Written by G. Willow Wilson, with interior and cover artwork and colors by Christian Ward, and editing by Karen Berger.
Thanks to Dark Horse for providing a copy for review
Synopsis:
Hugo and World Fantasy Award-winning author G. Willow Wilson (Ms. Marvel, Wonder Woman) and Eisner winning artist Christian Ward (Black Bolt) team up for this epic new sci-fi saga!
In a small solar system in a far-flung galaxy, two women–one a young religious acolyte and the other, a hard-bitten freighter pilot–uncover a conspiracy between the leaders of the most dominant religion and an all-consuming mega-corporation.
On the run from reprisals on both sides, this unlikely pair must decide where their loyalties lie–and risk plunging the world into anarchy if they reveal the truth.
One of AV Club’s most anticipated comics of 2019!
Collects Invisible Kingdom #1 – #5.
Review
I have been gushing about my love for Invisible Kingdom for the majority of my time with The Convention Collective. Very soon, the first trade paperback will be available to the masses, so it’s the perfect time to catch up on the first 5 issues of this amazing graphic novel. Not only is the art beautiful, but the writing touches on so many relevant societal and political issues. In a time when hope is wearing slim for so many, Invisible Kingdom helps me feel better about the future.
This story arc follows the captain of a ship and an overly curious nun who cross paths and discover a few harsh truths about their world. Politicians and religious leaders conspire together to manipulate citizens and keep necessary resources out of the hands of those who need them most. If this all sounds a bit too real, you have a sense of why I sunk my fangs so deep into this book.
Aside from the controversy inherent in this story, there is a great deal of diverse representation early on. There is no clear gender identification for many characters. The alien races introduced throughout the story are all beautiful in their own way, and I really enjoyed the amount of androgyny in the art and personality of the major characters.
The latter half of the story arc takes place largely in space. The ship designs and action sequences are gorgeous. Even panels packed from corner to corner with ships, lights, and explosions are still easy to follow. I’m really looking forward to seeing more character and set designs throughout the story.
I can’t say enough about the emotional impact that Invisible Kingdom has on me. The troubled nun, Vess, in the story is a personal favorite character for me. I love to see how her faith is tested, and how she responds to difficult truths. There is something truly unique about the depth of her belief and her desire to find the truth, even if it compromises everything she knows.
If you like your graphic novels packed with meaning and food for thought, look no further than Invisible Kingdom. I think it’s one of the best stories I’ve read in 2019, and I can’t wait to read more!
Invisible Kingdom Volume 1 will be released on October 23, 2019
If you’ve read Invisible Kingdom, let me know what you thought on Twitter and Instagram!
