100+ Definitions 48

Invincible #48

Low-Frequency Listener (L-FL):  The issue begins with a scene of Mark (the alter-ego of the superhero Invincible), William and Rick (college buddies) walking and talking after an evening of bowling.  Rick, having a rough time adapting to his new cyborg body, leaves his friend stranded in the parking lot. 

Invincible #48 (I#48):  A scene shift moves readers to the jailed supervillain Doc Seismic ranting about a comeback equivalent to the Rolling Stones embarking on a Milky Way spanning rock and roll tour.   

L-FL: Another scene shift shows the superheroes of the Image universe getting attacked in their headquarters.  Cecil summons Invincible and Atom-Eve from Africa to dig three miles beneath the surface.  There they find every hero in the Invincible universe trapped in bubbles by Doc Seismic.  Invincible and Atom-Eve are defeated by Doc Seismic and the monsters under his control defeat Invincible and Atom-Eve.

I#48: So, is there a superhero definition upon my pages?

L_FL: By taking Doc Seismic’s attacks from underground as metaphorical, superheroes, despite individual strengths, remain particularly vulnerable to attacks from below. 

I#48: I win!

100+ Definitions 47

Invincible #47

Low-Frequency Listener (L-FL):  The 47^th issue of Invincible (the final issue in the Invincible Compendium 1 collection!) begins by having the Viltrumite prisoners Nolan Grayson and Allen the Alien pass one another in the prison hallway and agreeing to talk at a later date. 

Invincible #47 (I#47): One would hope soon, since Nolan is ready for execution.  The story continues and shows the dissatisfaction of an iron-jaw crime boss at the incarceration of his operative Multi-Paul.  The crime boss deals directly with Titan, last seen is issue 19 after he wrested leadership of a crime cartel from Machine Head.

L-FL: The story continues and shows the hard-scrabble lives of Tether Tyrant and Magmaniac in their attempt to live legal lives.  They both abandon legality and embrace crime by embarking on a bank robbery which ends in their defeat by Invincible and his brother Oliver, who steps out in his first superhero work.  A superhero gains a sidekick through a wild amalgamation of ability, opportunity, and chance.   

I#47: The issue shows Rudy the Robot teaching Monster Girl how to control a robotic simulacrum as well as Mark Grayson’s roommate and best friend William wearing an Invincible costume around the dorm room…without  pants (thank the Fates he had underwear).  The issue ends showing D.A. Sinclair standing over a reaniman army he built for the USA government voicing the sinister promise in regards to keeping up the good work, “I won’t let you down.”

100+ Definitions 46

Invincible #46

Low-Frequency Listener (L-FL): A definition of superhero includes a being who strives to reach his best potential even though the hero’s present skill level exceeds all others on the planet.

Invincible #46 (I#46):  A fine ideal trait to add to the definition.  This issue also includes the original version of Dupli-Kate revealing her safeguarded original form to the Immortal (who is living in some harsh snow-clad mountainside).  The scene swiftly shifts to Invincible bench pressing about 400 tons to gear up for his fight with his Viltrumite replacement.

L-FL: The action continues when Invincible and Rex-Splode travel to the Smithsonian to halt some time-traveling thieves (Fightmaster and Drop Kick) suggestive of the Double-Dragon brothers.  The capture of the martial-artist time-sledders spoils quickly when Multi-Paul (Dupli-Kate’s brother) attacks Rex-Splode.  Multi-Paul blames Rex-Splode for his sister’s death.  The battle ends when Dupli-Kate and the Immortal appear.  The Double-Dragonesque brothers escape into the future with the Declaration of Independence.  The setting shifts to show that Omni-Man has recovered his full strength and health and thus is ready for execution.  

(I#46):  Soon, very soon, for the disgrace you’ve cause us, you’ll be put to death!

100+ Definitions 45

Invincible #45

Low-Frequency Listener (L-FL): A trait of the superhero put forth by this issue involves a trickster element.  Allen the Alien allows himself to be captured by Anissa so he can make contact with Omni-Man.  Thus, a superhero must possess a witty inventive thinking aspect to her character and able to use strategy to achieve desires rather than continually resorting to force.

Invincible #45 (I#45):  The other events in this issue include the conclusion to the Anissa/Invincible fight (Anissa wins).  The Viltrumite tells Mark to consider the consequences of his actions and that a replacement conqueror will be coming to replace him, sometime between five months or five years…maybe less, maybe more. 

L-FL: This issue shows more of Oliver’s swift academic progress, Mark meeting Oliver’s tutor, and Omni-Man, Nolan Grayson, admitting that “I think I miss my wife.”

100+ Definitions 44

Invincible #44

Low-Frequency Listener (L-FL): The issue begins seconds after the final page of the previous issue.  Mark and Atom-Eve discuss the status of their relationship, which ends with Atom-Eve leaving in tears because she surmises that Mark feels sorry for her.  The next morning Mark learns there is no way for him to pass his biology class.  His mother visits him at school to tell him she has found a likeable fellow and is dating. 

Invincible #44:  The issue takes grim turn when a Viltrumite agent named Anissa appears and attempts to explain to Mark/Invincible the advantageous nature of a Vilturmite conquest. 

L-FL: In a show of good faith, Anissa aids Mark in defeating a sea monster attacking a cruise ship and then helps rescue the passengers.  The issue ends with Mark firmly adhering to his decision to defend Earth and with Anissa giving Invincible a strong left cross punch…WHA-KOOM!!

I#44:  Superhero can be defined as a being who adheres to ideas believed to be right in favor of more utilitarian ideas.  The ends do NOT justify the means for a superhero.  Something that would be good for superheroes to remember since this wasn’t a negotiation.

100+ Definitions 43

Invincible #43

The Low-Frequency Listener (L-FL):  The forty-third issue of the Image title Invincible begins only moments after the conclusion of issue #42.

Invincible #43 (I#43):  Mark and Oliver’s mother brings sandwiches and juice (or tea or Kool-Aid) to discover that Oliver has developed superpowers.

L-FL: While eating the sandwiches (the drink looks to be grape Kool-Aid) Debbie, Mark’s mother, talks about how Oliver is too young to use his powers and that Mark is not quitting school.

I#43: Allen the Alien flies back into Earth’s space and is met and attacked by a very angry and grieving Immortal.  Invincible makes peace between the two.  Invincible (with Allen the Alien) flies back to his dorm room to talk about battling the Viltrumite Empire. The Immortal informs Cecil that he will permanently quit the Guardians of the Globe. 

L-FL: Mark refuses to leave Earth to meet with the Coalition of Planets as requested by Allen the Alien, but he does share the early sci-fi books his father wrote as a way of detecting the weaknesses of the Viltrumites.  The issue concludes with Mark working on his calculus homework and Atom-Eve bursting into the room demanding to know if she and Mark are dating.   

I#43: All of which gives a unique understanding of the idea of superhero.  In this case that idea would be that a superhero is one that maintains control over her or his powers making sure their superior abilities do not harm themselves and can be activated and controlled so that no others are unduly injured from the functioning of the powers. This mastery of abilities is a trait that stretches back to the Fantastic Four and Superman.  Are we dating or what?

100+ Definitions 42

Invincible #42

Low-Frequency Listener (L-FL): The el ef el has returned with a gentler issue of Invincible to talk about the events that transpire in Invincible #42.

Invincible #42 (I#42):  Thank you for the invitation, especially after the horrible things that happened to you during the tales of the Martian invasion.  Who would have thought that much blood…

L-FL: Ah, yes, getting back to the events of issue #42, Invincible gives a press conference that suggests a definition of superhero as: an individual acting from the sole motivation of doing what is right and not from any sense of obligation, guilt, money, or coercion.

Please, would you describe the events in the issue that lead to this definition?

I#42:  Gladly.   The issue begins with Invincible sitting on the moon as a guard while the astronauts build a special moon-base to monitor deep space so Earth can be alerted regarding future invasions.  Invincible briefly returns to Earth to help the Guardians of the Globe defeat a monster, Giant, who wants to be president, and then he returns back to space to ferry the capsule from the Moon to Earth.  After giving a press conference, Mark laments his loss of Amber, battles the Octoboss, and stops to visit his mom and step-brother, who has developed the ability of flight. 

“Wow.”

100+ Definitions 41

Invincible #41

Invincible #41 (I#41):  This issue concludes the battle with the Martian warship commandeered by the Sequid.  The alien invaders are subdued by a device created from Rudy Robot’s armor.  The Guardians of the Globe flee the Martian ship with Shapesmith (called the Great Betrayer by the Martians) to save him from execution by the Martian hierarchy. On Earth, Rex-Splode defeats the Lizard League and recovers from a shot to the head in a hospital.  Amber and Mark break up, and a funeral is held for Dupli-Kate.  Rus Livingston, the astronaut controlled by the Sequid on Mars, returns to Earth only to cough up and become enslaved again by a trio of Sequid.

The definition of superhero arises from the actions of the Immortal; a superhero possesses no guarantees of time.  All superheroes pass; it’s only a matter of time.

100+ Definitions 40

Invincible #40

Invincible #40 (I#40):  The fortieth issue of Invincible conveys the battle of the Guardians of the Globe for the Sequid invasion ship. The fight doesn’t go well for the Guardians in this issue (although in the next issue the heroes win the fight).  A co-running story follows three members Earth-side battling the Lizard League at a nuclear missile silo.  The Liz League sunders at least 30 Dupli-Kates, thus killing the character.  Shrink Ray is eaten, and Rex-Plode has his left hand bitten off (imagine the chills a Freudian reading could produce with these oral elements) and is about to be shot in the head.

The superhero definition is one you’ve no doubt heard before.  A superhero is one that keeps striving and dies rather than gives up when faced with underwhelming or overwhelming odds.  Now that is dedication. 

Low-Frequency Listener: Uuggh….

I#40: Oh, crap.

100+ Definitions 39

Invincible #39

Invincible #39 (I#39):  Hey, the almost 40^th issue of Invincible here to tell you about the events that transpired in my pages. 

Low-Frequency Listener (L-FL):  We’re also going…

I#39: SHUT UP!  None care what you say!  Events of my issue begin with Shape Smith, the Martian shape-shifter who became a superhero on Earth.  He tells how the Sequids invaded and then were enslaved by the Martians.  

L-FL: The scene then…

WHAP!

I#39: I THOUGHT I TOLD YOU TO SHUT UP!?  Next, Atom Eve and Invincible fly from Africa to join the team heading into space to fight the Sequid invasion.  Amber becomes angry at Mark’s sudden absence and calls Gary the librarian.  The Lizard League attacks and seizes control over a nuclear missile silo in Anderstown, Wyoming.  The remaining members of the Guardians of the Globe (Rex-Splode, Dupli-Kate, and Shrinking Ray) step out to fight the lizards.

L-FL: The issue ends with…

WHAP PUNCH KICK

I#39: DON’T YOU LISTEN? SHUT UP!  The issue ends with the Sequids destroying the shuttle and the heroes preserved in space in a safety bubble created by Atom Eve. 

L-FL: So the def…Sorry.  I’ll shut up.

I#39: You better.  This issue defines superhero as individuals able to carry their noble antics to different environments in order to defend their protectorate.  So, keep your silence Lewd Frequently Listlicker.  We’re off to a great start!  Really—just great.