When Robert Kirkman is on, he’s on. The dialogue in #19 is realistic but funny, the action is solid, and there’s a proper mix of parody and seriousness, of homage and originality.

Kirkman sometimes has trouble balancing those last two qualities (as with issues #39-41), but not here. Take rock-guy Titan, for example, who can coat himself with organic stone. Titan would be the Thing if not for Kirkman’s writing. In Invincible, the character comes before the superpower. Kirkman’s creations may seem like copies of existing heroes, but their unique characterizations push the similarities into the background. At its best, Invincible is a love letter to old comic books, an honest synthesis of tradition and one very remarkable individual talent.

Ryan Ottley is sharp, as usual. #19’s story, rich in action and discussion, calls for the ability to draw people who look good sitting down and kicking butt. Good thing Ottley’s up to the challenge. The only weakness? The cityscapes of #19 look dry, and don’t match the imagination Ottley often shows with his backgrounds.

Worth the money? Yup-- a solid performance.