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Invisible Kingdom #1-15
Invisible Kingdom
The sweeping, multi-Eisner-Award winning and Hugo nominated sci-fi epic is collected in an oversized hardcover edition! This special library edition features every cover, extensive process art section, and the original pitch of this thrilling tour-de-force!
In a distant galaxy, acolyte Vess and hardened freighter pilot Grix join forces to expose an inconceivable conspiracy between the most dominant religion and an all-powerful mega-corporation. Suddenly prey in an interstellar chase through the dreaded Junk Rings to The Point of No Return, this unexpected pair is faced with a grave decision: reveal the truth or plunge the world into anarchy.
And when the valiant crew of the Sundog is captured by the dangerous Siblings of Rebirth, Vess and Grix must fight to save not only the universe but also their newfound love--against all odds.
In a distant galaxy, acolyte Vess and hardened freighter pilot Grix join forces to expose an inconceivable conspiracy between the most dominant religion and an all-powerful mega-corporation. Suddenly prey in an interstellar chase through the dreaded Junk Rings to The Point of No Return, this unexpected pair is faced with a grave decision: reveal the truth or plunge the world into anarchy.
And when the valiant crew of the Sundog is captured by the dangerous Siblings of Rebirth, Vess and Grix must fight to save not only the universe but also their newfound love--against all odds.
416 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2022
10 people are currently reading
138 people want to read
About the author
G. Willow Wilson
461 books3,306 followersHugo, World Fantasy and American Book Award-winning author of novels and comics, including THE BIRD KING, INVISIBLE KINGDOM, and ALIF THE UNSEEN. Co-creator of Ms Marvel. Honorary doctor of letters, Rutgers University. I accidentally started a dutch baby baking cult during quarantine. Not very active on here right now, but often found on Twitter.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
January 21, 2024
In the back of this library edition, Wilson talks about her inspiration for this series, and she says she wanted to write a comic taking place in a religious order. Which sounds really interesting. What we get in the book is actually only a tiny bit about the religious order.
It feels like we're barely introduced to the order, before Vess, the young new acolyte, discovers something's off and she leaves the order. We get barely any sense of what this order is about, both in real life and in spiritual life. It quickly becomes a conspiracy story that never manages to get thrilling.
I think it's because the stakes and motives are unclear. I don't really understand why a faux-Amazon megacorporation is giving money to an anti-capitalist religious order, how that would grow their earnings. And what does the religious order do with all the money? The implication seems to be that the head of the order gets all this money, but for what? Does she just really like nice things? It feels like a conspiracy that sort of behaves like a real conspiracy, so the reader quickly accepts it as a conspiracy and moves on. We're not supposed to think too much about it, I think, and that's a fundamental problem the book has.
The series feels disappointingly shallow. It doesn't have much to say about anything. The idea that this part of organised religion is corrupted by money doesn't say anything about organised religion as an institution, it seems to imply that the corruption is because of one rotten apple.
Maybe it just wants to be fun, adventurous romp through space, but then the pacing is all off. The second volume in the series pumps the brakes on the plot, wasting page after page on a non-essential pirate story.
2.5 stars
(Thanks to Dark Horse Books for providing me with a review copy through Edelweiss)
It feels like we're barely introduced to the order, before Vess, the young new acolyte, discovers something's off and she leaves the order. We get barely any sense of what this order is about, both in real life and in spiritual life. It quickly becomes a conspiracy story that never manages to get thrilling.
I think it's because the stakes and motives are unclear. I don't really understand why a faux-Amazon megacorporation is giving money to an anti-capitalist religious order, how that would grow their earnings. And what does the religious order do with all the money? The implication seems to be that the head of the order gets all this money, but for what? Does she just really like nice things? It feels like a conspiracy that sort of behaves like a real conspiracy, so the reader quickly accepts it as a conspiracy and moves on. We're not supposed to think too much about it, I think, and that's a fundamental problem the book has.
The series feels disappointingly shallow. It doesn't have much to say about anything. The idea that this part of organised religion is corrupted by money doesn't say anything about organised religion as an institution, it seems to imply that the corruption is because of one rotten apple.
Maybe it just wants to be fun, adventurous romp through space, but then the pacing is all off. The second volume in the series pumps the brakes on the plot, wasting page after page on a non-essential pirate story.
2.5 stars
(Thanks to Dark Horse Books for providing me with a review copy through Edelweiss)
November 20, 2023
3.5 stars
This was very much driven with relationships but had a great balance between drama and action.
This was very much driven with relationships but had a great balance between drama and action.
August 16, 2022
More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/
This collects the entire series (15 issues) and includes extras such as the original pitch, concept illustrations, character designs, and process art. There is no introduction and it kicks right into the story. As expected from the award nominations, it is beautifully written and illustrated, with plenty of nuance to match the engaging action.Story: Vess throws off the responsibilities of her people in order to find a higher calling as a none (read: nun) - an initiate in a religious sect fighting the mindlessness of consumerism. Grix is a freighter pilot working for megacorporation lux. When both women make startling discoveries suggesting heavy collusion between the megacorporation and the monastery, they will be catapulted upon a crash course that may just see them working together to unveil the corruption.
At its heart, it is a love story between the two women. But it is also a commentary on consumerism and religion. Both women end up on a quest that encompasses far more than what it appears on the surface. There are the usual quirky alien side characters and amoral or nuanced friends and antagonists.
The illustration work is interesting and tells the story well. One can definitely see a Bladerunner influence here but without the 1980s influences. Certainly, the story is easy to follow and characters are distinct. A bright palette of primaries and secondary colors complete the look.
In all, a solid sci fi story with a lot of heart and action. All collected into one oversized volume. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.
December 6, 2022
Disappointed! The great cover art is not representative of the quality within, the book art looks to have been drawn hurriedly on a tablet, most of the art looks unfinished and rushed, much of it is unclear and chaotic, a small amount is absolutely stunning. I finished the book, which is why I gave it two stars, but it quickly became apparent the story boils down to 'Amazon is Evil' and only a small number of ethical terrorists can save the solar system from the evils of product delivery and cults. There are also a couple incoherent unearned relationships that start and end for like no reason. It also abruptly ends without much in the way of denouement or epilogue, glossing over what seemed like were supposed to be important plot points that should have received a resolution. It's pretty clear this book's awards are due to its social message and not its quality of art or writing.
November 7, 2023
3.5 stars. I don’t know if this series worked better as single issues, but this is probably the first miss or near miss for me from G. Willow Wilson. The plot is complicated and rushed, and everything seems to happen so fast. I would have probably enjoyed this more if it had more like 45 issues instead of 15. Christian Ward’s work is incredible, but I wonder if his involvement is part of the reason for the short length of series.
Overall, very promising world building and characters, but you kind of have to use your imagination to fill out the missing plot elements and relationship building.
Overall, very promising world building and characters, but you kind of have to use your imagination to fill out the missing plot elements and relationship building.
December 4, 2022
I have loved this series since reading the single issues. The art style and the coloring (the coloring!!!) are both so wonderful. The storytelling & character growth feel pretty rushed and not given the time they need, especially if you sit down and read it all in one sitting like I just did. But not everything has to be Saga, you know?
Read for found family. Read for not even slightly obscured Amazon as villain. Read for small folks making small choices that ultimately make all the difference.
Read for found family. Read for not even slightly obscured Amazon as villain. Read for small folks making small choices that ultimately make all the difference.
January 6, 2025
Invisible Kingdom is a great looking Sciencefiction graphic novel series from G. Willow Wilson from which i have enjoyed a great run on Ms Marvel. This is only the second series i have read from here, but its another winner ! Christian Ward draws fantastic especially the outer space stuff, and the colors pop from Sal Cipriano. This is a great hardcover from Dark Horse.
7/10
7/10
April 10, 2024
Five stars are not enough.
Ward’s art belongs on huge pages.
This was, is and will be one of my most favorite comic books ever.
That’s all.
Ward’s art belongs on huge pages.
This was, is and will be one of my most favorite comic books ever.
That’s all.
July 18, 2025
3.75⭐️
A SF/F about Grix, a hardened captain of a Lux (think Amazon, but if they ruled the galaxy) delivery ship and Vess, an acolyte on the run from her monastery after they both, separately, find incriminating evidence proving their worlds have conspired with one another without their solar system knowing. The entire series I kept comparing the story and the world building to Guardians of the Galaxy and I loved the bright, vivid art leaping out if the panels. This series had soooo much going for it, and admittedly it would be getting close to a 5 star review, if not for a forced "love" connection between Grix and Vess. Everything else was great, but Vess' "pheromones" and Grix's sudden character change from outlaw badass to simp just irked me and seemed forced. And of course this plays a huge role in the majority of the 2nd and 3rd acts of the series, so it's not like it could be avoided. The climax was well timed and enjoyable, if not a little lackluster, but overall I enjoyed the series, just wish I could have liked it more!
A SF/F about Grix, a hardened captain of a Lux (think Amazon, but if they ruled the galaxy) delivery ship and Vess, an acolyte on the run from her monastery after they both, separately, find incriminating evidence proving their worlds have conspired with one another without their solar system knowing. The entire series I kept comparing the story and the world building to Guardians of the Galaxy and I loved the bright, vivid art leaping out if the panels. This series had soooo much going for it, and admittedly it would be getting close to a 5 star review, if not for a forced "love" connection between Grix and Vess. Everything else was great, but Vess' "pheromones" and Grix's sudden character change from outlaw badass to simp just irked me and seemed forced. And of course this plays a huge role in the majority of the 2nd and 3rd acts of the series, so it's not like it could be avoided. The climax was well timed and enjoyable, if not a little lackluster, but overall I enjoyed the series, just wish I could have liked it more!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 19, 2023
I was excited to see some original space opera.
But there are too many issues with it, really.
The first is the art. In narrative storytelling, clarity helps propel the story, especially as the medium does not give you a lot of time. The 'let the paint run' psychaedelia was often distracting.
The romance between Grix and What's-her-name is key to the story, but it is not given enough time to evolve. In fact, it's rather creepy, given that it seems to happen by a trick of pheromones, almost like nature raping you.
The elements of the plot are not given the space to breathe. The entire middle chapter is a lot of banter relating to some relatable 'criminals' which, given that there is only one book to go, is a distraction from the grand universe events around them, which are fascinating: the Grand Corp and the Venerable Religion partly go hand-in-hand, then one faction appears to exact massive violence...and it all happens too quickly.
This would have been significantly better in more volumes. Then every element: the romance, the grand universe plot, all the characters being fleshed out...would have had the due they so sorely needed. With a heavy heart, I can't recommend this. But, hey, at least it's quite short.
But there are too many issues with it, really.
The first is the art. In narrative storytelling, clarity helps propel the story, especially as the medium does not give you a lot of time. The 'let the paint run' psychaedelia was often distracting.
The romance between Grix and What's-her-name is key to the story, but it is not given enough time to evolve. In fact, it's rather creepy, given that it seems to happen by a trick of pheromones, almost like nature raping you.
The elements of the plot are not given the space to breathe. The entire middle chapter is a lot of banter relating to some relatable 'criminals' which, given that there is only one book to go, is a distraction from the grand universe events around them, which are fascinating: the Grand Corp and the Venerable Religion partly go hand-in-hand, then one faction appears to exact massive violence...and it all happens too quickly.
This would have been significantly better in more volumes. Then every element: the romance, the grand universe plot, all the characters being fleshed out...would have had the due they so sorely needed. With a heavy heart, I can't recommend this. But, hey, at least it's quite short.
December 20, 2023
I found Invisible Kingdom to be a fairly rushed and shallow compilation of generic sci-fi concepts with some traces of great ideas peppered in. G. Willow Wilson, writer of one of my favorite modern Marvel runs, takes on a story set in a distant galaxy involving a mega-corporation and an overzealous religious cult, bound together by a nefarious conspiracy. The primary protagonists are Vess, an acolyte in the religious order, and Grix, a hard-nosed space freighter pilot, who team up to unravel the conspiracy. The series gets exposition heavy quickly, but a lot of it doesn't really translate towards understanding what the actual conflict really is. The conspiracy itself is shallow in its conception, as it primarily revolves around money but it's unclear what the purpose is outside of just greed.
I'm generally a fan of Christian Ward's artwork, but here it feels quite rushed and the otherworldly aspects are poorly realized. The art has too much of a "digital" look to it compared to Ward's previous works, and the colors have too much of a sheen to them to really provide any nice contrasts. It's eye popping stuff upon first glance due to the use of bright colors, but closer inspection of the panels makes some of the action difficult to decipher.
I'm generally a fan of Christian Ward's artwork, but here it feels quite rushed and the otherworldly aspects are poorly realized. The art has too much of a "digital" look to it compared to Ward's previous works, and the colors have too much of a sheen to them to really provide any nice contrasts. It's eye popping stuff upon first glance due to the use of bright colors, but closer inspection of the panels makes some of the action difficult to decipher.
February 23, 2025
What an incredible book! Christian Ward’s art alone makes this worth 5 stars! The story is an incredible space opera that perfectly encapsulates modern late stage capitalism and the deterioration of democratic governments due to corporate influence and money. It also captures how modern religions have started from their spiritual causes and become corrupt by money, a thirst for power, or both.
Somehow the G. Willow Wilson remains optimistic through her characters and is not too cynical to disregard spiritual belief or the power of even small groups or single individuals in rising against a seemingly unstoppable machine. The closest thing I can compare the themes of the story to are those found I. Octavia Butler’s “Parable of the Sower” and “Parable of the Talents.”
Oh yeah, this story also happens to be a super fun, action-packed, world-building sci-fi romp with artwork that makes the reader feel completely immersed in the universe it creates. I will definitely be reading this again. And probably again…
Somehow the G. Willow Wilson remains optimistic through her characters and is not too cynical to disregard spiritual belief or the power of even small groups or single individuals in rising against a seemingly unstoppable machine. The closest thing I can compare the themes of the story to are those found I. Octavia Butler’s “Parable of the Sower” and “Parable of the Talents.”
Oh yeah, this story also happens to be a super fun, action-packed, world-building sci-fi romp with artwork that makes the reader feel completely immersed in the universe it creates. I will definitely be reading this again. And probably again…
November 17, 2022
I really enjoyed this! It's a very satisfying space opera, chock-full of the good stuff: far-off worlds with well-fleshed out world building, interesting characters that you grow to like and love (Vess, my sweet noble spirit, you will live in my heart forever!), space battles, corporate government, religious corruption, people doing the right thing instead of the easy thing, metaphors that offer insight into our current world... you know, the good stuff! There's romancey stuff too, but don't worry - it feels real, not added in for the hell of it. And the art, y'all. It's gorgeous, a real treat for the eyes, lots of color and lush scenery. The back matter rounds out the book, with the original pitch included, as well as all the covers and some process art. Overall, this was just really good, and I'm glad I got the chance to read it!
July 24, 2024
I had read the first volume of this comic last year and then asked for this complete version as a gift knowing that it would probably be a summer "in the hammock" book. And it was.
G. Willow Wilson won my heart with her Ms. Marvel run, and now I try to follow all her work.
Christian Walker's art is also a revelation.
This is a fantastic tale of moral commentary (a condemnation of Amazon, online shopping, monastic religion, and information silos/confirmation bias). There's also great gender and sexuality stuff in relation to alien species as well as an investigation of bigotry.
Love this book. Highest recommendation!!
G. Willow Wilson won my heart with her Ms. Marvel run, and now I try to follow all her work.
Christian Walker's art is also a revelation.
This is a fantastic tale of moral commentary (a condemnation of Amazon, online shopping, monastic religion, and information silos/confirmation bias). There's also great gender and sexuality stuff in relation to alien species as well as an investigation of bigotry.
Love this book. Highest recommendation!!
January 27, 2024
The art is gorgeous and the setting is interesting and original. My problems are mostly with the plotting and pacing. The story is predictable -- once you establish the factions of Amazon-like mega-corporation, conservative religious order, space pirates, etc, then it is pretty clear how things will play out. My main complaint is that it is all paced too quickly. I realize that this is a constraint of the serial comic book format, but the story would have really benefited by having some room to develop organically rather than throwing each plot twist at the reader in rushed succession.
March 23, 2025
Grafika je skvěle barevná a svět má několik prima nápadů.
Jinak se to pro mě úplně nevyvedlo. Děj hrozivě meandruje, VELKA ROMANCE nemá žádný vývoj a smysl, vztahy mezi jednotlivými frakcemi a postavami jsou lehce zmatené a všechno je sice hrozně hrozně high stakes a TĚSNĚ PŘED SMRTÍ ŽÁDNÉ SYSTÉMY NEFUNGUJÍ, ale taky to vždycky vyjde, typicky skrze to, že nějaká postava řekne "wow uděláme TOHLE" a pak se objeví velmi zašmodrchaný obrázek na kterém...no, se něco stalo, ale vlastně si nejsem jist co.
Jinak se to pro mě úplně nevyvedlo. Děj hrozivě meandruje, VELKA ROMANCE nemá žádný vývoj a smysl, vztahy mezi jednotlivými frakcemi a postavami jsou lehce zmatené a všechno je sice hrozně hrozně high stakes a TĚSNĚ PŘED SMRTÍ ŽÁDNÉ SYSTÉMY NEFUNGUJÍ, ale taky to vždycky vyjde, typicky skrze to, že nějaká postava řekne "wow uděláme TOHLE" a pak se objeví velmi zašmodrchaný obrázek na kterém...no, se něco stalo, ale vlastně si nejsem jist co.
June 30, 2024
I finished the first volume and wasn't sure about it. Came back to the full story and found that the loose threads and ideas of Volume 1 became more fun as a whole. Consistent throughout though, the dazzling art.
January 9, 2025
Amazing artwork and a good storyline.
For the rest of my review, visit my Vlog at:
https://youtu.be/7vSDsaV5Xj8
Enjoy!
For the rest of my review, visit my Vlog at:
https://youtu.be/7vSDsaV5Xj8
Enjoy!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews