Invincible: The Ultimate Collection Volume 9 (Invincible Ultimate Collection, 9)

Title: Invincible Ultimate Collection Vol. 9Publisher: ImageWriter: Robert KirkmanArtists: Ryan Ottley (pencils), Ryan Ottley, Cliff Rathburn (inks), John Rauch (colors), Ryan Ottley & John Rauch (covers)Collects: Invincible #97-108Price: $24.99Wow! Can't believe it has been so long since the last Ultimate Collection came out! 15 months! I know that Mr. Kirkman is very occupied with all things related to The Walking Dead - a property owned and created by him, but I wish he were able to give a bit more time to this character and get these books out on a more regular basis! Enough with that, though! On to the review!Invincible has been a great comic since it first hit the shelves more than 10 years ago. The book has certainly surpassed the expectations of Kirkman and many critics, and has now also surpassed the watermark 100th issue! If you have been reading this book from the beginning (or any of Kirkman’s books), you know full well that change is a constant in the books. All of these characters are his own characters and he can do what he wants with them, whether that be change their costumes, handicap them, kill them, change their addresses, or even more drastic things. The constant changes keep things very interesting and unpredictable. This book is no exception. There are plenty of drastic changes and/or upheavals for the main characters of the story. There are so many, in fact, that it’s hard to talk much about this book, at all, without spoiling these events and surprises. Both villains and heroes, alike, will be much changed by the end of the book from what they were like at the beginning of it. There is action and drama, aplenty, and most notable villains from Invincible’s past somehow manage to find their way into the pages of this book - even if it is for only a page or two. It’s a great read from start to finish, and once again leave me hungry for more. It’s a bit depressing to realize that it’s unlikely I will be reading another new Invincible book for more than a year.After all these years of seeing his work, it’s hard to imagine anyone other than Ryan Ottley drawing this book. He really is a great artist, and in my opinion, is one of the ten best comic artists of all time. His pictures are cartoony but super-detailed at the same time. His facial expressions and hands (two of the most difficult things to illustrate) are just terrific, and his bloody-knuckle brawls just project power and force of motion. When I pick up an Invincible trade, I know I can expect some (literal) eye-popping artwork, and Ottley never disappoints.As always, the sketch and cover gallery at the end of the book is a treat to look through. It’s fun to see the art development process and hear the creator’s thoughts on what works and what doesn’t and the basis for some decisions that were made on layouts, covers and the like.Any regular reader or fan of Invincible will be sure to enjoy this book as much as I did, which was a great deal. My only complaint is that the book was over too soon and that the wait for the next collection will be so interminably long!Writing: 8/10Artwork: 9/10Cool Factor: 9/10Value: 9/10Overall: 8.75/10

I am constantly blown away at how the characters in Invincible continue to get richer and more fully realized, how a book that's been around for so long still has the capacity to surprise so often, and how the lead character keeps grappling in such a fascinating way with issues of right and wrong, trying to figure out what it really means to be a hero. The supporting cast remains as interesting as ever, and there are clearly huge developments in store in the future. I inhaled this in a single sitting and can't wait for the next volume to come out. The art is as great as ever, also. Highly recommended.

Have all the books of the series. I DO NOT buy the indivdual comics (graphic novels) and I just wait for the Ultimate Collection. Great read and now I am wondering how Mr. Invincible will get out of the JAM he is in now. Come on Volume 10

Volume 9 once again has the usual fights, blood and gore but it is mainly full of plot developments and reveals. We get to see why Thragg hates Mark and Nolan so much, the results of Robot and Monster Girls alien exile and Marks powers return! This volume is heavy on the Invincible supporting cast and lighter than usual on the books star but still their stories are interesting additions to the series overall story.

This is one of the best superhero series for people who don't want to read superheroes or stepping out from Marvel or DC needing a long form story with a beginning, middle and end and avoids the illusion of change. Ryan Ottley on art is doing the work of his career.

Best series ever! Awesome characters. Awesome art. Awesome story. Light and fun smashed with dark and intense. Smart and cool. Buy it!!

Another awesome entry in the Invincible series, I don't collect the monthly so when they stop releasing these, I'll stop reading invincible. I love the binge reading.

Things keep getting better and worse for out favorite Viltrumite in this volume of Invincible! Twists and turns abound in this installment, and the end will leaving you salivating for volume 10!