Prime VideoIf you’ve just finished Invincible Season 3, you should consider reading the Invincible comics from start to finish – and I’m here to answer lots of questions you may have before diving in.
Invincible is (in this writer’s humble opinion) the greatest superhero TV show of all time. It is a near-flawless adaptation of Robert Kirkman’s source material; anyone who read the Invincible vs Conquest fight before watching the latest finale will agree with me.
Unlike Daredevil: Born Again and other MCU shows, which piece together parts of different comics, it’s based on one long run of comic books (with the option of a few spinoffs, but we’ll get to that later).
Here’s the exciting bit: we’re not even halfway through the story (Season 3 ended on Issue #65), so you have plenty of time to catch up before Invincible Season 4.
Where to read the Invincible comics
Prime Video/Image ComicsThere are two easy ways to read Invincible digitally: you can read the whole series for free with a US library card, or you can pick up the Amazon Kindle edition of every compendium.
If you’re a Kindle Unlimited Subscriber, you may be able to pick up Kindle editions of Invincible’s volumes (which usually bundle around 4-6 issues each) for no extra charge.
There’s also the option to pick up physical editions of Invincible – and there is a lot to choose from, so I’ve listed them below:
- Invincible Compendiums Vol 1-3
- Trade Paperbacks Vol 1-25
- Invincible Ultimate Collection (Hardcover) Vol 1-12
- The Complete Invincible Library Vol 1-6
You can also read the first issue of Invincible for free on Image Comics’ website now.
How many volumes and issues are there?
Prime Video/Image ComicsThere are 144 issues in the main Invincible comic. If you read Invincible via the trade paperbacks, this amounts to 25 volumes.
However, there are some extras along the way. For example, between Issue #70 and #71, you have Invincible Returns – this is a pivotal issue of the comic that you can’t miss.
Other spinoffs are also incorporated as part of the compendiums and hardcover collections, such as The Pact #4 and The Astounding Wolf Man #11.
Is the Invincible comic finished?
Prime VideoYes, the Invincible comic published its final issue in February 2018. However, a Battle Beast spinoff is coming out in May 2025.
Invincible ran for 144 issues between January 2003 and February 2018. There were other spinoffs along the way, but excluding the release of the first Invincible Universe compendium (which includes several of the spinoffs), there hasn’t been any new comics set in the world of Invincible since 2018.
In an interview with Dexerto, Invincible’s co-showrunner Simon Racioppa said he was particularly excited to adapt the end of the comic (which is an arc in itself – no spoilers!).
“How many series come to a definitive end [and] have a finish to the story? To me, a story without an ending isn’t really a story. So if we get to go right to the end and actually get to wrap this up and finish Mark’s story, I think that will be the greatest thing ever,” he said.
Invincible Compendiums explained
Image ComicsThe Invincible Compendiums are arguably the easiest way to acquire the entirety of Invincible quickly. There are three volumes, and this is what they include:
- Volume 1: Issues #1-47 (plus an Invincible story from the Image Comics Summer Special and The Pact #4)
- Volume 2: Issues #48-96 (plus Invincible Returns #1 and The Astounding Wolf-Man #11)
- Volume 3: Issues #97-144
There’s also the Invincible Universe compendium. There’s only been one volume (so far), and it includes:
- Invincible Presents: Atom Eve #1-2
- Invincible Presents: Atom Eve & Rex Splode #1-3
- Guarding The Globe Vol. 1 #1-6
- Guarding The Globe Vol. 2 #1-6
- Invincible Universe #1-12
I’d just give you one warning: they are hefty books. If you want to read Invincible on the go or you’re thinking of taking it on holiday, the compendiums are big, heavy, and they can be a bit uncomfortable to read. If you’re just reading it at home, you should be okay, but you should maybe consider buying the compendiums digitally or seeking out the trade paperbacks as an alternative.
Do you need to read the spinoffs?
Image ComicsYou don’t need to read any of the Invincible spinoffs to follow the main story, but it’ll enrich your experience; for example, can you imagine watching the Season 3 finale without seeing the Atom Eve special first?
The spinoffs also illustrate how weird and wacky the world of Invincible is, while showcasing some cool characters who show up in the main comic, like Brit and Tech Jacket.
Also, Battle Beast sounds amazing. “Longtime fans will know there’s a massive gap in Battle Beast’s appearances in the series between Invincible issue 19 and issue 55. There’s a lot of story to tell and I couldn’t be more thrilled to have Battle Beast co-creator Ryan Ottley on board to tell it with me,” Robert Kirkman said in a press release.
Ottley also said: “A while ago I was telling him I wasn’t sure what project to do next, and when he mentioned us doing a Battle Beast series together, I jumped at the idea of being back on a creator-owned book, enlarging the Invincible Universe even more! I’m really happy to be back at Image Comics and Skybound, and can’t wait for you to see the story we are fleshing out in this series! I haven’t had this much fun since Invincible!”
How much do the Invincible comics cost?
Image ComicsThe main Invincible compendiums cost around $45 each via Amazon. If you go for the Kindle editions, they’re slightly cheaper at $40 each.
I won’t lie to you: it may be difficult to pick up every compendium or trade paperback right now, due to the show’s popularity and heightened interest in the comics after Season 3. If they’re sold out on Amazon, don’t give in and pay extortionate amounts on eBay – they will come back in stock eventually.
If you’re quick, you can pick up all three Invincible compendiums for $150 on Skybound’s official website now.
Is it different to the Invincible TV show?
Prime VideoWhile the Invincible TV show is a direct adaptation of the comic, there have been a few differences along the way.
For example, Conquest blowing a blood bubble and turning it into a heart wasn’t in the comics, nor was his intimate monologue about feeling lonely. Also, Damien Darkblood’s return is a massive change from the original comics.
Speaking to Dexerto, Robert Kirkman teased: “Don’t think you’ve got it figured out. You may get something unexpected at the end. There’s probably going to be some surprises along the way for comic book fans and definitely some tweaks here and there.”
Simon Racioppa, the series’ co-showrunner, also told us that while they’re “staying very closely to the books, we always try to put in little tweaks and surprises and try to expand moments… whatever those episodes are, we always try to surprise our viewers a little bit.”
How long does it take to read Invincible?
Prime VideoThis will depend on how fast you read comics, but the average person could read the entirety of Invincible in 60 hours.
Think about it: if someone spends 25 minutes reading an issue of the comic, and there are 144 issues, that amounts to 3,600 minutes – which equals 60 hours.
However, it could be more or less; if you’re a quick reader, you may be able to do it in 50 hours or even less (one person on Reddit says they finished it in a single day, which I wouldn’t recommend). Other readers may want to take their time and sample the spinoffs, which could take you as long as 100 hours in total.
The best way to read Invincible
Prime VideoThe best way to read Invincible is either digitally via Amazon Kindle or picking up the trade paperbacks.
Firstly, the fidelity of the digital editions is dazzling, and you don’t lose any of the experience by reading it on a tablet (if anything, being able to zoom in on some of the grotesque action will make it better). Secondly, it’s a cost-effective way of reading the whole series.
The compendiums are incredible, but as warned above, they are huge and a little awkward to read. They’re great to own, so there may be a compromise to be had: read it digitally for cheap (or free with a library card), and pick up the compendiums too.
After the finale, check out our breakdown of the show’s soundtrack and why Mark’s blue suit is so important. In our interview with Robert Kirkman, he also explained why Spawn couldn’t appear in the Invincible War and why there may not be a Rex Splode special anytime soon – and he gave us an update about the Invincible video game.
If you’re looking for something else to watch, Netflix has the perfect show to fill the gap, or you can check out our list of the best shows like Invincible.
