Battle Beast has entered the Blood Games. This is bad news…but not for him. Invincible Universe: Battle Beast #2 continues more of the same from the first issue and it shows off the biggest flaw in the series.

Written by Robert Kirkman, Invincible Universe: Battle Beast #2‘s concept is simple, its main character wants to meet competition that will kill him. There’s something potentially fun with that concept but the series hasn’t really found its groove to deliver on that. Battle Beast is joined by a ship navigation system that wants to help him meet is fate his death, and a victim who’s still alive. Again, there’s potential and there’s moments where the trio are entertaining. But, the second issue never really delivers even a hint anyone is a challenge for Battle Beast. It focuses on setting up the quest further and also puts forward an obstacle in that quest. It feels like the first and second issue deliver an actual complete story if read together. On their own, it feels a bit empty with a good concept that’s doesn’t go to its comedic extremes.

Ryan Ottley‘s art is the highlight of the series so far. It revels in the absurdity of it all. There’s blood splattering all over as Battle Beast… well, battles. The battles are a bit crazy in the details with the gore and blood and it has fun with the concept. And, Ottley’s art hits a lot of the comedic aspects with a look, body language, or small detail. But, the comic overall feels like it should be leaning into the absurd even more and could be taking things to an even more extreme. The kinetic aspect of the visuals never pop as much as they could. Annalisa Leoni‘s color helps the visuals, especially the blood splattering all over. Rus Wooton‘s lettering is always great, though there’s one misspelling early on.

Kirkman and Ottley have crafted a comic that plays to the Invincible fandom. I don’t count myself among them, having only read some issues here and there. So there is surely interesting aspects I’m not aware of and details that don’t really click or excite. And, maybe that’s some of the fun I’m missing out on. Overall, the comic doesn’t feel like it goes far enough in its death quest and is dialed in at under 10 when it should be 11.

It’s not that Invincible Universe: Battle Beast #2 is a bad comic. It has really entertaining parts. Where the series suffers is that while the main characters wants to die, he can’t, or the series would end. It doesn’t feel like there’s a real chance that will happen as there’s a next issue. But also, here’s a need to continually ramp up the competition. Escalation is the name of the game here and this issue, while setting up a conflict, doesn’t really throw in anything that feels like Battle Beast might have a hard time. The thrill is in the battle and the chance the main character will die but at no times really delivers that or spectacle to distract.

Story: Robert Kirkman Art: Ryan Ottley
Color: Annalisa Leoni Letterer: Rus Wooton
Story: 7.0 Art: 8.25 Overall: 7.0 Recommendation: Read

Skybound provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

---

Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle