Invincible - Volume 1: Family Matters

Family Matters collects the first four issues of the ongoing Invincible¹ series from Image Comics² and takes just under a train ride into the city, or one coming home from, to read from start to finish. This does not include the bonus material such as the behind the scenes process work of writer/creator Robert Kirkman, artist/creator Cory Walker and colourist Bill Crabtree. Then there's the introduction by Kurt Busiek that would fall nicely into one of those many slots in which the train will just sit there on the tracks going nowhere, minutes at a time. If the passengers weren't annoyed at the chug-a-lug before, they sure would be now. Watch for the carriage stained with a wall of vomit and no windows to let the outside air in. Mileage may vary.

Speaking with fingers, Family Matters sports the familial soft and deceptively smooth feel one would expect from an Image trade paperback collection. As if a fine residual layer of talcum powder was blasted into its fibres and sweated through its pores. The pages themselves cork on finger tips knowing a rare day with moisture and traction. A noseful serves to remind the head of a scent known, but lost in the scheme of odours.
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Mark Grayson is the typical teenager attending a typical American high school that no doubt has a swimming pool and university level gym facilities. Along with battling the tedium of homework and flipping meat patties at the local Burger Mart he has to deal with his new found super powers courtesy of being the son of earth's mightiest protector, Omni-Man. Following Mark on his discovery to the acceptance of his place alongside the other crime-fighters, the tale herein is quick and full of action, slowing only to take a breath every now and then.

It's a fun and enjoyable book where the characters are met and relationships outlined in a quick passing glance, yet manage to be engaging and connect. The art is sharp and carries forth the liveliness of the characters. The colours pack the stark flatness of a pop art feel. Bold and striking in its style, the palette is clearly intent on hitting with much punch with little deviation from the core hues. In line of which, from the gesture of the sound effects, there's a lot of bass to appreciate in the world of Invincible. KABOOM this, CHOOM that, it's enough to make the heart stop and the passerbys gather as they watch the man in the street taking on a cardiac arrest, clutching vainly to his bursting heart and unable to utter a cry for help.

The only real quibble of Family Matters is the fact that the name of Mark's mother is never once mentioned throughout the four chapters. Sure, Debbie gets a place in the introduction by Busiek, but still. Then again, this may very well add to her as a character, to suffer in silence, the story never being about her, her anguish resonating through the adventures her son and husband make.

Put together as they are the issues work well as chapters for a satisfying and complete read. The final pages of the respective issues don't have that strained feel of a cliffhanger timed for a monthly and more like natural breaks in the procession of the storyline.

Serving out the rear, several pages delve into the work that went on toward the production of the series from concept covers and costume breakdowns to publicity art and character sketches. Insightful and clean, it's a well rounded cap off for the collection.

Ethan Switch

Published at The Wax Conspiracy on Wednesday, August 18, 2004