Invincible #9
Invincible #9 is the opening chapter of the 'Perfect Strangers' arc and serves as the formal constitution of the new Guardians of the Globe — a team rebuilding in the shadow of Omni-Man's murderous erasure of the original roster. The issue introduces Monster Girl and Shrinking Ray, two characters who would anchor the relaunched team for years and gain renewed cultural visibility through the Amazon Prime Video animated adaptation. It also marks the first full appearance of the Lizard League (King Lizard, Salamander, Iguana, and Komodo Dragon), villains whose rivalry with the Guardians would have lasting and deadly consequences deep into the series. As a jumping-on point that simultaneously carries immense forward momentum toward the seismic events of issue #12, it accomplishes the rare editorial feat of welcoming new readers while rewarding longtime ones.
ComicBooks.com Value
Show all 8 grades ▾
This exact issue on ebay
CGC 9 ▾ $330–$490 3 listings
Raw / ungraded ▾ $300–$400 3 listings
More listings for this title
Read it digitally
Sell my copy
Have this issue — or a whole collection? Get a fair offer from us, skip the marketplace fees and the hassle.
We Buy Collections ▸History
By the time issue #9 hit shelves in February 2004, series co-creator and original interior artist Cory Walker had departed the title, with Ryan Ottley stepping in as his permanent replacement — a transition so smooth that Cory Walker was retained to supply the cover art for this very issue. Written by Robert Kirkman and drawn by Ottley (with colors by Bill Crabtree), the issue opens the third story arc of the series and was explicitly positioned by Image Comics as a jumping-on point for new readers. The issue also contains a backup pin-up by Ottley colored by Ron Riley, reflecting the creators' enthusiasm for the expanded world they were building.
Trivia · 8 facts
- Published February 4, 2004 by Image Comics; part of the 'Perfect Strangers' story arc (issues #9–13), collected in Invincible Vol. 3: Perfect Strangers.
- Written by Robert Kirkman; interior art by Ryan Ottley (pencils and inks); colors by Bill Crabtree; cover art by series co-creator Cory Walker.
- First appearance of Monster Girl (Amanda), a hero who appears as a young girl but transforms into a powerful monster — she becomes a core Guardian and a major recurring character throughout the series.
- First appearance of Shrinking Ray (Raymond), a size-reducing hero who joins the new Guardians of the Globe and later dies in battle against the Lizard League (issue #40).
- First team appearance of the Lizard League: King Lizard, Salamander, Iguana, and Komodo Dragon — reptilian-themed villains who attempt to poison the city's water supply and return as recurring threats.
- First cameo appearance of Bulletproof, per Key Collector Comics.
- Robot officially assembles the new Guardians of the Globe roster in this issue: Monster Girl, Shrinking Ray, Dupli-Kate, Black Samson, and Rex Splode — with the team now government-funded and supervised by Cecil Stedman via liaison Donald Ferguson.
- The issue includes a bonus pin-up by Ryan Ottley, colored by Ron Riley, as well as a back-matter backup strip; the Amazon Prime Video animated series later adapted the new Guardians lineup introduced here, gender-swapping Shrinking Ray into Shrinking Rae.
Full credits
Reprints
Reprinted in Invincible #3 (2004), Invincible: The Ultimate Collection #1 (2005), Invencible #1 (2021)
Key issues in Invincible
Reviews
Reader reviews
No reader reviews yet.