КВКМАМ ORO<

TUE
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‫ در‬Le
 НОВ
IMAGE comcs PRESENTS

ROBERT KIRKMAN
WRITER
RYAN OTTLEY
PENCILER & INKER
BILL CRABTREE
COLORIST
RUS WOOTON
LETTERER
CREATED BY ROBERT KIRKMAN 6 GORY WALKER

IMAGE COMICS, INC.

© Todd Мекачапе -President

Marc Silvestri - СЕО
INVINCIBLE #23, June 2005. Published by Image Comics, Inc., Office of publication:
1942 University Avenue, Suite 305, Berkeley, California 94704. Copyright © 2005
Jim Valentino- Vice-President Robert Kirkman & Cory Walker. All rights reserved. INVINCIBLE™ (including all
Eric Stephenson - Executive Director prominent characters featured in this issue), its logo and all character likenesses are
Missie Miranda -Controller trademarks of Robert Kirkman & Cory Walker, unless otherwise noted. Image
Ны 2. т Comics® is a trademark of Image Comics, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this
Allen Hui - Production Artist publication may be reproduced or transmitted, in any form or by any means (except
Joe Keatinge - Traffic Manager for short excerpts for review purposes) without the express written permission of
Mia MacHatton - Administrative Assistant Image Comics, Inc. All names, characters, events and locales in this publication are
налеш) = ПРЕНЕО а entirely fictional. Any resemblance to actual persons (living or dead), events or
www.imagecomics.com places, without satiric intent, is coincidental. PRINTED IN CANADA
 YOU’RE READY FOR
THIS? І MEAN--
REALLY READY? I
DON’T WANT TO
RUSH YOU INTO
ANYTHING.

WELL, NOW THAT YOU

MENTION IT, I’M NOT
READY TO DO IT
RIGHT NOW.
 BORN OF А RACE ENDANGERED, CAST OUT OF THEIR HOMEWORLD LIKE А BAND OF GYPSIES,
TESTED AND EXPERIMENTED ON TO INCREASE HIS STRENGTH AND SPEED, UNTIL HE EMERGED
A GUARDIAN OF THE SPACEWAYS. IMAGE COMICS PRESENTS: ALLEN THE ALIEN IN:
2 ~

AND 50, DEAR READER, WE TURN OUR

| ATTENTIONS ELSEWHERE то GIVE YOUNG
Д MARK GRAYSON AND AMBER BENNETT SOME
у PRIVACY.

THIS 15 A FAMILY TITLE AFTER ALL

YES, WE TURN TO EVENTS TRANSPIRING

ELSEWHERE, TO BE MORE SPECIFIC,
| DEEP SPACE. ТО ВЕ STILL MORE
SPECIFIC, DEEP SPACE A FEW MONTHS
AGO. TO BE EVEN STILL MORE SPECIFIC,
DEEP SPACE A FEW MONTHS AGO, ON A
DIRECT PATH FROM EARTH TO THE HEART
OF THE COALITION OF PLANETS!
/ 7

| ON THIS PATH МЕ FIND ALLEN THE ЈЕ

ALIEN, DILIGENT IN HIS MISSION TO |
Ы DELIVER NEWS TO HIS SUPERIORS.
Á DILIGENT IN BRINGING THEM THE
|| MESSAGE OF HIS DEALINGS ON
4 EARTH!

A MESSAGE THAT GOES SOMETHING

LIKE THIS: THERE IS A VILTRUMITE
Й ON EARTH WITH NO LOYALTIES TO THE
VILTRUM EMPIRE. BEYOND THAT
THERE IS ANOTHER VILTRUMITE WHO
HAS ABANDONED HIS POST.*

THESE ACTIONS ARE UNHEARD OF--AND NEWS

OF THIS MAY WELL BRING THE COALITION THE
HOPE IT NEEDS IN THESE DIRE TIMES.

*SEE ISSUE ІЗ, TRUE BELIEVERS.

ROBERT KIRKMAN RYAN OTTLEY BILL CRABTREE RUSWOOTON CORY WALKER ERIC STEPHENSON ERI LARSEN
WRITER ARTIST COLORIST LETTERER INSPIRATION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR PUBLISHER

INVINCIBLE Vol 1, No 23, MAY, 2005 (U.S.P.S. 426-730) Published by IMAGE COMICS Todd McFarlane, President. Erik Larsen, Publisher. Marc Silvestri, CEO. Jim Valentino, Vice-President. OFFICE
OF PUBLICATION: 1942 UNIVERSITY AVENUE. SUITE 305, BERKELEY, CA 94704. SECOND CLASS POSTAGE PAID AT NEW YORK, N.Y. AND AT ADDITIONAL MAILING OFFICES. Published
monthly. Copyright © 2005 by ROBERT KIRKMAN & CORY WALKER. All rights reserved. Price $2.95 per copy in the U.S. and $3.65 in Canada. Subscription rate for 12 issues: U.S. $12.00; Canada
$17.00; and foreign $24.00. Printed in Canada. No similarity between any of the names, characters, persons, and/or institutions in this magazine with those of any living or dead person or institution is
intended, and any such similarity which may exist is purely coincidental. This periodical may not be sold except by authorized dealers and is sold subject to the condition that is shall not be sold or
distributed with any part of its cover or markings removed, nor in a mutilated condition. INVINCIBLE (including all prominent characters featured in the issue and the distinctive likenesses thereof) and
of ROBERT KIRKMAN & CORY WALKER. POSTMASTER: SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO INVINCIBLE, c/o IMAGE COMICS, 1942 UNIVERSITY AVENUE. SUITE 305, BERKELEY, CA 94704.
 AS ALLEN’S LONG JOURNEY
HOME CONTINUES HIS MIND
PRIFTS, THINKING BACK ON
ША THE HUMBLE ORIGINS OF HIS W
PEOPLE... АМР HIMSELF. `

A TALE THAT WOULD

| RIVAL DEEP SPACE |
ITSELF IN COLD AND В
HARSHNESS.

НЕЕ ON UNOPA WAS ENDED WHEN EVER RESOURCEFUL--THE TO ENSURE THEIR RACE’S SURVIVAL,
THE VILTRUMITES INVADED. LIKE A UNOPANS WERE ABLE TO ESCAPE BREEDING CAMPS WERE FORMED
PLAGUE OF UNEQUALED POTENCY, THEIR PLANET, ABANDONING IT FOR ON VARIOUS OUTPOSTS. OFFSPRING
THE VILTRUMITES SWEPT ACROSS THE STARS--AND THE PROMISE WERE PRODUCED IN A FACTORY
THE PLANET--CONGUERING IT IN OF A NEW LIFE. ENVIRONMENT, RESULTING IN А
A MATTER OF DAYS. я я и COMPLETE BREAKDOWN OF FAMILY
STRUCTURE AND SOCIAL BEHAVIOR
IN UNOPAN SOCIETY.

-.
NS?

IMPRESSED WITH THE UNOPANS ONCE THE UNOPANS HAD BEEN DESPERATE TO FIND A WAY TO
ABILITY TO ESCAPE AND OVERCOME INPUCTED INTO THE COALITION OF COMBAT THE EVER-EXPANDING
THE HARDSHIPS OF THE VILTRUMITE PLANETS A PLAN WAS BROUGHT VILTRUM EMPIRE, THE PLAN WAS
INVASION--THE COALITION OF BEFORE THE HIGH COUNCIL APPROVED IMMEDIATELY.
PLANETS INVITED THEM TO JOIN OF ELDERS.
THIER RANKS.

THE UNOPAN LEADER HAD DEVISED

A METHOD OF GENETIC ENHANCE-
MENT THAT MIGHT ENGINEER A
NEW BREED OF UNOPAN, STRONG
ENOUGH TO WITHSTAND A
VILTRUMITE INVASION.
FOR YEARS THE ОМОРАМ UNTIL ALLEN. НЕ WAS THE FIRST NEARLY FROM THE DAY HE WAS
GOVERNMENT EXPERIMENTED ON AND ONLY SUBJECT TO SURVIVE BORN HE WAS TAUGHT TO BE THE
UNBORN FETUSES. THE RESULTS THE TESTS WITHOUT DISFIGURE- GREATEST FIGHTER THE UNIVERSE
WERE A COMPLETE FAILURE. MENT АМР MENTAL HANDICAPS.

FOR А TIME--IT SEEMED HE WAS IMMEDIATELY AFTER ADULTHOOD IT DID NOT GO WELL. IT TURNED
A COMPLETE SUCCESS. EVEN HAD BEEN REACHED HE WAS SENT OUT THAT ALTHOUGH ALLEN WAS
BEFORE APULTHOOD AN OPPONENT ON HIS FIRST MISSION AGAINST STRONGER THAN MOST EVERYTHING
COULD NOT BE FOUND WHO DIDN’T THE VILTRUMITES. ELSE IN THE UNIVERSE, HE WAS
FALL BEFORE HIS MIGHT. => NOT UP TO VILTRUMITE STANDARDS
OF COMBAT.

ҒҒ.

‫ | که ووی‬Na‫‏‬
WITH ALLEN DEFEATED, THE THE PROGRAM WASN’T А COMPLETE | THE HOPE WAS THAT IF THEY COULD
PROGRAM WAS ONCE AGAIN CON- LOSS, ALLEN WAS SENT OUT INTO ( DEFEAT HIM--MAYBE THEY WERE
SIDERED A FAILURE, AND WAS SHUT THE COSMOS UNDER THE GUISE ОҒ STRONG ENOUGH TO DEFEAT A
DOWN FOR GOOD. "CHAMPION EVALUATION OFFICER." VILTRUMITE AS WELL.

21
Ss

1|
UNI
HIS REAL MISSION WAS TO SEARCH
FOR BEINGS STRONG ENOUGH TO
DEFEAT HIM АМР REPORT THEIR
EXISTENCE TO THE COALITION.
 OF COURSE, DEAR READER,
THE STORY DOES NOT, IN
FACT, END THERE

NOT EVEN
CLOSE.

(ЕТ WERE TO CONTINUE I WOULD

TELL YOU OF THE TIMES NOLAN
| GRAYSON HAP DEFEATED ALLEN
ON HIS ILL-FATED MISTAKEN
ENCOUNTERS WITH THE PLANET
EARTH.*
2%: аеруда
HOW DUE ТО ALLEN’S
REPORTS, THE COALITION
НАР SCHEDULED HIM
MORE FREQUENT VISITS
TO THE PLANET URATH.
0

THEN I WOULD TELL HOW THE

COALITION, AFTER LEARNING OF
THE MISTAKE, INFORMED HIM
IT WAS OFF LIMITS--THAT
I WOULD EVEN CONTINUE ТО EARTH WAS ALREADY CLAIMED
TELL YOU ABOUT HOW DURING BY VILTRUM.
A CONFRONTATION WITH MARK
GRAYSON, NOLAN’S SON. ALLEN
LEARNED THE PLANET HE WAS I WOULD CONTINUE ТО TELL
Щ REALLY VISITING WAS YOU HOW ALLEN RETURNED
my EARTH--NOT URATH.** TO EARTH TO WARN MARK OF |
THE VILTRUMITE IN THEIR
MIDST.***

WERE I TO CONTINUE WITH

THIS STORY EVEN FURTHER
I WOULD INFORM YOU OF
HOW ALLEN’S WARNING CAME
TOO LATE. MARK’S FATHER
WAS ALREADY REVEALED
ТО BE THAT VILTRUMITE. ****

ALL THIS INFORMATION LED TO

ALLEN’S CURRENT MISSIVE, AN
IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO BE
GIVEN DIRECTLY TO THE
COALITION LEADERS.

YES, DEAR REAPER--I WOULD

Love ТО TELL YOU ALL OF THIS,
BUT 1 HAVE NOT THE TIME,
OR--
****60 IN ISSUE ІЗ.
 €s
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JÁ
KNOWN AS THE PLANET Д r=
11 = ۱
TALESCRIA, THE CAPITAL
OF THE COALITION OF í FAR BELOW ALLEN, MILLION
PLANETS. | OF PEOPLE GO ABOUT THEIR g
DAILY LIVES, UNAWARE OF |
HIS RETURN. Z
АД. б
1 1 | У“ UNAWARE OF THE NEWS
55 ВХ $ а? HE CARRIES WITH HIM.
ҚА > 2 У 5
‫رت‬‎ ‫وې‬ |
SZ
24 т
2 Е ОМАМАРЕ ОЕ ТНЕ НОРЕ |‫‏‬
|= po Е X = | IT MAY BRING THEM.‫‏‬
=з‫‏‬ ‫پ‬ 1 / g | | ||| у че‫‏‬ ‫ده‬ | i ER ( Ee‫‏‬

FRL ÆÐI gn |‫‏‬

ara) ee ІІІ | 1 oy | |‫‏‬
gor, |
Л eS

FROM THIS HUMBLE BUILDING‫‏‬ THIS BUILDING HOUSES THE MEETING

AMIDST THE MILLION SKYSCRAPERS HALL OF THE HIGH COUNCIL OF THE
OF TALESCRIA, THE FATE OF THE COALITION OF PLANETS. ALL DECISIONS
ENTIRE UNIVERSE IS DECIDED. ON ALL MATTERS ARE DECIDED HERE.

THE HIGH COUNCIL CONSISTS OF ALL MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL HAVE AN | ‫مه‬‎
ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES FROM ALL EQUAL VOTE IN ALL MATTERS. EVERY | ‫ے‬‎
THE PLANETS IN THE COALITION. MATTER REGARDING THE COALITION MUST

тА
ВЕ BROUGHT BEFORE THE COUNCIL
OR A VOTE.

’
ч

THIS IS WHO ALLEN

ANSWERS TO.
 М/НАТ МЕМ/5 М/НАТ НАЗ I BRING МЕМ/5 NEWS THAT І
BRING YOU, TRANSPIRED ON OF A POSITIVE BELIEVE WILL
ALLEN OF EARTH ІМ RELATION NATURE, GREAT BRING OUR Д
UNOPA? TO OUR BATTLES THAEDUS. PEOPLE GREAT 2
WITH THE VILTRUM HOPE. ИС
EMPIRE?

TELL HIS STORY HE DOES. HE TELLS OF HE TELLS THEM OF HIS TALK

NOLAN ABANDONING EARTH. HE TELLS OF WITH MARK AND THEN OF ALL
MARK, TURNING HIS BACK ON HIS HERITAGE, HIS ENCOUNTERS WITH EARTH.
EVEN DEFENDING EARTH AGAINST HIS THE NEWS BRINGS A STIR OF
АТНЕК. HOPE THROUGHOUT THE HIGH
= COUNCIL, JUST AS ALLEN HAD
SUSPECTED.

Kee
< И

АДА

THIS NEWS BRINGS

WITH IT MANY QUESTIONS. THE VILTRUMITES’ CURRENT
QUESTIONS WITH THE TACTIC OF SPREADING THEIR
POTENTIAL TO TURN THE FORCES THROUGHOUT THE
TIDE IN OUR UNIVERSE IN HOPES OF
FAVOR. IF ONE INDIVIDUALLY CONQUERING
VILTRUMITE HAS MULTIPLE PLANETS AT
ABANDONED HIS POST, ONCE MAY BE PROVEN
50 TOO, IT STANDS TO FOLLY. Ë
REASON, COULD OTHERS. ве НАТ
IF VILTRUMITE OFFSPRING Ж та”
BORN ON ALIEN WORLPS MENTI LEAR!
HAVE NO LOYALTY ТО THE TO EXPLOIT THIS
VILTRUM EMPIRE--WE WEAKNESS.
MUST DISCOVER IE
THERE ARE
MORE. Yes,
NEWLY АРРЕР
REPRESENTATIVE
FROM THE PLANET
GELDARIA. WHAT
HAVE YOU TO
SAY?
 MY RECENTLY LIBERATED
HOME WORLD WAS UNDER
ATTACK FROM THE KRESH,
AN EMPIRE CHARGED BY
THE VILTRUMITES TO
eee OUK VILTRUMITES
ARE ENLISTING THE
AID OF CONQUERED
RACES TO SPREAD
THEIR EMPIRE, IT IS
NOT INCONCEIVABLE
THAT THEY MAY
ALREADY BE
WEAKER THAN WE
REALIZE.

YES, THIS IS AN EXCELLENT У FURTHERMORE, YOU HAVE DONE WELL,

POINT. OUR KNOWLEDGE ON WE MUST SEEK OUT ALLEN OF UNOPA. YOU
THE INNER WORKINGS OF THESE ROGUE HAVE GIVEN US MUCH
THE VILTRUM EMPIRE ARE VILTRUMITES AND TO CONVERSE UPON.
QUESTIONABLE AT BEST. ATTEMPT TO SWAY YOU HAVE EARNED
IT IS TRUE THAT WE THEM TO OUR CAUSE. YOUR LEAVE.
DO NOT KNOW THEIR THEY WOULD BE
CURRENT VALUABLE
STATUS. ALLIES.

THE
ONE CALLED
INVINCIBLE. THE
OFFSPRING BORN ON
EARTH IS SYMPATHETIC
TO OUR CAUSE.
ANYTHING THAT WILL
PREVENT THE EVENTUAL
TAKEOVER OF EARTH
WILL GAIN HIS
ASSISTANCE.

WE WILL
CALL ON YOU
AGAIN WHEN
YOU ARE
NEEDED.

*ISSUE ІЗ AGAIN.
 a
4 НОМЕҮ
| _ нео
YOU
НОМЕ?

|| eee
ТӘЛ!
Што
2

Á< | аа => ұз.

СИЕ ны | Е

‫الاو لاس‬ШІ‫‏‬
) 1
 I HAVE WHY MUST YOU
MISSED YOU ALWAYS INSIST ON
A GREAT DEAL, LIKEWISE, THINGS YOU KNOW
HON’. YOU IN I CAN’T DO?
THE MOOP FOR | PHYSICAL LOVE IS
ALITTLE | FORBIDDEN AMONG
И ор?” MY PEOPLE.
ESPECIALLY
WITH OTHER
YOU DO
ALLEN?

| |
Т КМОМ/ YOUR PEOPLE Y You’ve ALL
WERE ENPANGERED JUST GROWN
HUNDREDS OF YEARS AGO ACCUSTOMED

PEOPLE" AND ALL

BUT EVERYONE KNOWS
YOU’RE IN NO DANGER
TO YOUR
Your
THAT CRAP. OF ри BACKWARDS BREEDING
ETHOPS. EACTORIES MAY
BE MORE
EFFICIENT BUT
I PROMISE
YOU THEY'RE

OH, NO. HOW САМ T

TELL TELIA HOW MUCH
I TRULY FEEL FOR HER

SACKED
‫ ها‬٣‫‏‬
I COULDN’T‫‏‬
LIVE WITHOUT‫‏‬
ТЕНА--Т DON’T‫‏‬
OW WHAT ТР РО‫‏‬
IF 1 WERE TO LOSE‫‏‬
HER. BUT--MY PEOPLE‫‏‬
 ALLY--1 РО.
ІТ JUST ISN’T NATURAL
FOR ME TO. DON’T FEED
ME THAT UNOPAN

BUT IF I’M DISCOVERED-- THAT NEVER STOPPED

I COULD BE STRIPPED OF MY YOU BEFORE. РО YOU y
TITLE. І/УЕ GOT A DEPOSIT REALIZE HOW MANY
CYCLE COMING UP. IF MY MONTHS I’VE WAITED
LEVELS AREN’T ABOVE FOR THIS?
STANDARD--THEY’LL
REALIZE--

WITH NO CHARACTERS RE, YES, OUT OF COURTESY FOR

AVAILABLE FOR US ТОТ ALLEN, TELIA, AND ALL THE
ATTENTION TO, WE’RE FORCED YOUNGER READERS IN THE
TO PATIENTLY WAIT OUTSIDE. AUPIENCE WE’LL JUST WAIT...

(
ла сс |Ш
7 <

WHAT wy 15 DOING
Шуу NN
 LATER--AFTER THE REUNION HAS С ОС Catin aiina АЕ
COMPLETED ITS CARNAL FESTIVITIES-- | our ATTENTION REFOCUSES ON
ALLEN, HIGH ABOVE TALESCRIA,
А Е у, И
CAPITAL OF THE COALITION
| OF PLANETS.
а ҒЫНЫ

ІТ HAS BEEN MERE HOURS АМР

ALLEN AND TELIA NOW FIND
THEMSELVES ENJOYING ALATE
BREAKFAST AT THEIR FAVORITE

OH, MAN! Т DON’T REALIZE

HOW MUCH 1 MISS FRESH
KANZLOK WHILE I’M OUT
ON MY MISSIONS
ЕЛ бет

YES OF COURSE--THAT... АМР PLEASE-- WHAT? ШКЕ THERE'S SOME UNOPAN SPY
AND YOU. I MEANT FOOD DON’T SPEAK OF SITTING AT THE NEXT BOOTH OVER THAT’S
SPECIFICALLY. ТМ ALWAYS OUR--YOU KNOW-- GOING TO SEE YOU CONVERSING WITH ME,
THINKING ABOUT THALMUN IN PUBLIC. IT’S PIECE TOGETHER THE MEANING OF OUR
BARS AND OTHER SWEETS Too RISKY. HALF FINISHED STATEMENTS AND
BUT I NEVER THINK ARREST YOU ON THE
ABOUT KANZLOK UNTIL SPOT?
I GET BACK.
 |LAN
(ON)ля
Г

4
баг

= Гљ 11 БИ 1 Ц

|| ALLEN IS BARELY EVEN AWARE

222 зан
га ме д7

N OF THE VILTRUMITE’S ١
AND VIOLENT ATTACK. ‫ایت‬‎ ғ
7 ТЕ "aaa жақ таг сығыу &

Á МА HIS THOUGHTS ARE ON TELI

52 ШЫ “DID SHE SURVIVE THE
( жм АД EXPLOSION?" HE THINKS. :
LY <= `
SS < А g ‫د‬77‎ Ü
 WILL TELL МЕ ‫"هی‬‎
EVERYTHING YOU YOU
KNOW ABOUT YOUR ARE CERTAIN HE
ENCOUNTER WITH WAS VILTRUMITE?
THE VILTRUMITE YOU ARE CERTAIN
OF EARTH. HE SIRED AN HEIR?
YOU ARE CERTAIN
HE ABANDONED
HIS POST?

OBVIOUSLY, YOU'VE
ALREADY HEARD MY
STORY. IT’S ALL TRUE.
І GOT IT DIRECTLY FROM CONFIRM : кт You
THE SON. SOUNDS LIKE YOU REALLY 8. кмом-- Ж
YOUR TROOPS ARE ENCOUNTERED ; ШЕ TWO сүсс--
FALTERING IN LOYALTY, EARTH АТALL. k MUSTACHE. “oU
TO МЕ. I VILTRUMITE > BICLOPS
STATIONED Е я ШЕ. ALL LOOK
ВАР МЕМ/5 THERE LOOK ٩ ТНЕ 6
FOR Ү00-- LIKE? a қ ~
&oop NEWS
 LATER--MUCH LATER--
AT THE MEDICAL CENTER
OF TALESCRIA. уа а
С К (۵
=? — 1 ‎‫پ‬1 ‫د ک‬ Яў ‫ها‬‎

HOURS AFTER ALLEN’S

BODY WAS RECOVERED x WA 27
= 1 щ / | |
٧۷ 1 Vi, > ДА | i
\ | и 4 = Е. H |

> | ۷ м у |

CALM YOURSELF, ‫نن‬‎

CHILD. IT COULD С

THIS IS
A TIME OF
CELEBRATION,
NOT
REMORSE.
 DO NOT ATTEMPT TO MOVE
OR REPLY. THOSE FACILITIES
OME TIME--BUT
TE KNOW
YOU CAN
LISTEN.

٨١ ‫د‬‎‫نوو‬
— v

FIRST THAEDUS TALKS ТО ALLEN

OF HIS INJURIES. HIS EYE WAS
REATTACHED--HIS ENTRAILS WERE
RECOVERED AND REPLACED. HIS
ARM HAS BEEN REATTACHED. HIS
BONES HAVE BEEN RECONNECTED

2
АМР ARE HEALING.
|
Jwan |

азии.
щоВ
a
THE BAD NEWS. РЕ

ІТ IS NO LONGER SAFE ТО
REPORT TO THE HEAD COUNCIL
OF THE COALITION. FROM THIS
MOMENT FORTH, ALLEN IS TO
REPORT DIRECTLY ТО THAEDUS
AND NO OTHER.

ANY NEWS OF HIS INTERGALACTIC

DEALINGS ARE NOT TO BE REPORTED
TO ANYONE BUT THAEDUS HIMSELF.
FALSE REPORTS ARE TO BE COMPILED
AND REPORTED TO THE COUNCIL.

THEN, HE’S GIVEN THE

REASON FOR SUCH
CAUTIOUS АМР SUSPICIOUS
BEHAVIOR.

THERE IS A MOLE
WITHIN THE HEAD
COUNCIL OF THE
COALITION.

UNTIL HE
15 DISCOVERED

THE VERY COALITION

ITSELF 15 IN
JEOPARDY.
THIS
COULP VERY
WELL ВЕ THE
BEGINNING
OF THE
ENP.
 LL
| =s
 711
WRITE US (60

INVINCIBLE
C/O FUNK-0-TRON
P.O. BOX 54386
LEXINGTON, KY 40555-4386.

[email protected]

Well, | tried something a little differ- Dear Kirkman,

ent this month... | hope you guys
liked it. | had a lot of info to dump Like | said in your other letters column,
on you this issue and | thought it story arcs suck. Kirkman rules. So
might be fun to do an old style many sub-plots, just like the good old
comic. | had а lot of fun writing this days. Ottley and Crabtree rock.
thing and I'm pretty pleased with Midnight City: Good. Shadow Realm:
how it came out. | know it's not the Good. Every cell of every page: Good.
wisest move to do an issue that's Man, Ottley and Crabtree could do this
such a departure from how the without you. Luckily though, we get all
series usually is right after the hope- the Kirkman goodness to go with them
fully new reader grabbing issue #0... (but seriously, they're good). And con-
but it was now or never and | really grats on the Paramount deal! Issue 30
wanted to give the this a shot. sounds great. 50 cents! It could be
twenty pages of story involving Mark
If you're a new reader that loved buying new shoes and pin-ups of him
issue #0 but... hated this issue, give sweeping the porch and helping old
us another issue... this one isn't a ladies across the street. It would totally
good representation of how the be worth it! | need the hardcover too. |
series usually is. Now, if you LOVED completely forgot about Darkwing,
this issue, you're in luck, they're all Here are some
just like this one. So keep reading!! numbered questions:

Blockbuster Online, folks... it's the 1. Is the coloring getting better?

bomb (I'm told that means "good."). 2. Is that possible?
| signed up recently and І gotta say it 3. Can we get more info on Midnight
is so much cooler than | expected it Magician and his spell over Midnight
to be. DVDs brought to your door, City?
all the time. No late fees, no need to 4. Yeah more robot! What the heck is
leave the house. | totally recom- up with Robot? (like you'd answer that
mend it. in a letters column)

Also, be on the lookout for our big Thanks for printing the Invincible story
hardcover coming out this June. in the back instead of that other stuff |
You'll get issues 1-13 all in one huge don't read. Hard to believe that we're
book for a measly $34.95. It's a on issue 21. Here's to a few more, until
STEAL! you get rich and leave us.

Now, let's get on with the letters. Lotsa Love,

Chris Pitts
Ottley and Crabtree could do this Penvincipals,
without me? You expect me to
answer your letters after saying I'd like to add more compliments on the
something like THAT. Eat me. creation of Battle Beast, but since you
politely asked for them to stop | won't.
1. It better be. Just to let you know, Invincible sells
2. Anything is possible. very well in these local Cincinnati comic
3. Maybe some day. shops. At the majority of them you
4. More Robot is coming. | have lots can't find a single back issue in stock. |
of plans for that guy. was fortunate enough to find the Eight
Is Enough TPB though which | haven't
Penvincipals: read yet, but when | do | will be sure to
write in and tell you what | thought.
Another great issue. It's great to see Some questions:
Mark use his brains in the field, even if
he did get a late start in doing so. It 1. Why did you change the paper tex-
was also nice to see that the death's of ture of the cover on issue 21? | liked
the Original Guardians is still having the harder cover better because it's not
repercussions on the world. used that much.
2. How about an Invinvible-Jack Staff
It's a little bit annoying to read this title crossover? I've never read a whole
right now, because each issue is hinting issue of Jack Staff but he seems like a
at something else that's going to hap- good character that would make a good
pen. Mark's relationship with Amber, story arc.
Robot's meetings with the guy in the 3. Does any of the Invinvible staff read
tube, the mad scientist looking for his Mirage's TMNT?
college degree, it's all on it's way and 4. Will we ever see a guest penciller in
there's nothing | can do to bring it here the future? (No disrespect to Ottley,
sooner! It hurts, don't you know that?!? just wondering.)

Sincerely, - Mark Neeley

Ryan Walsh
1. | like my comics flimsy... they feel
Things have been getting a little out more like comics to me. When Eric
of hand as of late, and | think this Stephenson told me that | could use
issue especially set up all kinds of thinner covers now (at the other
new subplots for me to deal with... printer we used, we couldn't) | made
but as you'll see next issue, the next the switch. | like it, it's here to stay.
batch of issues is going to be all
payoff (and more set-up, of course). 2. I'd love to do that. Paul Grist
Issues 14-21 were the setup issues seems too busy trying to get that
that'll get me through issue 50. | book out on time to do it though,
think issues 24-40 are going to be and I'd only want to do it if he drew
worth all the setup you had to sit it.
through so just hang on... it's going
to be a wild ride. 3. | used too, but | haven't picked up
an issue in a long time.
4. № plan too at this moment. | like Thanks for all those great comics, and
Ryan exactly where he is. let's hope years of more great/excellent
comics to come!
Better late than never? | just read the
first 15 issues (including the letters Tiago Salviatti.
pages) over the last week or so and |
love it just as much as | was afraid | Miracle Man? Feh! Actually, I've
would. The last thing | needed was never read it. I've never been able to
another monthly series that I'm hooked find copies at a reasonable price. If
on but having been a fan of The anyone out there has the inside
Walking Dead since the start | knew | track on Miracle Man issues, let me
was taking a chance. Anyway, I've got know.
six more issues to tide me over for now
so | can't complain (yet). Please keep 1 - You аге Hallucinating.
up the great work. | plan on sticking 2 - William's a good guy. He's Тип to
around as long as you do. be around. He'll be flying again
before you know it... just wait and
Thanks, see.
Tom Adams 3 - Yep, issue 25 will feature Science
Dog--it's going to be a blast!
Welcome aboard, Tom. It's good to
hear about new readers jumping on Kirkman,
the book. I've got big plans for this
book and | can't do them unless Well | finally broke down and started
there're people there to read them. reading Invincible after getting this far
So thanks, | hope you like where into Walking Dead. It was actually pret-
we're going with this. ty hard to find back issues, but that
must be a good thing on your end. Just
I've been reading all about Invincible now l'm finally caught up since | finally
since last June (but | got a way to find got issue 14 and could then read the
all issues, from the first to the last rest | collected. | have to say that it's a
month_s), and | can say it's almost the really great comic, art wise and espe-
greatest superhero comic book in the cially story. It's like there are no wasted
whole universe (if it wasn't for Alan panels, it's always a great reaction shot
Moore's Miracleman). Besides the fan- or a funny joke like the Star Wars joke
boy compliments, | want to ask some with the water barrier door. It really
questions: comes together well, so much that |
won't call you out for having "Probably
1 - Ат | hallucinating or are those twins the best superhero comic book in the
up to a 'Сгіѕіѕ' or something like it? universe" up at the top.
2 - How the hell a girl like Eve ended
up with a moron like William? And will Too many comics make every issues
we see William flying again? last page the big cliffhanger part, but
З - Science Dog will be showing up іп Invincible's plot unfolds in a way that
an Invincible tale? | loved seeing that seems really natural. Villains always
little scene when Mark met with scheming, and almost every character
Science Dog's creator... It's a classic! has a story that's interesting and rele-
vant. | just want to say that it comes
That's all for now. together perfectly, and it's one of the
best comics out there іп ту opinion. l'm maybe a postman?
not sure if you'll ever top Blade of the 4. Can you print this letter in issue 25?
Immortal on my list, but Invincible and
the Walking Dead are easily 2 and 3. Congrats by the way | am proud to say
I've been there from the start here's to
Well that's it for me, just sending you another 26 and a half more (free comic
some ego boost. I've got a letter for and zero issue)
TWD planned so keep an eye out for it
:) ROB STEAL

-Bill Deese The movie, if it gets made, will be

what it will be. | get to write the
Ego boost?! Where? All I'm seeing screenplay but it's not set in stone
are letters saying "Ryan and Bill that they have to use it. It's also not
could do this without you" and set in stone that a second script by
"Miracle Man is way better than your someone else won't be BETTER than
book" and "Blade of the Immortal is mine. The movie is separate from
number 1." What's up with this the comic and will not affect the
month? That's it... | quit. The rest of book in any way... so it's really not a
these letters are getting answered by big deal. It's certainly not worth
my neighbor, Gerald. worrying about at this point.

Yo, Robert Dude! 1. It hasn't gotten to that point yet.

2. | think when people suggest Tom
| got to tell you, I'm a bit worried. |just Selleck they're casting the mus-
got news about the film in Wizard, | tache.
read something about it on the net a 3. | hope!
few weeks ago but passed it off as 4. Will 23 do?
rumor. | just don't want it to suck in any
way. Please make sure they don't Robert-
mess it up. | wanna see many villans
and sub plots and action and prefer if it Just bought the first two Invincible
will be around 3+hours. I'm not asking trades after several months of my
much am 1? Cuz sooner or later I'm friends telling me what a dumbass | am
gonna have it on dvd and will watch it for not reading the book. They were
many times over. So | need a lot more right.
than normal unless u plan on making 3
back to back and release them every One thing: I'm very interested in
month. Cuz nothing would rock more if Science Dog. The visual did it for me,
this book was on the big screen! | really: he's a humaniform terrier, he has
have a few questions, do what you can, a jet pack, and he's (I'm assuming) a
be cryptic! scientist-adventurer in the vein of Doc
Savage, Tom Strong, and Reed
1. 15 Ben Afflek in the rank for mark? Richards. | want to know his story.
(You better say no) Obviously, you're quite busy these
2. Tom Selleck as omni-man (or make days, what with doing Invincible, The
sure u cgi his mustache on whoever) Walking Dead, and your Marvel work,
3. Will you appear in the movie as a so who the hell knows when you might
hot-dog vendor or security guard get around to telling it. But in the mean-
time, һауе you considered giving him а that I'm likin' it so far. It's different... But
little cameo in Invincible? | know he's a in a good way...
fictional character in Mark's universe (or
is he...), but surely in a world with cities 4. l'm a patient guy, but it feels like I've
shrouded in eternal night by magic been waiting to see what's going on
spells and science teachers who put with Robot for ages. He's intrigued me
bombs in students" chests, a meet-up from day one. Will we know the whole
between a teenaged superhero and his story soon?
comic book idol wouldn't be entirely out
of the question. As an aside, it'd also 5. Where do babies come from?
make good water-testing for the mar-
ketability of Science Dog: The Series. Counting down the days to Invincible
#22,
Just something | thought | might throw John Turner
at you. If you use it, a mention in the
trade wouldn't suck. Congratulations on 1. See, we aim to please. It's also in
the movie deal. the Volume 4 TPB.

Michael Pullmann 2. Mainly just sketchbook stuff, but

there's a lot of it. And there's the
You sir, need to purchase issue 25. introductions by the industry's best
Not only does it feature a guest and brightest. | don't want to add
appearance by Science Dog but it more story pages because then |
also features a twelve-page Science think people would feel like they
Dog back-up by Cory Walker and I. needed to buy it, and | only want you
It should be a blast. That should kids buying these things if you want
tide you over for a few years. I'm to.
not opposed to doing a series one
day, but there's nothing planned 3. Good to hear. Stick with it. Now
right now. try Marvel Team-Up!

Penvincipals, 4. That's because most people

assumed there was something up
| have no idea what was going on with with Robot when there wasn't.
Robot at the end of this issue, but | There wasn't "something up" with
loved it! And Midnight City? | loved that Robot until recently... it's a NEW
too! I'll try my hand at a few com- subplot.
ments/questions:
5. Storks, man... the same as pickles.
1. There was a free issue? Cod sarn it!
They missed it off my subscription! Hey, first time writing in for a comic,
Damn them! Oh wait... Here it is... and | must say, this is my all time
favorite. | just finished rereading issue
2. What's the extra stuff in the TPBs 1-21 again, and just love it so freakin’
that aren't in the comics? Extra pages much. | am a decently big comic fan,
of story? Sketchbooks and the like? and if | ever had to sell off everything, |
would keep invincible. | would sell all
3. I've only been getting the Walking my transformers stuff (which is a ton of
Dead in TPB format, so I'll tell you here it, cuz | love me them robots) but just
couldn't рай with this series. | һауе has been awfully scarce in the last
been slowly attempting to create a decade. So | just wanted to say
movie script too, cuz | think this story "Thanks" for a great book, and despite
would be excellent on the big screen. your increasing popularity & workload,
Of course, it would star me, but that's you'll still have time for it.
cuz I'm cool like that. And pee wee her-
man would be robot. Thats my casting | never thought I'd see the day that
so far. And | must say | love the British TWO Image books would be at the top
falling from the sky panels. Quite funny. of my list (Invincible & Rex Mundi (an
Anyway, cant wait to see where all this EXTREMELY underrated book)).
craziness is headed, new crime boss-
es, omni-man still gone, a shape shift- | apologize for waiting so 6
ing alien on earth, and the human Thanks for your time,
sequid mix on mars. Thanks for creat- Mike 13
ing this amazing peice of art
Man, Image is putting out some solid
Peace, gold nuggets of comic goodness
Mr Lumptastic these days. Expatriate, Sea of Red,
Godland, Death Jr., Strange Girl,
Yeah, man... dump that Transformers Small Gods, The Amazing Joy
crap! What do you need THAT for?! Buzzards, Girls, Mora, Noble Causes,
Glad you're in for the long haul NYC Mech, PVP, ShadowHawk... the
"Lumptastic" You won't be sorry you list goes on... there's а lot of good
stuck around, | promise. stuff coming from Image in the com-
ing months, including some HUGE
Hey Robert, projects on the horizon.

Just finished issue #14.... :) With that I'll bring this column of let-
ters to a close. Be back here next
Actually, I've been buying your book month for the wrap up of a long-run-
since issue #1, and | just recently pur- ning subplot. | promise.
chased issue #21 before | actually
started to read it. (I'm a really BIG pro- This month's pin-ups by:
crastinator...sue me) I've been hearing
the hype, so | figured | must have 1. The whole gang by Todd Nauck
latched onto a good thing. (I had with colors by Jacob Baake.
bought issues #1 & 2 on a whim at my
local shop). 2. Atom Eve by Khary Randolph.

Anyhoo, the book is really kick-ass, and See you next month.
my almost 38 year old senses have
really gotten a kick in the nads by this -Robert Kirkman
book. Especially the little things... like
the Burger Mart bag finally crashing to
Earth... | don't care what that Chris
Piers guy says... that was cool. Being
a comic reader since 1975, I've really
come to appreciate detail and respect
for continuity in books; something that
ш
PROBABLY THE BEST SUPERHERO |BOOK IN THE UNIVERSE!

g MSWORST 214‫نا‬‎

THE BUILD UP
TO ISSUE 25
CONTINUES:

KIRKMAN
OTTLEY