Today, Patrick and (guest writer) Zach are discussing Invincible 103, originally released June 19th, 2013.

Patrick: Invincible is a series that resits being discussed on any terms but its own. Robert Kirkman has built up such an extensive cast of characters, and such a rich history, that nearly every new thing that happens can find its origin in previous issues of this series. There are three different editors’ notes in this issue, the first refers me back to to the Death of Everyone story (which I actually read), but the next note refers to issue 37 which came out seven years ago, and the other to the spin-off series Guarding the Globe. I always used to get the feeling that an editor’s note was in place to be helpful, assure you that there was some precedent for the thing that was happening. Failing that, the editor’s note was just trying to sell me some related material – a slightly-less-altruistic kind of helpful. Invincible editor Sean Mackiewicz uses them for another reason altogether – to identify moments of fan-service. It’s like Kirkman writes in all these winks and nudges to his long-time readers, only to have Mackiewicz let us newbies know how clever he’s being.

Curiously, there’s no editor’s note in the first couple pages as we’re introduced to a hooded figure jogging through a suburban neighborhood. It’s a regular morning jog – the runner waves to his neighbors, says hello to a bike rider, listens to music on his iPod, picks up the paper. He comes back home to small army of flying spheres, muses to himself about being back in his home dimension, and does a spit take with his coffee when he reads a story in the newspaper about Invincible still being alive (which sounds like it would burn your mouth).

When this sequence started, I was super excited. Meeting a character by watching them go about their mundane daily business until it takes a surreal turn, is one of my favorite dramatic devices ever. Remember how we met both Desmond and Juliet on LOST? It’s an alarmingly efficient way to build a rapport between the audience and a character before revealing that their life is nothing like yours. But the second out mystery jogger showed his face — a face I recognized from his one-page cameo in issue 100 (and… the cover of this issue), but I still had to look up his name — I knew I wasn’t going to get a big shock out of this scene. This is Angstrom Levy, a long-time enemy of Invincible, with the ability to travel between dimensions, and a history of using evil versions of Mark (from said dimensions) to wreak havoc on the world. I bet this scene would have been a lot of fun if a) I knew that going in and b) he wasn’t spoiled on the cover. I’m sure it’s great in trade, that’s what I’m saying.

The rest of the issue mostly follows Eve, as she struggles to not use her powers for fear of damaging her unborn baby. She spends the day with friends while Mark is out fighting crime, and while it’s tough for her to keep her mind off using her superpowers, she eventually determines that its worth putting up with a little traffic if it means not vaporizing her baby. When she returns home, she finds Levy waiting for her. Unable to fight back (baby-baby-baby), Eve is quickly subdued by Levy. And poor dumb Invincible apparently knows as much about Levy has I do, so he charges right in to rescue her and is surprised to zapped into another dimension.

Hey, actually – there’s a question I have: is Mark just sorta dumb? I know a lot of this series has been about Mark maturing and learning to wield the dual responsibilities of being an adult with being a superhero, but he sure does seem ill-informed. That crime that he’s out fighting during the day involves a big blue guy that the Guardians of the Globe were just tussling with a few months ago. Mark’s reaction to seeing this dude: “What the heck?! I thought you were dead!” I guess there’s no need to learn about your opponents when they’re all going to be so chatty anyway:

If I’m being overly negative toward this issue, that’s just because I don’t much like the feeling of being left out of the fun. I can totally see the fun starting to form now – the fact that Eve can’t use her powers without risking hurting her baby is super compelling. Just seeing that decision dramatized during the home invasion at the end of the issue is exciting. But too much of this issue is taken up extraneous stuff – many of those scene serving no purpose than to assure readers that all these issues take place in the same world. Here’s a great example: Eve goes to visit some non-superpowered friends, a gay couple (sorry, didn’t catch their names). Rather than let this visit play out as Eve needs it to, one of her friends reminds her (and us) that he’s technically a cyborg with the ability to run to 8 hours without getting winded.

It’s one of those things that might be technically true, but has no bearing on the rest of this scene or this issue. So I don’t get what it’s doing there.

Zach, you are a much more well-read Invincible scholar than I – did you see all these nods to the series past as fun or tiresome? And if they were fun, do the editor’s notes spoil that fun a little? Also, do you ever get used to the rodent-teeth that Ryan Ottley draws on everyone? I didn’t mention that the Guardians are a little butt-hurt over the Earth welcoming Invincible back so readily – does it seem weird that they’re already jumping him to help him before the issue even ends?

Zach: Patrick, I’m glad you noticed the rodent teeth detail as well, I can’t say that I’ve ever gotten used to it while keeping up with Kirkman and Ottley’s self proclaimed “Best Superhero Comic in the Universe.” They just are there, and you have to get over it.

Oddly enough, that’s my entire segue for this issue. It’s full of those cute nods to the series it used to be while attempting to mine some humor out of an increasingly—and possibly unintentionally—hostile mood that is setting in to Invincible as a whole. Kirkman has had his readers follow Mark from the fun, golden teen years of superheroing to being ready to make those last few leaps into adulthood. The tone has also recognized this shift, the world is more dangerous even when it isn’t trying to be.

Eve’s stuck in traffic? Well, her baby is at risk if she makes one selfish mistake. Angstrom is on a great jog and his neighborhood enjoys his presence. Too bad, he forgot Mark’s alive. On a similar note, the Guardians are pissed Mark’s alive and getting credit all spun by Cecil’s invisible hand.

None of these things look horrible, but they all are potentially world-breaking. Unfortunately, I’ve walked the length of the Invincible road and this is bringing up more familiar road bumps as I recall Eve’s abortion so many issues ago that was soon swept under the rug, or the ever-constant friction between Rex/Robot and anyone he comes in contact with.

It is just too familiar, and the wheels spin without traction.

And what did happen between the gutters to send the Guardians to Mark’s side? I don’t even know. It left me in one giant shrug as a silent “okay…?” escaped my mouth. It was just to lighten up ol’ Mr. Grayson’s crime fighting cutaway, but it really contradicted the Monster Girl/Rex talk earlier in the book.

But let’s cycle back. The editor’s notes, which Patrick brought up earlier, did refresh the longevity Kirkman’s universe, hinting back all the way to issue 37. But, it’s close to a decade-old recollection and they become flat since I wasn’t allowed to just find the Easter egg myself. Does flipping back seven some years of Invincible just to meet a supporting cast member who vanishes by issue 45 even matter to new readers? I wonder. The editorials became tedious, but “you just have to get over it.”

I want to finish positive here, because the series does read eons better in trade and it really is one of the best in the universe, despite issues like this that spoon-feed recycled plot points in together with a ever-so-slightly-shifted status quo. Trust me, Kirkman has a game plan and the last five pages are well worth sifting through the verifiable extraneous vignettes that both Patrick and I mentioned. The callback at the issue’s finale is one lacking editor note, but hitting with a very strong follow-through, seasoned reader or not. Remember the army of Invincibles from the parallel universes that tried invading our Earth and then were mostly turned into robot drones seeking revenge after Mark beat them up the first time? Of course not! And don’t worry about it. Some things in the Invincible universe work better with the “just get over it” mantra when we simply hop on for the ride. Because, when it matters, Kirkman and Ottley serve up the goods… just as we are ready for dinner.

For a complete list of what we’re reading, head on over to our Pull List page.  Whenever possible, buy your comics from your local mom and pop comic bookstore.  If you want to rock digital copies, head on over to DC’s website and download issues there.  There’s no need to pirate, right?