definitely worth the wait.
I do feel like the fight between Battle Beast and Juggernaut could have lasted a little bit longer, though. Within three pages, Juggernaut drops dead, and her reign over Salaka and his people is over. Granted, the previous issue was a major fight scene between the two, but since Juggernaut and her brother Colossus had the ability to regenerate, I felt like it would take a little longer for Battle Beast to win. Ottley doesn’t disappoint when it comes to the gore, though. Battle Beast is soaked from head to toe in bright green viscera, and it turns out he has quite the taste for Juggernaut’s flesh. I say this because Ottley never misses a chance to show him tearing off and swallowing chunks of said flesh.
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So if Invincible Universe: Battle Beast #9 isn’t about the fight between Battle Beast and Conquest, or the fight between Battle Beast and Juggernaut, what is it about? Kirkman and Ottley turn back to the budding friendship between the feline warrior and Salaka, especially as Salaka finds his throne being threatened by a potential upstart, but also has genuinely grown to see Battle Beast as a friend. It leads to a conversation between the two that has Battle Beast contemplating his ongoing mission to die, and Kirkman wrings surprising emotion from it in the process.
The fact that Battle Beast’s stuck on an alien planet gives Ottley the chance to draw all manner of alien imagery, including massive metal cities that reach into the sky and a two page spread full of fireworks that brings the finale of Return of the Jedi to mind. It also means readers will see more of Annalisa Leoni’s incredible color work, which soaks the page in an explosion of hues. The only absence of color comes from Battle Beast’s snow white fur and Conquest’s Viltrumite uniform, further hinting at the fight between the two.
Invincible Universe: Battle Beast #9 slowly inches toward a fight that Invincible fans have been waiting to see, leaning on its visuals and character dynamics to carry a slow-burn story. Here’s hoping that the next issue finally brings the showdown with Conquest to life.
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