Battle Beast is back, finally. Last seen teleporting off Earth in Invincible #19 after smacking Invincible around like a ragdoll, the ferocious feline warrior disappeared into the cosmos in search of a real fight. Now, Invincible Universe: Battle Beast #1 picks up where that blood-soaked departure left off, giving fans the long-awaited spinoff featuring the galaxy’s most brutal brawler. Writer Robert Kirkman and artist Ryan Ottley reunite to deliver a savage, no-holds-barred origin adventure that’s as relentless as its title character.
Invincible Universe: Battle Beast #1 is a brutal, cosmic brawl of a premiere that doesn’t ease you in; it throws you into a fight mid-swing. The issue opens by mirroring Battle Beast’s exit from Invincible #19, but this time we follow him through the portal. What greets us is not peace, purpose, or even plot; what greets us is violence. Battle Beast’s mission is clear: find the universe’s strongest fighters, and die gloriously in the process. From the get-go, we’re inside his head and aboard his AI-assisted spaceship as he tracks down potential worthy adversaries. The first half is blood-spattered table-setting, and the second half? A full-on slobberknocker between Battle Beast and a cosmic monster named the Colossus of Emsiu that feels like Godzilla learned Muay Thai.
Credit: Image Comics
Let’s be honest, this comic is ridiculous in the best way possible. There’s no fake depth or emotional arc here. Battle Beast isn’t looking for redemption, or family, or any of that nonsense. He wants a deathmatch. That’s it. And somehow, it works. The pure commitment to this blood-fueled premise is kind of thrilling. Kirkman doesn’t try to reinvent the character; instead, he leans into what made Battle Beast a fan-favorite: raw power, unmatched arrogance, and a refusal to back down from anything with a pulse. It’s refreshing to read a comic that knows exactly what it wants to be.
Ryan Ottley, of course, is the real star of the show. The fight choreography is crazy good. The way he paces the action with double-page spreads, panel zooms, and moments of sudden silence, fantastic. Every punch lands with weight. Every scream is earned. And Annalisa Leoni’s colors turn alien landscapes into brutal playgrounds. The panel where Battle Beast gets blasted through a canyon wall and climbs out grinning? That’s the moment I knew they nailed it.
If there’s a flaw, it’s that we’re not getting more of it right away. This issue is clearly a warm-up. It doesn’t tell a complete story but opens the cage and lets the Beast out. Whether that’s satisfying or frustrating will depend on your appetite for bone-snapping action without much character nuance.
Credit: Image Comics
All told, this is a hell of a first round. The good? Battle Beast is as awesome as you remember. Ottley’s art is top-tier. The tone is brutal and unapologetic. The bad? If you’re looking for a complex story or deeper meaning, you’re not gonna find it here, at least not yet. But honestly? That’s kind of the point. It’s not trying to be anything else.
Battle Beast #1 delivers exactly what it promises: a violent, visually stunning return to the Invincible Universe with one of its most iconic side characters. It’s loud, angry, and soaked in alien blood, and it’s a blast. If you’re an Invincible fan, or just into watching space lions beat the crap out of cosmic titans, this is your jam.
‘Invincible Universe: Battle Beast’ #1 Review
Battle Beast #1 delivers exactly what it promises: a violent, visually stunning return to the Invincible Universe with one of its most iconic side characters. It’s loud, angry, and soaked in alien blood, and it’s a blast. If you’re an Invincible fan, or just into watching space lions beat the crap out of cosmic titans, this is your jam.
