INVINCIBLE UNIVERSE: BATTLE BEAST #1, by Image Comics & Skybound on 5/14/25, finds the galaxy’s deadliest warrior, one even Invincible can’t defeat, searching for a worthy challenge.
Credits:
- Writer: Robert Kirkman
- Artist: Ryan Ottley
- Colorist: Annalisa Leoni
- Letterer: Rus Wooton
- Cover Artist: Ryan Ottley, Annalisa Leoni (cover A)
- Publisher: Image Comics
- Release Date: May 14, 2025
- Comic Rating: Mature (blood and gore)
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Page Count: 32
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of INVINCIBLE UNIVERSE: BATTLE BEAST #1:
Plot Analysis:
Invincible Universe: Battle Beast #1 begins with the titular character leaving Earth after realizing the best warriors Earth has to offer, including Invincible and his allies, are no challenge. He dumps his defeated foes on the ground and teleports to his orbiting ship. Battle Beast commandeered the ship after killing the entire crew, but now that the crew is dead, the ship’s A.I. comes online to aid the new captain.
Battle Beast explains his history as a warrior named Thokk, who fought all opponents to become the absolute ruler of his home world, Dornn. When his planet unified and became peaceful, Thokk left because his unquenchable rage could not be satisfied. Thokk assumed the title of Battle Beast, wandering the galaxy in search of a worthy opponent who could kill him. Death is the only release from his rage.
The ship’s A.I. scours its database to find a worthy opponent and takes Thokk to a barren world where a powerful being was left to rot while encased in a stone prison – the Colossus of Emsiu. Battle Beast frees the Colossus, knowing the first move would be an attack. However, Battle Beast wins. Before he leaves, a small alien wiggles from the Colossus’s corpse and begs to be taken away from this barren world.
Thokk silently agrees and carries the tiny alien back to his ship as a potential snack. The issue ends with the A.I. apologizing for Thokk’s survival and starting a new search for a deadlier opponent.
First Impressions:
Sometimes, you get exactly what you expect. Writer Robert Kirkman promised a miniseries depicting Battle Beast at his best (worst?) while fighting the galaxy’s most formidable opponents, and that’s exactly what you get. It is what it is.
Artwork and Presentation:
Ryan Ottley gives you muscles, mayhem, and plenty of splattering blood (in assorted colors) to reinforce the idea that Battle Beast isn’t a merciful cat (ahem). Ottley presents a muscle-bound menace in Thokk to make him as physically intimidating as possible, and the fight with the Colossus is outright savage (as it should be).
Art Samples:
Story Positives & Negatives:
The Positives:
“I want to see Battle Beast tear opponents up.” If that statement sounds like something you’d say, Robert Kirkman delivers a fan-pleasing first issue. There’s no filler, no complex plots, and no contrived excuses to invent a reason for Battle Beast to fight. Kirkman makes good on the promise of the premise.
The Negatives:
Forget about complex plots. This first issue barely has one. There are no stakes, consequences, or motivation other than Battle Beast wants something for the sake of wanting it. Invincible Universe: Battle Beast #1 is mindless action in its most basic form, so new readers looking for a hook or a reason to root for or against Battle Beast will find this issue lacking.
Big Picture:
Series Continuity:
As the title suggests, Battle Beast is an offshoot character from the Invincible series. Is knowledge of Invincible to read this comic? For the most part, no. You can jump right in with no foreknowledge of Invincible. Reading Invincible would help to provide more details as to the reason why Battle Beast has become a fan favorite, but it’s not required.
Final Thoughts:
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INVINCIBLE UNIVERSE: BATTLE BEAST #1 is one of those rare comics that gives you exactly what you expect. Robert Kirkman drops the thinnest of setups before jumping right to the action with the promise of more. Ryan Ottley’s bloody, macho art is tailor-made for this story. If all you want to do is read about a muscle-bound warrior fighting bigger muscle-bound warriors, you’re going to love it.
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