Invincible Universe is the superhero world created by Robert Kirkman. Originally published under Image Comics, since issue number 74, Invincible has been published by Skybound Entertainment imprint of Image.
Invincible Universe follows the events of Invincible #100, The Death of Everyone. In Invincible Universe #5, the world is still trying to recover from Dinosaurus’ attack which left a slew of heroes and civilians dead and the world scrambling to recover as the Guardians of the Globe have become Earth’s peacekeepers.
Written by Phil Hester (Black Terror, Wonder Woman, Green Arrow) with art by Todd Nuack (Young Justice, Wildguard), the story begins with a group of bank robbing mind controlled gorillas wearing mannequin masks. Brit sums it up with, “This is stupid”. Phil Hester adeptly points out the ridiculousness of what we see in comics and has one of his characters let us know it (which has become a bit of a theme in Invincible’s world). The story continues with a cavalcade of characters from the Invincible universe. Robot,
Bulletproof (in Invincible garb), Cecil Stedman, Brit, Kid Thor, Pegasus, Outrun, and Yeti all are within the first few pages handling the gorillas and the surging crowd.
People have lined the streets since Dinosaurus’ rampage. Hester even takes the opportunity to use the Occupy Movement to accentuate the crowd’s growing unrest and their feelings towards the Guardians. The Guardians, seen in their new roles as peacekeepers more so than superheroes, find out that the crowd of people don’t necessarily feel fondly about them.
Because of the world’s disarray, the door is opened for the next megalomaniac to walk in. Enter Supreme Leader Cho. A North Korean commander who has taken this uneasy time to begin developing a super-powered army (most likely to take over the fragile planet…what else do crazy sociopathic villains do with their time?) which transitions in to the 2nd Act of the book and the Guardians of the Globe’s attempt to infiltrate Cho’s secret headquarters in North Korea.
Best Tiger, Shapesmith, and Bulletproof are all present and accounted for as they race through the headquarters looking for answers. The scenes of Best Tiger freeing himself from enemy capture and Bulletproof hiding “inside” of Shapesmith adds a dramatic flare to a story not featuring the typical capes, punches, good buy beats up bad guy superhero comic.
Phil Hester manages to keep a tight story without the wordiness of Robert Kirkman’s dialogues. Todd Nuack’s art, which in Young Justice seemed almost too cartoony, fits perfectly within Phil Hester’s story. The art has a comic book feel without being over the top with muscles, belts, pouches, and over exaggerated weapons.
Invincible Universe #5 ends with a dramatic (and bloody) entrance of Supreme Leader Cho at the United Nations, a cliffhanger, and the promise of knock down drag out fight between the Guardians of the Globe and Supreme Leader Cho in the next issue. Fans of the series are no doubt enjoying this book and at $2.99, it is a book lots of fanboys and fangirls can be enjoying.
Featured image pic from www.comics-wikia-page.com
Dinosaurus pic courtesy of comicvine.com
Bulletproof pic courtesy of mywebbedreviews.com
Invincible Universe #5 cover courtesy of imagecomics.com
Kevin Bermeo 
Anthony Andujar Jr.
That wasn’t Bulletproof, it was Agent Hunter from Astounding Wolf-Man