Well, we all saw that comin’
For anyone who can pick up and read Previews, I don’t think it came as any surprise that this issue featured the death of a character a lot of readers, including the title character himself, had fallen in love with. Unlike other comic book deaths, this one was turned out to be extremely brutal, and the method in how it happened makes this a huge milestone for the series.
I’m really surprised the Viltrumites haven’t already taken over the entire universe. With the biggest of the big beating Mark Grayson to death on each and every panel of the issue, it seems the aliens could simply sweep across the galaxy in a day or so and bring everyone under their control. If only Mark had remembered what his dad wrote about in those books all so long ago, the key to the Viltrumite downfall might be swift at hand.
Instead, readers are subjected (or treated, depending on your view of things) to a smack down fight that continues to build and become more violent with each and every panel. Mark is taking a huge beating, and those with weak stomachs, or opposed to a lot of bloody violence in their comics, might want to pass on this issue, because it gets really intense. Mark’s younger half brother, Oliver is almost ripped in half when he tries to help his ailing brother, and it makes one wince at the thought of seeing alien bug/Viltrumite guts splatter across the page. It gets even more intense when Mark’s leg is literally taken out from under him, and in a moment that will surely mark a huge change in the tone of the series, Atom Eve is killed in a single panel.
Even though we all knew it was coming, and even though that last several issues have presented pages and pages of blood and guts, that exact panel is powerful enough to make anyone utter an audible “daaaaaammmmmnnn†at the site of the Viltrumite punching his fist through Atom Eve’s torso with no effort. Beyond the shock factor, it’s also a pretty sobering and sad moment as readers realize that Mark has now lost the one person in his life he really loved.
If she is gone, and she probably is, Mark has nothing left to live for, which is going to make the conclusion of the Conquest story next issue a battle for the ages.
As much as Robert Kirkman likes to parody the superhero genre, I’m wondering if he and Image have a strong enough will to actually keep Atom Eve dead, or if Mark will pull a Superman: The Motion Picture and have Mark turn back time, or some such nonsense, to bring her back to life. Even though Mark has been shat on a great deal in this series, the events of the last five issues have really changed the tone and nature to the point that I seriously doubt Kirkman will be able to bring back the light, somewhat soap opera-esque feel that this series had been treading for the last few years.
I’m not a big blood and guts fan, but this time out, Ryan Ottley went all out to show the horrors of war in as much detail as he could muster on the page. I know Ottley can push things even further, but even with his holding back, the art in this issue is stunning, and fills one with awe over the chaos and destruction.
Simply put, Invincible #63 is a shocking one, not from some held back reveal that promised to rock the comic book community to its core, but in how that story plays out in the pages. Truly dynamic storytelling and art, make this a must read issue for anyone interested in what is going on in the Image Universe, and a can’t miss issue for Invincible fans.
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Yeah, I love her, but I feel like Eve’s death really will push the series to explore new, darker areas. I’m just a little frustrated that I spent two hours rating Eve on her attractiveness as a female comic book character in this segment on my blog called, “Super HeroiHOT,” to have her die that week…
I jumped on the Invincible bandwagon pretty late and have been buying the trades every so often for the past couple of years. I just read Vol. 6 and Vol. 7 over the weekend. It is by far one of my favorite series. I’ve been buying fewer and fewer monthly titles (mostly Marvel) as it’s been tough to stay on, especially with the end of a few Ultimate titles for now anyway.
Buying trades like Invincible keeps me hooked on comics. I can’t say enough good things about it. Looking forward to getting Vol. 8 next time I’m at The Gatekeeper.
I just love this title.
I was thinking..
The bad guy says that he can’t figure out why he was sent to earth. I think he’s been played as he was sent to do exactly what the Vultrumites knew he would do: go wild and destroy everything Mark cares about. Why? So that Mark will not hold back one iota, kill the bad guy and unlock his full power potential.
That’s right. :D I think Eve’s murderer was set up to get killed. He’s old, disliked and not well thought of. He’s been given a mission he really doesn’t understand against an opponent he is unfamilar with.
I thought Eve’s death was truly gut-wrenching. I wonder if this creates a paradox since it was future, time-travelling Eve that got Mark to admit his feelings in the first place.
…this issue was very sad…and I did say “daaammmnnn” when he punched Eve…
…I’m only afraid that in conclusion, Mark will be saved by the green one-eyed guy (darn my faulty memory…I couldn’t remember my own name even if it were to save my life…)…
…i hope I’m not right, as I’d be disappointed at Kirkman for using such an obvious cope-out…
…ah well…
“The bad guy says that he can’t figure out why he was sent to earth. I think he’s been played as he was sent to do exactly what the Vultrumites knew he would do: go wild and destroy everything Mark cares about. Why? So that Mark will not hold back one iota, kill the bad guy and unlock his full power potential.”
That’s an interesting point you make, but I don’t know if the Viltrumites can spare any one of their numbers right now, but then again that might be their way trying something new with these half-Viltrumites.
“I thought Eve’s death was truly gut-wrenching. I wonder if this creates a paradox since it was future, time-travelling Eve that got Mark to admit his feelings in the first place.”
I don’t think so, once she told that she created an entire new couse of history dooming herself in the process. I only regret not seeing the true extent of her powers now, she was supposed to be incredible strong, now we won’t bee seeing that, could have been a great asset in the coming war against the Viltrumites, but then again I regret never what was up with Rex Plode family.
The thing that makes Eve’s death all the worse is the fact that she’s not coming back. Kirkman’s really not the type to bring back his dead characters and he certainly has no problem killing off beloved favorites (just look at the walking dead).
I still can’t wait to see how this affects invincible’s characterization. But come on kirky, first Rex and the Eve? You, sir, seem to be on quite the killing spree as of late.
women in refrigerators, anyone?
As good a writer as Kirkman is, he has never shied away from cliches, and the “hero motivated by dead girlfriend” cliche is one of the biggest. Hopefully, it’ll go somewhere good…
Looking forward to seeing how Conquest is defeated, and then with Eve gone I will be done with this series.
I don’t think it’s a cliche because Mark isn’t going to win this battle. I don’t care how pissed off he is, he isn’t beating Conquest with 1 working leg. Of all the people in the Universe able to beat Conquest, it’s probably up to either Mark’s Dad, or Alan.
I was of two minds about Eve’s death. There’s the “Girl in a Fridge” element to it… but at the same time, if you’re writing a story about a male superhero with a girlfriend, it’s hard to avoid something really bad happening to her. Still, maybe the way she died (punch to the face and impalement) was a bit too unnecessary. Ah well.
I still love the books. I can’t wait for 64