There’s a moment in Invincible Universe: Battle Beast #11 where, in the middle of his fight with Battle Beast, Conquest says, “You’re weird as hell, dude. And I dig it!” That sentence could sum up the Battle Beast series in a nutshell: it’s off-the-wall, immensely violent, and yet it never fails to entertain. And now that they have an entire issue to do so, Robert Kirkman and Ryan Ottley are dedicated to delivering nothing less than a knock-down, knuckle-busting fight between Battle Beast and Conquest. If you think that couldn’t possibly fill an entire comic, then you’re probably not familiar with the world of Invincible.
For starters, there’s the sheer number of obstacles that Kirkman throws into the combatants’ way. First is all the infrastructure of the planet they’re on. Then there’s the matter of gravity: Conquest can fly, Battle Beast can’t. How does Battle Beast solve this problem? He forces a dragon to fly him through the air by stabbing his sword through its back and “steering” it around. Yes, you read that right: this is a comic book where a bloodthirsty lion man with a magic sword commandeers a dragon and uses it to fight another bloodthirsty warrior. What else do I need to say other than “pick this comic up?!”
That imagery is brought to life by Ottley, who goes big and bold on every page. For starters, the splash page featuring the dragon displays it in all its glory, with its wingspan spanning the page and its mouth locked in a ferocious snarl. Ottley doesn’t hold back on the gore either. Flesh is cleaved in twain, a massive punch sends Battle Beast flying into the atmosphere, and the leonine warrior retaliates by sinking his fangs deep into Conquest’s flesh, spilling blood everywhere. My favorite moment features another set of pages split into a 16-panel grid, with alternating panels that showcase Battle Beast and Conquest’s intense fight and Prince Salaka working to save his people from the rubble. This juxtaposition of chaos and collaboration makes for a strange sight, but it also uses a unique format that hasn’t really been seen in comics before.
Finally, Annalisa Leoni splashes each page with vibrant, eye-catching color, no matter the environment. The sky is a golden, peaceful hue, which makes the sight of Battle Beast and Conquest flying across it stand out that much more. The forest they land in is a verdant green, and the ocean is an icy blue that hides a truly dangerous collection of creatures. The color that stands out the most? Red, due to the blood staining Battle Beast’s blade and Conquest’s pristine white uniform. And make no mistake, there’s a lot of blood.
What stands out most about Battle Beast #11 is how it draws parallels between Battle Beast and Conquest. Both are creatures who live for the thrill of the fight. Both are extremely hard to defeat, and both feel out of place, whether it’s Conquest in the Viltrumite Empire or Battle Beast…well, anywhere. In a strange way, these are two kindred souls who are expressing a connection through violence.
Invincible Universe: Battle Beast #11 is full of bloodshed, brutality, and beautiful artwork from beginning to end, and it also draws a surprising connection between Battle Beast and Conquest. There’s never a dull moment with this comic.
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