Invincible #8
Invincible #8 is the hinge between the series' cheerful opening arc and its darker long game: it is the first issue set entirely in the aftermath of Omni-Man's secret murder of the Guardians of the Globe, forcing Mark Grayson to navigate a world where the superhero institution has been quietly hollowed out by his own father. The issue also inaugurates the art partnership that would define the book for over a decade — Ryan Ottley steps in as the permanent penciler and inker, replacing co-creator Cory Walker and establishing the kinetic visual language the series carried through its 144-issue run. Three new characters debut here — the demon detective Damien Darkblood, the villain the Elephant, and Aquaria — with Darkblood in particular seeding a murder-mystery subplot that would haunt the Invincible Universe and later be substantially expanded in the Amazon Prime animated adaptation. The issue also closes Atom Eve's tenure with the Teen Team, a character exit that reorients her toward Mark and sets up the emotional throughline that drives the romance at the series' core.
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We Buy Collections ▸History
Invincible was created by writer Robert Kirkman and artist Cory Walker, debuting at Image Comics in January 2003. Kirkman had originally planned to delay the revelation of Omni-Man's villainy until issue #25, but Image editor Jim Valentino convinced him to move the disclosure to issue #7 — leaving issue #8 to open a new, deliberately destabilized chapter of the series. Ryan Ottley, whose work Kirkman had encountered through Ottley's webcomic Ted Noodleman: Bicycle Delivery Boy, was brought on to take over interior art from issue #8 onward, with Cory Walker contributing only the cover (colored by Bill Crabtree). The issue's cover-dated January 2004, with Diamond order code AUG031218, places it at the very start of the year that would see the series solidify its critical reputation.
Trivia · 8 facts
- First appearance of Damien Darkblood, the demon detective hired to investigate the Guardians of the Globe murders — a character who later became a fan-favorite expanded in the Amazon Prime animated series.
- First appearance of Aquaria (widow of the slain Guardian Aquarus) and the villain the Elephant.
- Ryan Ottley's debut as the series' regular penciler and inker, beginning a run that continued — with one brief Walker interlude on issues #127–132 — through the final issue #144.
- Atom Eve formally quits the Teen Team after discovering Rex Splode's infidelity with Dupli-Kate, a character pivot that eventually leads to her relationship with Mark Grayson.
- The story centers on the funeral of the slain Guardians of the Globe, with a roster of guest Image Universe heroes — including Savage Dragon, Shadowhawk, Mighty Man, SuperPatriot, Jack Staff, and Superstar — attending, making it one of the most ambitious Image Universe crossover gatherings in the early series.
- The Mauler Twins appear at the funeral under a pretense of respect, while covertly plotting to exhume The Immortal's body — a cliffhanger thread that pays off in subsequent issues.
- The issue was later collected in the trade paperback Invincible Vol. 2: Eight Is Enough (ISBN 1582403473), released April 28, 2004, which collects issues #5–8.
- Cover art is by Cory Walker (pencils) and Bill Crabtree (colors); interior art credits are Robert Kirkman (writer/letterer), Ryan Ottley (penciler/inker), and Bill Crabtree (colorist).
Full credits
Reprints
Reprinted in Invincible #2 (2004), Invincible: The Ultimate Collection #1 (2005), Invencible #1 (2021)
Key issues in Invincible
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