Invincible Fans Must Read This Underrated Comic

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Amazon Prime Video’s animated series has become a huge hit, even though the original comic by Robert Kirkman and Ryat Ottley debuted nearly twenty years ago. The show excels at combining elements from various popular superhero universes into one cohesive world. However, a lesser-known comic series from WildStorm actually pioneered this approach.

Following the popularity of certain superhero stories, many comic book writers and artists have tried to reimagine the genre. In 2003, Robert Kirkman and Cory Ottley’s Invincible did just that, creating a world inspired by classics like Spider-Man, Batman, Hellboy, and the Teen Titans. It essentially combined the best elements of those comics into a fresh, new story. But it wasn’t the first to do so – there’s a Warren Ellis comic that deserves more attention for paving the way.

How Planetary Led the Way For Invincible

In 1998, writer Warren Ellis and artist John Cassaday created the comic book series Planetary. The story follows a team working for the mysterious Planetary agency—they call themselves “Archaeologists of the Impossible.” The team includes Elijah Snow, who ages slowly and can control ice; Jakita Wagner, a smart and capable field leader with heightened senses; The Drummer, a tech expert who can manipulate electronics; and Ambrose Chase, a former member with the power to warp space, who eventually rejoins the group.

Ellis’s series aimed to build a world deeply connected to pop culture, particularly the lesser-known characters that first inspired Marvel and DC comics. It explored a wide range of classic fiction found in older comics – from pulp heroes and giant monsters to space adventures and tales of secret organizations. The series showcased everything exciting about comics besides superheroes. Characters like Snow, Wagner, Drummer, and Chase felt like they belonged in a Marvel book, but the world they inhabited was uniquely different.

As a huge fan, I think Planetary really captured what made the explosion of sci-fi and fantasy so amazing in the 20th century. It felt like a universe where anything was possible, borrowing from all sorts of stories and ideas. Superheroes weren’t the main focus, they felt like visitors in a bigger world, and even relied on characters like Doc Savage for help sometimes. Each issue was a fun surprise, introducing cool twists on familiar franchises like Godzilla and Tarzan, almost like discovering lost classics. It’s totally fan service, made by fans for fans – you can really feel the love for the early work of guys like Edgar Rice Burroughs and everything that came after, just like Invincible does!

Ellis’s comic series cleverly reflects on the importance of 20th-century fiction, almost treating it like a modern mythology. Similar to the characters within the story, readers begin to recognize the impact these fictional figures have on the world around us. The villains’ actions – suppressing and misusing classic ideas and character types – demonstrate how fiction can be used, controlled, and taken advantage of in real life. Each issue feels like a lesson in the history of comics and classic storytelling.

Readers Can’t Get Enough of Pastiche and Meta Fiction

After the impact of Watchmen, it became clear that modern comic book fans enjoy stories that analyze and play with the superhero genre itself, not just focus on the heroes. Invincible became popular by doing exactly that – blending humor, imitation, thoughtful analysis, and genuine affection for superhero stories. These comics aren’t simply about action and adventure; they delve into what makes the superhero genre tick.

Readers enjoy these stories because they combine the familiar elements of superhero narratives with more down-to-earth themes. The fantastical aspects often serve a larger purpose, sometimes offering a humorous critique of politics, and at other times challenging the predictability of typical family entertainment. These stories are particularly rewarding for older readers who appreciate those underlying ideas. For example, Planetary wasn’t trying to make a political statement so much as highlight the significance of older, pre-Silver Age stories in shaping modern American mythology.

This series is a thrilling blend of superhero action, spy intrigue reminiscent of James Bond, and the classic feel of old-time comics and pulp magazines. The result is a truly captivating independent comic – one of the best you’ll find from the last three decades.

Planetary is the Perfect Counterpart to Invincible

Invincible, with its roots in Marvel, DC, Dark Horse, and Image comics, shares similarities with many titles. But the comic series Planetary feels like the perfect companion piece to Robert Kirkman’s work. Both stories playfully reimagine classic superheroes, changing them just enough to feel fresh and original without crossing the line into copyright issues. The fun of reading these comics comes from seeing familiar heroes reinvented in completely new and unexpected settings.

With Prime Video finding success with animated superhero stories, it’s a great time to explore similar comics, especially those that playfully imitate or exaggerate the genre. While many focus on The Authority, Planetary is a hidden gem within the Wildstorm universe that fans of Invincible will absolutely love.

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2026-04-16 22:40