Every Invincible fan's favorite terrifyingly powerful lion-man is back, and he's going to dish out even more carnage in a new spin-off story.
Arriving this summer by popular demand, the Invincible team of Robert Kirkman and Ryan Ottley are bringing fans a new classic, as the indomitable Battle Beast returns for a special story in the newest issue of the Skybound X anthology. In issue #25 of the fan-favorite series, Battle Beast joins some of Image Comics’ most dynamic creative teams for a sampler sure to satisfy desire for more epic fantasy throw downs.
Battle Beast, also known as Thokk, was an early addition to the Invincible universe, first appearing in issue #19 in 2004 to lay a devastating beating upon Invincible and the rest of his cohorts in the Guardians of the Globe. Usually seen wielding a massive sword and hammer in each hand, Battle Beast is a seemingly unstoppable warrior later revealed to be the champion of an alien race of lion-esque beings, preoccupied with honorable battle in order to find a worthy adversary. Developing over time from a horrifying, undefeatable colossus for the young Mark Grayson to cower in fear of into a true bane of the Viltrumites, fans have latched onto the wild, monomaniacal warrior due to his unwavering sense of honor and his absolutely terrifying capacity to turn any fight he’s engaged in into a jaw-droppingly brutal victory.
Images Comics has paid attention to the desires of its fan base, and through its imprint Skybound has enlisted the next-to-original team (Ottley officially took over on issue #8) in concocting a new adventure for the leonine brawler. Possibly set to explain exactly how a messiah-esque planetary champion of boundless fury came to find himself in the employ of an Earth-based gangster, the story will be headlining the Skybound X #25 extravaganza, alongside several new characters dreamed up by industry luminaries such as Josh Williamson, Andrei Bressan, Lorenzo De Felici and Mac Smith. Enjoy the variant covers for the anthology issue below, from Ryan Ottley, Lorenzo De Felici, and Mac Smith:
Kirkman and Ottley previously teamed-up in 2020 for the mystery title later revealed to be named Solid Blood #17 (despite actually being the only issue of said series.) They join Williamson and Andrei Bresson, the creative team behind Birthright for an original horror story entitled Dark Ride, De Felici’s lavish tale of new hero, Kroma, and Smith’s post-apocalyptic yarn featuring down-on-their luck critters surviving after humanity has wiped itself out called Scurry. Speaking about the opportunity to return to the world of Invincible, Kirkman says:
Battle Beast is one of those characters I’m always trying to find a way to write again. Ryan Ottley is an artist I’m always trying to find a way to work with again. Invincible fans should start getting REAL excited for what we’re cooking up together! This 25th issue of Skybound X is going to be the best one yet!
Invincible fans can find out what tales of tragedy, triumph and cosmic tribunal await in the pages of Skybound X #25, on sale July 20 wherever comic books are sold.
Source: Skybound Entertainment
