Capes #7 marks a turning point in the series. Not only is it the first truly new Capes story in years, but it also sees a shift in the creative team as Benito Cereno takes over writing duties. Fear not, dear readers: Cereno has experience working in the Invincible Universe, having penned the Invincible Presents: Atom Eve & Rex Splode miniseries, while Capes co-creator Mark Englert still remains on art duties. And this new story arc manages to weave its way into Invincible canon while still standing on its own two feet.
With Capes, Inc. employees Kid Thor and Knockout stepping up to the Guardians of the Globe, Bolt has become the company’s highest-rated hero…but things change when a fight with supervillain Rampage damages a building that was a pet project of New York’s mayor. With his popularity and position in Capes, Inc. taking a hit, Bolt is relegated to the night shift and struggles to connect with his new partner, Superball.
The thing I love about Capes is how it explores superheroism as a business. Other superheroes, like Superman and Spider-Man, tend to have jobs, since they aren’t superheroes 24/7. In contrast, Capes’ employees clock in, fight evil, then clock out. They also get ratings on an official app and have to file paperwork about their fights, as one slip-up could cost them everything. Cereno has fun with the office dynamics, whether it’s Bolt butting heads with higher-ups Commander Capitalism and Claire Voyant, or growing increasingly annoyed with Superball’s upbeat attitude. Anyone who’s had an annoying co-worker can probably relate to his predicament.
Image/Skybound
Englert also has fun balancing the more traditional superheroics with the office dynamics. Capes #7 opens with the battle between Bolt and Rampage, which is chock full of earth-shaking punches and buildings shattering into scraps of steel and rubble. It marks a sharp contrast to the other moments, where we see superheroes sitting around in an office. The sight of people in capes and masks punching in time cards or eating lunch in the break lounge is a hilarious sight, but also makes Capes stand out from other superhero books on the stands.
Capes #7 also utilizes the events of Invinicble to shape its story. As Invincible is currently embroiled in the Viltrumite War, and the Guardians of the Globe have to deal with the criminal organization known as the Order, Capes is essentially the face of superheroism, and Bolt is the de facto face of Capes, which explains why his superiors came down hard on him. In the same vein as Invincible Universe: Battle Beast, fans of Invincible will enjoy how it all fits together while newcomers will get a solid stand alone story.
What’s probably going to draw fans to Capes #7 is its backup story by Robert Kirkman and Cory Walker, which serves as the beginning of an origin story for Ella Mental. The elemental-wielding heroine technically made her first appearance in Invincible VS, so it’s fun to see just how she got to that point, even if this first chapter is more table setting for her secret origin. It also marks the reunion of Kirkman and Walker following Invincible‘s conclusion, and they work together like a well-oiled machine.
Capes #7 launches a new story arc, introduces a new character in Ella Mental, and takes a new direction while staying true to the elements that made the original series a standout. Invincible fans, superhero fans, and fans of great comics should definitely add it to their pull lists.
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