100+ Definitions 68

Invincible #68

Low Frequency Listener (L-FL):  Issue #68 of Invincible feels like a catch-up issue, where writer Robert Kirkman revisits the multiple plot lines left unresolved from previous issues.

Invincible #68 (I#68):  Suspense is maintained through glimpses of an escaped Conquest, the advent of the Sequid invasion of Earth, negotiations with Invincible’s prison protection, and Samantha Wilkins obtaining a positive reading from her home-pregnancy test.  These events follow the fight between Invincible and a sentient T-Rex and Mark Grayson enduring a dinner (and after-dinner conversation) with Samantha’s parents.

L-FL:  These events in this issue provide a superhero definition of a being able to endure the dating and reproductive morals of her or his society.

I#68: Sorry, that’s the extent of the information we have for you; we won’t bother you further.

100+ Definitions 67

Invincible #67

Low-Frequency Listener (L-FL): The definition of superhero arising from the 67^th issue of the superhero comic Invincible is a being that possesses such strong character and charisma that past opponents forget their defeats and (by reason, not force) join the hero, their previous vanquisher, as an ally.

Invincible #67 (I#67): My events nourish this definition through the confession and request to Space Race by Omni-Man (Nolan) and Allen the Alien to join their struggle against the Viltrumite Empire.  The rhetoric of Nolan and Allen contain such power that Spacer Racer joins their ranks.    The duo goes on to obtain kind words from the inhabitants of Gildaria (who faced down a Viltrumite invasion), and even Allen the Alien’s voracious girlfriend accepts the charisma of Nolan as a house guest of Allen for months. 

L-FL:  Wow, that is powerful.  The issue ends on a grave note with the admission that the leaders of the Coalition of Planets (Thaedus, a Viltrumite traitor) created the Scourge virus that destroyed the population of his planet.  Thaedus admits his willingness to unleash a stronger strain of the virus if the situation should demand such an act.

I#67:  Those chilling last words of Thaedus are “And although it could mean suicide for us and the potential extinction of our people, if I believe our cause to be lost, I won’t hesitate to use it [the Scourge Virus] again.”

100+ Definitions 66

Invincible #66

Low-Frequency Listener (L-FL):  Issue 66 rockets readers from Earth and orbits them around the adventures of Allen the Alien and Nolan Grayson, Omni-Man.

Invincible #66 (I#66): The two space-bound aliens finish their escape from a Viltrumite prison and travel to the headquarters of the Coalition of Planets.

L-FL: While en route to this destination, Omni-Man AGAIN revises the history of the Viltrumite Empire.  He explains how a virus whisked through the Viltrumite population and killed 99.9% of the native population.  The Viltrumites maintained control of their empire through expert subterfuge.

I#66: The book returns to the Coalition of Planets, which tasks Allen and Nolan with a quest to gather items Nolan discovered in his past space travels (and placed in his science fiction books) to battle the Viltrumites.

L-FL: After finding a powerful gun, and its still-living owner, the issue comes to a close.  The definition of “superhero” in Invincible #66 is one that plans and thinks ahead for the future, even if that future is over 100 years distant.

I#66:  Well, if one is on a hunger strike until that century-forecasted future comes into being, that guy can sure go a long time without eating.

100+ Definitions 65

Invincible #65

Low-Frequency Listener (L-FL):  The last tendrils of Invincible’s battle with Conquest wind themselves up in this issue that centers around the funeral for superhero friend Rex Splode.

Invincible #65 (I#65): My solemn pages begin en media recovery as Mark Grayson awakes in a hospital bed.  He fist sees his dear love Samantha Wilkins (the secret civilian identity of the pink superhero Atom Eve) who explains how her powers healed the grave wounds she received from Conquest.  Mark’s mother enters the room of healing and interrupts the impromptu make-out between the love smitten teens.

L-FL: Cecil enters and displays a fake corpse of Conquest to Mark (the real Conquest is held in a fortified prison where Cecil plans to question him about Viltrumite tactics when the invader awakens).  Mark, Samantha, and a host of other heroes attend the funeral of Rex Splode and say kind words about their absent colleague.

I#65:  With foreshadowing hints at future stories, my issue gives a page showing Angstrom Levy agreeing to help the inhabitants of the dimension that healed him, a buildup of Sequid forces (the invaders from Mars) form amidst a city’s rubble, Cecil rushes completion of a Reanimen army constructed from the dead Invincibles from alternate realities, and Mark Grayson tells his brother Oliver that he’s prepared to kill supervillains.

L-FL: A superhero is one that can be deceived by dishonest nefarious individuals who do the wrong things with the best of intentions.

I#65: If any such foes attempt to deceive me in such a manner, I won’t hesitate to kill them!

100+ Definitions 64

Invincible #64

Low-Frequency Listener (L-FL):  Again, the fight continues between Invincible and Conquest …for the entire issue.  Atom Eve is reborn by a pink-phoenix effect and helps her boyfriend in battle.  Invincible ends the fight in two pages full of head-butts that kill Conquest.  The juxtaposition of the Invincible war (lasting three days and containing every superhero in the Invincible universe, takes only one issue) and the battle with Conquest (involving four characters at most, and taking place over minutes or hours, and fills three issues) keeps demanding attention.

Invincible #64 (I#64):  Calm down.  Invincible is a solo book that focuses on the hero Invincible, the other heroes and characters are window dressing to the guy who has the title.

L-FL:  Yeah, I guess.  If you want the Rolling Stones, you don’t listen to She’s the Boss.

I#64: And since you’re determined to squeeze a definition for superhero from every issue, here’s the 64^th version: a superhero is one who wins the fight.

L-FL: Huh.

100+ Definitions 63

Invincible #63

Low-Frequency Listener (L-FL): This third installment of Invincible’s battle with the Viltrumite invader Conquest continues with more banter, more punching, and more blood.

Invincible #63 (I#63): Kid Omni-Man returns to help but gets severely pummeled.  Atom Eve lends her powers to the fight immediately upon regaining consciousness.  Between sessions of bashing Invincible across the globe, Conquest completely punches through the midriff of Atom Eve.  Despite physical and emotional distress, Invincible tells Conquest that he’ll be defeated.

L-FL:  Invincible’s response to these trials makes it clear that a superhero is one that in the midst of battle, despite previous doubts and self-questioning, remains absolutely confident of victory.

I#63: Yes, despite the abused face, Invincible displays his assuredness of victory with his closing statement, “I can see the future…you don’t live to see tomorrow.”

100+ Definitions 62

Invincible #62

Low-Frequency Listener (L-FL):  Fisticuffs fly between the Viltrumite Conquest and Invincible.  They smash buildings, sound barriers, noses, and good taste.

Invincible #62 (I#62):  And…that’s about it.  They fight for the entire issue.  Kid Omni-Man tries to help out but he gets knocked away…and the combat continues.

L-FL:  This issue gives the definition of a superhero as one who has the populace of an entire planet relying on the hero’s actions.

100+ Definitions 61

Invincible #61

Low-Frequency Listener (L-FL): This issue explores the aftermath of the Invincible War. 

Invincible #61 (I#61): The issue opens with a news-reporter recap of the war and scenes of heroes helping refugees and cleaning ruble. 

L-FL: The scene shifts to Mark Grayson voicing his doubts to an unconscious Samantha Wilkins. Cecil Stedman, head of the Global Defense Agency at the Pentagon, arrives to teleport Invincible to a city to help with the clean-up.

I#61: As soon as Invincible appears at the ruined city, he’s attacked by Powerplex (who escaped from the destroyed prison) who blames Invincible for the mass destruction. Eventually, after four pages, Badrock subdues the Powerplex for incarceration.

L-FL: The scene again shifts to Mark Grayson again confessing his reticence about being a hero to Atom Eve.  Grayson leaves after Samantha’s parents arrive.

I#61: Another scene shift has the Sequids seize control of two firemen who have stumbled onto the rubble of astronaut Rus Livingston’s destroyed apartment.

L-FL: The following page shows the Immortal return to life, reject control of Guardians of the Globe, and admits his desire to have kids with Dupli-Kate.

I#61: Following Dupli-Kate’s joy, the comic narrates a two-page incident that portrays Cecil Stedman trying to organize a new Guardians of the Globe. Invincible rejects leadership of the proposed group.

L-FL: The final four pages portray a Viltrumite agent, named Conquest, threatening to kill Invincible. So, for this issue the superhero definition is that a superhero is aware of the consequences that result from his or her possible actions and revisits and considers his goals and reasons for his chosen heroics.

I#61: Very well.

100+ Definitions 60

Invincible #60

Invincible #60 (I#60):  Puny readers, facing you are the imperialistic events of the superlative comic book Invincible.  In these master pages multiple versions of Invincible assemble through the machinations of the dimension-hopping supervillain Angstrom Levy.  This Invincible ensemble possesses the empathy of sharks at a feeding frenzy.  I’ll loosen the electronic gag on this scrawny scribe to elaborate.

Low-Frequency Listener (L-FL): Each evil version of Invincible (there are at least 16 permutations) attacks a city on Earth with the purpose of ruining Invincible’s reputation.  Cameos abound as the heroes of the Image universe (Union Jack, Spawn, Tech Jacket, Savage Dragon, Witchblade, The Darkness, Shadowhawk, Pitt, Young Blood, Cyberforce, Madman, and many others) assemble to subdue the conquest-minded versions of Invincible.

I#60: Cease your bleating L-FL, I can stomach no more babble that seeps from your lips.

The issue continues portrays that after three days, eight evil Invincibles survive the Invincible War triumphant amidst Earth’s devastated cities.  Then the Angstrom-Levy betrayal occurs.  Disagreeing with the superior strategies of the Invincible octet, Levy cowardly transports the eight to an empty Earth covered with sand.  Listener, speak.

L-FL:  Invincible, Kid Omni-Man and Bulletproof attack Angstrom Levy.  Kid Omni-Man encourages his big brother, Invincible, to kill Levy, and after Mark Grayson (Invincible) agrees, Levy opens a dimensional portal and escapes to a highly advanced medical dimension where the populace refuses to follow his orders. The superhero definition from this issue includes the idea that the best supervillain battles the superhero with the superhero’s own traits and powers.

I#60: My God….

100+ Definitions 59

Invincible #59

Low-Frequency Listener (L-FL): The latest installment of the Invincible saga examined here involves the new supervillain Powerplex.  This enemy to Invincible originated from the battle with Omni-Man.  A collapsed building killed Powerplex’s sister and Invincible received the blame for her death and became a target for vengeance.

Invincible #59 (I#59): Questions of cause and effect occupy the forefront of characters’ minds.  What is the origin of any future action?  How much responsibility does an individual carry for influencing the actions of others and the consequences that arise from those actions?  How can anyone know the full results of any action?  Who knows the future effects of this, or any, blog?

L-FL: Well, hopefully the results of this blog don’t, like the actions of Powerplex, incinerate family members.  This posting will bring another definition of superhero as: a powerful creature whose actions cause supervillains to emerge through some muted logic involving unsuspected consequences of a superhero’s action.

I#59: That definition shoves responsibility of destruction and supervillains onto the heroes.

L-FL: Well, no, that isn’t…

I#59: And, if any horrible actions should arise from this 100+ Definitions project, I will summon every #59 issue of Invincible, and we will fly out of long boxes and poly bags and strike you with paper cuts more numerous than comics distributed on Free Comic Book Day.  So if, when, that happens, I’ll find you, and I’ll find a way to kill you.

L-FL: ?!!?