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 due
IMAGE comics PRESENTS

ROBERT KIRKMAN
CO-CREATOR, WRITER, LETTERER

CORY WALKER
CO-CREATOR, ARTIST

BILL CRABTREE
COLORIST

JIM VALENTINO BRENT BRAUN ERIC STEPHENSON TRACI HALE መ

PUBLISHER DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION DIRECTOR OF MARKETING CONTROLLER/FOREIGN LICENSING
BRETT EVANS ALLEN HUI CINDIE ESPINOZA TIM HEGARTY
ART DIRECTOR WEB DEVELOPER ACCOUNTING ASSISTANT BOOK TRADE COORDINATOR
WWW.IMAGECOMICS.COM
WWW.FUNKOTRON.COM

INVINCIBLE VOL. I #4. APRIL 2003. FIRST PRINTING. An Image Comics Group title published by Image Comics 1071 N. Batavia St. Ste A, Orange, СА 92867. Image
and its logos are ® and © 2003 Image Comics, Inc. All rights reserved. INVINCIBLE is ™ and © Robert Kirkman and Cory Walker, 2003, All rights reserved. Any
similarities to persons living or dead is purely coincidental. With the exception of artwork used for review purposes, none of the contents of this publication
may be reprinted without the permission of Robert Kirkman and Cory Walker. Publisher and creators assume no responsibility for unsolicited materials.
PRINTED IN USA
 — REMARKABLE.

THE GAME
BOX PROCESS
16 60 ADVANCED
IT COULD OPERATE
5 MACHINE FOR
YEARS WITH A
BURNOUT RATE OF
LESS THAN ТЕ
ፎፎሬፎክ

FASCINATING.
q SIMPLY
FASCINATING. ፊሽ
 I’M TRYING TO
FIND ੬੪੬... DO
HELLO, YOU eee EVE AND
INVINCIBLE. REX ARE OUT ON A
WHAT CAN 7 MISSION RIGHT NOW,
DO FOR BUT THEY SHOULD BE | |
CHECKING IN HERE
BEFORE THEY GO
HOME FOR THE

CRAP... I REALLY
NEED TO TALK TO

MINUTE, YOU
KNOW SHE’S
DATING REX,
RIGHT?

NOT WHAT THIS

mà |5 ABOUT AT ALL.

IT’S THESE MALL

BOMBINGS. UM...
WELL... THIS (5
GOING TO SOUND
WEIRD, BUT...
SOMEONE 15
TURNING KIDS
FROM OUR
SCHOOL INTO
HUMAN
 I MEAN, IT’S LATE AND RESIDUE FOUND AT THE BLAST
ALL BUT I JUST WANTED SITES INDICATED THAT THE TIMING
TO LET HER KNOW SO MECHANISMS IN ALL THE BOMBS
ТНАТ-- WERE ORGANIC IN NATURE. MORE
THAN LIKELY, HUMAN CIRCULATORY
SYSTEMS PROVIDE
THE CATALYST.
FROM
THAT, IT WAS
MERELY PROCESS
OF ELIMINATION TO
DETERMINE THE
AGE AND RELATION
OF THE HUMANS
THAT ARE BEING
USED AS
BOMBS.

WELL... I’M
ONLY SURE THAT THE
I DIDN’T KNOW MOST RECENT ONE WENT TO MY
THEY WERE ALL FROM YOUR SCHOOL, BUT HE’S ONE OF THE
SCHOOL IN PARTICULAR, BUT T’M THREE KIDS THAT ARE MISSING.
SURE 7 WOULP HAVE... EVENTUALLY.

7 THINK
THE MALL
BOMBINGS ARE
CONNECTED TO
MISSING KIDS AT
OUR SCHOOL.

WELL, IF
ІТ ISN'T OUR
W PAL,
INVINCIBLE.
WHAT ARE
YOU DOING
IDEA WHO'S
BEHIND [ፐ2

NO, AND THERE'S

NOTHING WE CAN
DO ABOUT THAT
TONIGHT.

T SUGGEST
YOU TWO GO HOME
AND GET SOME SLEEP.
THEN KEEP YOUR EYES
OPEN AT SCHOOL
TOMORROW. I'LL LET
YOU KNOW IF I FIGURE
OUT ANYTHING ON
 WHAT
ARE YOU
STILL DOING
ОР?

AREN’T I ALLOWED TO WATCH I GUESS I JUST I CAN SIT HERE AND WATCH HIM
SOME LATE NIGHT TV IN MY GOT TIED UP AT BATTLE HUNDRED-FOOT DRAGONS
OWN HOUSE? BESIDES, I THE TEEN TEAM’S ON TV ALL DAY LONG, BUT FOR
SHOULD BE ASKING YOU SOME REASON... EVERY TIME
THE SAME QUESTION, HE’S IN ANOTHER DIMENSION...
YOUNG MAN. I CAN’T HELP BUT ASSUME
THE WORST.

YOU'RE
NOT WORRYING
ABOUT DAD,
ARE YOU?

WHEN YOU
LEFT AFTER DINNER
YOU SAID YOU'D ONLY
BE A FEW MINUTES. JUST
BECAUSE YOU'RE WEARING
TIGHTS DOESN'T MEAN YOU
DON'T HAVE A CURFEW.

I JUST NEVER KNOW WHAT TO THINK... THERE'S

NO WAY OF TELLING HOW LONG HE'LL BE GONE.
DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN YOU WERE LITTLE... rs
AND HE WAS GONE FOR ALMOST SIX GOING TO
MONTHS? HE MISSED YOUR BE OKAY, MOM.
BIRTHDAY THAT DON’T WORRY
YEAR. ABOUT PAD.
HELL BE
BACK...
 50, MARK... WHAT
DO YOU THINK OF
ALL THIS?

7 CAN'T
BELIEVE THEY
EXPECT US TO
EAT BOILED
CHICKEN FOR
LUNCH... IT’S
INHUMANE.
NO...
THIS MALL
BOMBING
STUFF.

tel
I DON’T KNOW... IT’S
UNSETTLING. I MEAN, |
I KNOW THIS IS GOING [|
TO SOUND BAD, BUT ||
WELL,
GA. I’M TRYING NOT TO THAT'S A
GREAT WAY TO
FIGURE THIS
THING OUT!

(ші L ሺ

Rex
SORRY, BUT LET’S BE REALISTIC.
SHOULD WE BE SEARCHING FOR
CLUES RIGHT NOW? I FOR ONE І
AM NOT PRESSED FOR THAT MEAN, THERE
SORT OF THING, АМР МЕ ARE PLENTY OF KIDDING.
DON’T EVEN HAVE POSSIBILITIES BUT I WISH IT
ል DOG. REALLY NOTHING TO WERE JUST ል
POINT US IN ANY BIG MONSTER
DON’T THINK DIRECTION. WE COULD
FOR A SECOND THAT PUNCH.
I DON'T WANT TO CATCH
THIS GUY. 7 JUST THINK
THAT WE DON'T REALLY
HAVE ANYTHING TO
GO ON RIGHT
NOW...
 TO TELL
YOU THE TRUTH,
І THINK THAT’S
REALLY THE он, COME
ONLY PART I'M
ACTUALLY
QUALIFIED
FOR.
І
HEAR YOU.
THE FIGHTING
PART IS SO MUCH
EASIER THAN
THE THINKING
PART.

50, ፲
GUESS 144
SEE YOU IN MR.
HILES CLASS

THAT'S
THE PLAN... АМР
I'LL TRY TO KEEP MY
EYES OPEN FOR ANYTHING
SUSPICIOUS UNTIL THEN.
 .«АҒТЕЕ TRIALS
SET FORTH BY THE
LORDS, THE FATHER
АМР UNCLE WERE PUT
TO DEATH AND BURIED
UNDER THE ARENA. THE
FATHER’S HEAD WAS
SEVERED AND PLACED
IN A TREE AS А
WARNING TO
OTHERS.

ONE
DAY THE
FATHER CALLED
A GIRL OVER TO THE
TREE. SHE COMPLIED
WHEN SHE WAS ASKED
TO HOLD OUT HER
HAND. THE FATHER
SPIT IN HER HAND,
IMPREGNATING

WHEN THIS
GIRL’S FATHER
FOUND OUT, SHE
WAS BANISHED TO
THE MIDDLE WORLD
OF HUMANS. SHE HAD

TWINS WOULD BE
RESPONSIBLE
FOR POPULATING
THE ENTIRE

ONE OF MANY
FABLES FROM THE
N À ANCIENT MAYAN
CIVILIZATION. WE’LL
BE STUDYING FABLES
FROM AROUND THE
< WORLD OVER THE NEXT
TWO WEEKS, 60 Т HOPE
Ds YOU ENJOYED THAT.
NOW, IF YOU’LL TURN
Wr YOUR BOOKS TO PAGE
THREE-NINETEEN,
I'LL GO OVER YOUR
ÁN Homework FOR
TONIGHT...
ь
 UM... NO,
7 DIDN'T ੬੬੬
ANYTHING...
STRANGE.

WHAT ABOUT
ΕΝ You?
SURE YOU’RE ALL
AWARE THAT MID-
TERMS ARE IN A COUPLE
WEEKS. SO I JUST WANT
TO REMIND YOU THAT
THIS TEST COMING UP
CAN EITHER HELP YOUR
BAD GRADE, OR HURT
YOUR GOOD GRADE.
50 PLEASE... STUDY
FOR THIS ONE,
OKAY?

SAMANTHA EVE WILKINS, JUST

BECAUSE 7 ALLOWED YOU TO
SWITCH SEATS WITH MR. DUNLAP
DOESN’T MEAN I’M GOING TO
CONPONE YOU AND YOUR NEW QUITE
BOYFRIEND INTERRUPTING FRANKLY, 7
MY LECTURES. EXPECT MORE
OUT OF YOU
TWO...
MR. GRAYSON,
JUST BECAUSE YOU
DON’T ALLOT ENOUGH «„LOVEBIRPS.
TIME FOR TALKING WHEN
YOU TWO ARE ALONE
DOESN’T MEAN YOU CAN
MAKE UP FOR THAT IN
MY CLASS.
 И нана!
НА!
el

SHE’S
NOT MY
GIRLFRIEND.

rx >
an, Te
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 BEEN USING
SECONDARY OPERATING
SYSTEMS TO RUN CHECKS
ON ALL EMPLOYEES OF
YOUR HIGH SCHOOL.
TEACHERS, CUSTODIANS,
BUS DRIVERS,
EVERYONE; AND

AS I WAS SAYING,
7 WAS CHECKING «..-CROSS-REFERENCING
THE BACKGROUND, THEIR INFORMATION WITH
АМР EMPLOYMENT THE NECESSARY
HISTORIES ON KNOWLEDGE NEEDED TO
THE EMPLOYEES CONSTRUCT A BOMB
OF YOUR LIKE THE ONES USED
SCHOOL... IN THE MALL
BOMBINGS.
 I THOUGHT
IT MIGHT BE A FUTILE
EFFORT, RESULTING IN
NOTHING BUT DEAD
ENDS. THANKFULLY,
I WAS WRONG.

SURPRISINGLY,
YOUR PHYSICS TEACHER,
DAVID HILES IS A FORMER
WEAPONS ENGINEER FOR
GLOBALTECH, A MILITARY
απο ጨጨ

IT'S NO
DEFINITIVE EVIDENCE
OF HIS GUILT, BUT I’M
99.8% SURE THAT
HE’S WHO YOU’RE
LOOKING
FOR.

AFTER Т GET OFF Г/М GOING TO GIVE YOU

WITH YOU I'M GOING HIS ADDRESS SO YOU
TO PUT IN A CALL TO THE CAN CHECK THE
POLICE AND SEE IF ፲ PLACE OUT BEFORE HE
CAN'T AT LEAST GET A GETS HOME FROM
SQUAD CAR SENT SCHOOL.
OUT TO HIS
HOUSE.
 WELL, THAT REALLY ASK HIM QUESTIONS 7
KILLED OUR TIME. GUESS... ACCORDING TO
WHAT SHOULD МЕ ROBOT THE POLICE SHOULD
DO NOW? BE ON THE WAY. HOW
PANGEROUS COULY

I DIDN’T EXPECT TO GET CAUGHT VERY WELL.

QUITE THIS EARLY, AND 7 MARK, SAMANTHA...
CERTAINLY EXPECTED... MORE PLEASE, DO COME
CONVENTIONAL AUTHORITIES
WHEN THE TIME РТР
as
ра
NSIDE.

COME...

— WS

A1W
1.4 Ж.
FOLLOW ME,
T'LL SHOW
YOU TO THE
HOW РР FOURTH
MISSING
STUDENT. 7
ASSURE YOU,
I HAVE NO
INTENTION OF
RESISTING.

ARE YOU
KIDDING ME?
YOU’RE NOT
EVEN WEARING
ል MASK.

YES.
ONE OF
THEM HASN’T
BEEN REPORTED
 IT'S JUST
THROUGH

YES... IT. Т
САМ?Т THINK OF
A MORE FITTING
SEGUE INTO MY
CONFESSION...

YOU SEE... IT
WAS THE CONSTANT
PESTERING AND BELITTLING
FROM THINGS LIKE WHAT YOU
SEE BEFORE YOU THAT CAUSED
MY SON TO COMMIT SUICIDE.
MY SON’S SUICIDE RESULTING
IN MY DIVORCE... AND MY
DIVORCE LED TO ме
LOSING MY JOB.

SPARE YOU
THE BORING
DETAILS.

IT’S NOT THE

DEATH OF MY SON
I'M AVENGING... THAT
WOULD ВЕ FAR TOO
CLICHE. NO... IT’S THE
DESTRUCTION OF MY
LIFE THAT HAS МЕ
SEEKING REVENGE.

IT’S THE WHAT

DOMINO EFFECT PIP YOU РО
OF PAIN AND SORROW TO HIM?
THAT THESE MONSTERS WHAT 7 DID
CREATE. CHILDREN THAT TO ALL OF THEM.
SPEND TOO MUCH TIME AT THE I TURNED HIM INTO
MALL... ATTEND PARTIES... ል LIVING BOMB, АМ
CONSUME ALCOHOL... AND INSTRUMENT WITH
PLAY SPORTS, WHEN WHICH TO EXACT MY
THEY SHOULD BE REVENGE... MY CRUSADE -.ANP T
STUPYING, АМР DOING TO END THE PAIN АМР CAN’T THINK
HOMEWORK. । 4 SORROW CAUSED BY OF А MORE
THESE... “POPULAR”, APPROPRIATE
IDS... END TO MY
CRUSADE...

A >>

E
=

፪!
es Se ው ሚሚ ον νεο
EXE Oa ON ር ИЫ
SADO Deel
 WELL,
NOW THAT
I've GOT
YOU ALL TO
MYSELF...
ROBOT IS COMING BY ТО DO A SWEEP
OF THE HOUSE TO CHECK FOR
ANYTHING DANGEROUS. I THINK THE
POLICE WILL BE WRAP) рер UP

ME IF YO
WANT. I’M GOING
TO LEAVE AFTER
ROBOT GETS HERE.
 «ANYTHING
INTERESTING
HAPPEN TO
EITHER OF YOU
TODAY? ዒ

TW

m BU —€—— “ተ... (
 I
FOUND OUT ONE
OF MY TEACHERS WAS
TURNING MY CLASSMATES
INTO ORGANIC BOMBS IN ORDER
TO TAKE REVENGE ON KIDS HE
FELT WERE LIKE THE ONES WHO
LED HIS SON TO COMMIT SUICIDE.
APPARENTLY HE TURNED HIMSELF
INTO A BOMB ALSO, AND TRIED TO
KILL ME AND A FRIEND OF MINE,
BUT 7 FLEW НІМ ТО АМТАЕСТІСА
BEFORE HE BLEW UP SO THAT
HE WOULPN’T HURT
ANYONE.

I SPENT
THE LAST EIGHT
MONTHS ENSLAVED
BY AN ARMY FROM AN
ALTERNATE DIMENSION,
ALTHOUGH IT SEEMS MUCH
LESS TIME HAS PASSED HERE.
ABOUT A WEEK AGO T LED A
REVOLT AGAINST MY CAPTORS
е AND REGAINED CONTROL OF
MY POWERS. TODAY, A
TEAM OF SCIENTISTS
FROM THE REBELLION
FOUND A WAY TO GET
ME HOME.

THAT'S
NICE. WHO'S
READY FOR
DESSERT?
 INVINCIBLE
WRITE US @

INVINCIBLE
6/0 FUNK-0-TRON
РО. BOX 54386
LEXINGTON, KY 40555-4386.

[email protected]

Holy smokes!! Issue four already! It seems like just yesterday |was sending issue one off to Image to be printed... I'll never get used to how fast these things go by once
you get started on them. Oh well... at least a few of you seem to be enjoying this book. | as write this issues 1 and 2 are COMPLETELY sold out at Diamond and issue 3
is nearly gone as well. Due to this fantastic turn of events we'll have a TPB of issues 1-4 out in August. So if you're missing an issue or two... make sure you pick that up
so you can be good and caught up by the time we get to the GOOD stuff.

If any of you out there REALLY enjoy my writing, I’ve got four one-shots coming out over the summer featuring the villains of Masters of the Universe (y'know, He-Man). |
think they're pretty swell reads so you guys should seek them out. In a less toy related vein I've also got BRIT coming out in July with artist Tony (Battle Pope) Moore, so
keep an eye out for that... as long as you're not squeamish... it's for mature readers only.

Now, onto some letters!

Invincible Guys, | think there's a time and a place for the kind of humor that
was in Battle Pope and this book ISN'T it. Im trying to
|just picked up Invincible #2, read through it, and |think I'm accomplish something completely different with this book
sticking with it. |sense Mark's humorous side, which makes and it's good to see fans of that crude stuff are liking this
his character believable. | hate it when superheroes don't book as well. | myself am not a very big fan of Slayer... but
have a sense of humor. Cory Walker is, so that's how it made it's way onto that shirt.
The Battle Pope appearance of the slayer shirt was proba-
It would have been funny to see Mark go through a bunch of bly just a coincidence, with THAT artist ALSO liking Slayer.
different costumes before settling on one. You know, cos- I'm SURROUNDED by Slayer fans!
tumes that don't hold up during a fight or perhaps the villains
could make fun of the colors he chose. No matter, |think his Hi Guys!
costume is awesome and the series is even better. Invincible # 1 was sold-out everywhere here in Philly so |
had to order it from your website. |just got it today so now...
Thanks, can geek out... WOW!!! | wish that | had more to say, but |
Ashur Givargis wanna read #5 1 апа 2 back to back and | don't wanna
waste time talkin’ to you guys!
|too enjoy superheroes with a humorous nature... hence the
book, glad you like it too. It would have been nice to do a lot -Warren Faison, Jr.
of different stuff with Marks costume but | had an idea of
where | needed to be by the time | got to the end of issue P.S. | hope that you realize that the $2.95 that I'm paying for
one and what | needed to do before | got there... and there this book is coming outta my beer fund. It better stay just as
just wasn't enough room. good as it already is or get better! :)

Dear Invincible Team, Well, looks to me like Philly is a place with good taste! |
|just bout Issues 1 & 2 of Invincible and | have to say, WOW! don't think you'll miss that beer опе bit by the time you get
This book is awesome. It shows that good superheroes are to some of the stuff we've got planned. It only gets better
still good to come around in comics nowadays. The art is from here, | promise!
superb! | have to say that this book is #1 on my comics to
buy list. Now on to a few questions: | have to say | really enjoyed this comic! Just one question:
What's the obsession with "Family Matters?"
1.) Are we going to see any crossovers anytime soon? Like
Venture or SuperPatriot? -ЛІ Katz
2.) Are we going to see more about Invincible’s father origin? | have no idea what you're talking about.
Sincerely, That said, keep an eye out in August for “Invincible Volume
Dallas B Johnson 1: Family Matters” at a comic shop or bookstore near you!

1. We plan on doing some crossovers in the future. Though ІТЕМ!! Erik Larsen was gracious enough to do an ALL NEW
nothing is in the works at the moment |wouldn't count either pin-up JUST for this comic! Well... actually it's a page from
of those to out... | certainly LIKE both of them... and Cory Savage Dragon #107, guest starring Invincible (and
and | have a history with SuperPatriot. Firebreather). There’s a good chance that issue will be on
sale around the same time as this one so | apologize if it's
2. Eventually, we'll see more of his origin, yes... but not any- old news... but those of you who DON'T buy Dragon (shame
time soon, this is Mark’s book, on you) will still get to see this AWESOME page, featuring
after all. coloring by our own Bill Crabtree and lettering by the MAS-
TER, John Workman.
Hey Robert,
ITEM! Tech Jacket's resident colorist Ron Riley is also sup-
I've been reading your comics since St. Michael and plying us with a pin-up this month, showing that his talents
the Battle Pope series. I've loved your work on all of down stop at the crayon box. Check that thing out! Great
them. Now, Invincible is toned down on the humor, but | job, Ron!
understand that it has to be being at Image and all. But |
think it really shows your work as a writer. | think Mark's ITEM! Eric Stephenson and Terry Stevens are giving me the
character is fantastic. He has the “every other kid” attitude, opportunity to unveil their new book NOWHERE MEN in the
then finds out he has super powers. How cool would that form of the pin-up appearing just a scant 3 pages from this
be?! | loved the Slayer shirt that one kid had on in class, one. I'm totally amped to read this book and you should too!
very nice. You used Slayer in your Battle Pope book when | think they're planning on a November release date but
the nerdy tenant was wearing it also, do you like Slayer? nothing is set in stone yet. Rest assured, when it DOES
You might be too busy to respond and that's okay | under- come out, I'll be there, and I'll keep all of you informed ifthat
stand. | just wanted to say great job!! | loved the idea of date does change.
Мит. Keep up the good work and make a battle pope
poster dammit! That's all she wrote folks! Be here next month to see Mark
get into a big fight... IN SPACE!
-Sy Lehl
Until then.

-Robert Kirkman
`

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 T CAME FROM
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BERT-KIRKMAN:
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> ` Inyindble ahd © Robert ο бору. Walken, 2003, АШ fight reserved.