Invincible Universe: Battle Beast has been a very fun ride since the first issue came out on May 14 of 2025. Since then, we have seen Battle Beast become friends with an AI turned robot and Salaka, the severely injured Prince of Fantania, a planet conquered by the Juggernaught.
With Juggernaut and her brother now dead at the hands of Battle Beast, Fantania is free again! A fact that bores Battle Beast, as he is once again left without a battle to die in. Thankfully for him(and for us) a new guest arrived in Fantania under the name of Conquest.
(This might make him feel less lonely)
I was really excited for this issue, more so than any other that has come before it in this series, and it certainly matched my expectations, with the issue setting up and then beginning its delivery of a fight that is promised to last 2 more issues. I am keen on seeing how it continues and concludes, even if that feeling is a bit hampered knowing that both of the characters appear alive and whole again in Invincible #55.
Issue #10 picks up at the exact moment the previous issue ended, with Conquest speaking to Salaka and Battle Beast and inquiring about the Juggernaut twins' demise.
Conquest imposes a new threat to Fantania that Salaka is not equipped for, but one that Battle Beast is eager to face, just to ease his boredom. This creates a friction between these three characters that is very fun to read, with Salaka trying to stop the collision of an unstoppable force and an immovable battle beast.
Salaka attempts to do so by setting up a feast, which only allows Conquest and Battle Beast to discuss their way into a battle that erupts as swiftly as it does violently with blood pouring from its very first panel. That panel is important enough to be a full splash page, as it completely ends all attempts of negotiation from Salaka and it begins a fight that will take place for many pages to come.
Robert Kirkman’s writing shines here, giving us a payoff he has been silently building since the first issue. The dialogue between Battle Beast and Conquest is as fun as their fight, allowing the characters to measure each other up and by doing so, finding how many things they have in common.
Ryan Ottley’s work is clean and exactly what this story needs to succeed, with nice paneling and action that does not allow you to get confused. The reader is transferred all the fun that the team had in creating this issue, something common in this series.
Annalisa Leoni’s colors pop, fitting perfectly with the panels and the moods they emanate while Rus Wooton’s professional lettering is beautiful in its modesty.
My enjoyment of this series has not only been justified, but has increased with this issue leaving me happy in anticipation on how this fight transpires, something that felt difficult in the beginning due to the pre-established knowledge that both characters come back in the main Invincible series like it did not happen.
