Science Dog, Volume 1

Invincible

by Robert Kirkman, Cory Walker (Artist)

From the pages of Invincible comes a Science Dog odyssey no fan should miss Spanning time and space, watch Science Dog fight fire with fire, evil with science

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Science Fiction, Superheroes, Graphic Novels Comics, Fiction, Animals

64 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2011

About the author

Robert Kirkman is an American comic book writer best known for his work on The Walking Dead, Invincible for Image Comics, as well as Ultimate X-Men and Marvel Zombies for Marvel Comics. He has also collaborated with Image Comics co-founder Todd McFarlane on the series Haunt. He is one of the five partners of Image Comics, and the only one of the five who was not one of the original co-founders of that publisher.

Robert Kirkman's first comic books were self-published under his own Funk-o-Tron label. Along with childhood friend Tony Moore, Kirkman created Battle Pope which was published in late 2001. Battle Pope ran for over 2 years along with other Funk-o-Tron published books such as InkPunks and Double Take.

In July of 2002, Robert's first work for another company began, with a 4-part SuperPatriot series for Image, along with Battle Pope backup story artist Cory Walker. Robert's creator-owned projects followed shortly thereafter, including Tech Jacket, Invincible and Walking Dead.

Reviews

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ever wondered what Mark was reading about when he picked up his comics in Invincible? Well now you can read Science Dog too. Well, 2 issues of it at least. If you like science heroes like Atomic Robo or Tom Strong, you're going to like this as well.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is just two comics put together, it's only 64, but it might be one of the best comic stories I've ever read, pretty impressive considering it's an origin story and a final story at the same time. To say more would be to spoil the amazing twists that Science Dog goes through in such a short span of time (in terms of pages, it's much, much longer unfortunately for him). Read it. It's 64 pages.

[Shaun Stanley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Science Dog collects issues 1-2 of the Image Comics series written by Robert Kirkman with art by Cory Walker.

The in-universe comic series from Invincible starring everyone’s favorite superhero K-9, Science Dog! These two issues tell Science Dog’s origin and recap his battle with his arch enemy who has returned that will lead Science Dog on an interstellar time traveling adventure.

These two issues seem to be more fan service than anything, but they aren’t bad. I think it would have been cool to get a whole miniseries to tell this adventure and highlight more of Science Dog’s adventures so that we could understand why Mark Grayson enjoyed these comics so much. Original Invincible artist Cory Walker returns to draw for this book. If you are a fan of Invincible, this is worth the quick read.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another reviewer said "Science Dog may be the greatest comic book from inside a comic book about an anthropomorphic hyper-evolved dog I've ever read." I heartily concur.

This is a well-done science action story in the vein of Atomic Robo or Tom Strong. My only gripe is that Kirkman can't seem to do one story where in there isn't one scene of gore and blood shed. I understand that would be part and parcel of Walking Dead and Invincible, but in this story it feels out of place and could have been communicated off-panel, which would have fit much more with the style and tone of the rest of the book.

[Jamie Connolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kinda good actually. Very short. Only like 50 pages. 4 stars.

[Philip · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, so now that The Walking Dead is finished, I was curious what else Bob Kirkman was up to, and so, well...this.



No, not that - which would have been better - but this, a strange, mildly amusing, and surprisingly dark little origin story of a scientist's Scotch terrier who chases his ball into his master's time machine (insert "beam me up, Scottie!" joke here), turning him into Earth's smartest being.

This "Volume 1" was written back in 2011, but I don't see any sign of a "Volume 2" since then, which pretty much tells you all you need to know...

(Okay, that's not quite fair, as "Science Dog" is apparently a recurring character in Kirkman's Invincible series, something I know nothing else about.)

[Brad · Rating 4 out of 5]

These two issues show off some of Robert Kirkman's best superhero writing traits. He takes a silly concept (Science Dog's a fictional character in the Incredible superhero universe), fleshes out a familiar/rote/amusing supporting cast and back story (I like how the villian, a version of The Hulk's The Leader, has an even more mundane name), and tells a wonky/neat little story, this time involving time travel and aliens. It has all the junk you should want in a superhero comic book and isn't too "decompressed."

[SaraKat · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh. I picked this up because I saw it in my school library and since it said Science on the cover, I tried it out. I needn't have bothered. The first thing that happened in this origin story was a time machine accident that "brought our molecules one million years into the future, resulting in our instantaneous evolution." Sigh. Like evolution is just an aging process rather than an intricate dance between life and death depending on the surroundings. And one million years? A blink of the eye. But whatever. I felt like the story just sped through the set up. I know that origin stories can be a bit boring, but this one rushed through it in a couple of pages and then careened crazily through a plot.

[Mark Grayson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an absolute masterpiece. Robert Kirkman has outdone himself with this comic. I actually wish I could reread this for the first time.

I also met him at Comic Con to ask him about the comic and the dedication he has put into this work is so clear in every single panel.

I hope more people pick up Science Dog despite it seeming like a childish comic about an anthropomorphic dog that does science at the root there’s a story about being different and doing your best in the face of adversity.

[Matthew Sargent · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the comic-within-a-comic from Invincible. A brief sample of the in-universe fictional comic book hero that the title hero was a fan of. It's a cool concept, but I didn't expect it to be so good. There's a lot more solid storytelling, fun pulpy sci-fi action, and heart packed into these 64 pages than I expected. Plus Walker's art is fantastic - clean lines, clear action, and great character design.

4.5/5

[Emily]

My husband got this for me as a joke because it's referenced in Invincible. It's a weird book. The writing is very perfunctory; it definitely doesn't seem like something that exists on its own merits, more like a joke that's been fleshed out.

[David Lipely · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, but nothing compared to his other writing!

[Shim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Certainly entertaining

[Joel Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice little one off. That perfect balance of goofy nostalgia and heavy meta.

[Rajit · Rating 5 out of 5]

This might be my favorite graphic novel ever. If you're not familiar with Science Dog, this is the comic that Mark Grayson (Invincible) reads.

[Reg · Rating 3 out of 5]

ahh, the male gaze..

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Watchmen : Tales of the Black Freighter :: Invincible : Science Dog.

This was one heckuva fun story. Because Science!

[alternBRUNO°° · Rating 2 out of 5]

A side story who aims and misses.

[Red · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was better than I expected it to me. I like... non-happy endings and timey wimey-ness

[Christi McKinney · Rating 5 out of 5]

A comic within a comic! This was only a few pages, but a fun one!

[Alana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not what I expected! And now I'm kinda sad?

[Phil Blonde]

to-read (#89)

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though it was short, it was awesome. moving story with great art.

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

The origin of Science Dog uses a premise that has been used many times before. A regular dog is the mascot of a research lab where three scientists are working to create a device that would change the world. It was a time machine and there was a severe accident. When the dog chases a ball into the time distortion field, Walter chases the dog and both of them are exposed to the powerful rays of time.
The dog is turned into a super creature with an intelligence more than ten times that of the smartest human with superior physical abilities and Walter is turned into a creature with a massive brain and an appetite for evil. Science Dog and Walter then become arch-enemies and begin their relentless battles.
This one involves a brutal time loop where the Earth is devastated due to the actions of Walter and Science Dog’s friend Daniel is also killed. Only by going back in time and altering what happened is Science Dog able to restore the world to its normal order. There is also an encounter with an alien species that look like giant middle fingers with eyes on top.
The story is convoluted and in many ways a retread. Science experiments gone awry are a common plot tactic in the comics with animals elevated to the possession of intelligence or great power also used occasionally. Being so much smarter than all the others, Science Dog is in many ways resigned to a lonely existence, unable to explain his methods to others. He is also a super soldier, a superb fighter using his skills to thwart what is in some ways his evil twin.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the quick pace and frantic attempts to right wrongs via time travel! The tech looked cool, all smooth and futuristic. The ending was bittersweet.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I caught several mistakes that should have been fixed in editing (you're/your, most/must), and didn't like the backstory monologue that the villain gave. How about showing us instead of just saying, "we fought this time and this time and this time"? I get that space is limited in a comic, but why not expland things for the graphic novel version? The time-travel stuff was well done, but I just didn't love this one.

[Andy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like Science Dog, but the graphic novel suffers from almost no character development, a cardboard villain, and a story that Kirkman must have literally thrown together. The artwork is fun for awhile, but even that grew old fast. A big disappointment.

[Nicolas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is so much better than it has any right to be. It's exciting, surprising and even a little dark. Very well done.

We discuss this a little more in a special Dog-themed episode of the All the Books Show: https://soundcloud.com/allthebooks/ep...

[Jesse VanDeWalker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Science Dog may be the greatest comic book from inside a comic book about an anthropomorphic hyper-evolved dog I've ever read.

[Darth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely brilliant! I understand why Invincible wouldn't miss an issue! All the best parts of super-hero and sci-fi instilled in graphic form.