Capes #1 Is An Entertaining Yet Standard Superhero Yarn (Review)

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Robert Kirkman, known for his work with Image Comics and Marvel, has achieved significant success, largely thanks to his comic book series, Invincible. Even years ago, people in comic shops were raving about it, and it’s become a major hit in the world of superhero stories. The recent Amazon Prime Video adaptation has boosted its popularity even further, and in 2025, Kirkman revisited this universe with two new series. Capes #1 is a continuation of an older series he wrote, though it feels like a familiar—and enjoyable—addition to the Invincible collection.

Kirkman’s superheroes clearly show his love for comics from the late Silver and Bronze Ages. From the very first page, this comic feels like a classic throwback – even if you’re not familiar with older comics, you’ll definitely sense that old-school vibe. Capes doesn’t feature the well-known heroes from Invincible, but the characters introduced so far are engaging. This issue primarily follows Bolt, a seasoned hero, and Kid Thor, a new hero carrying on a legacy, and both are immediately likable.

Okay, so the story in this first issue of Capes is pretty straightforward: Bolt does his superhero thing, we meet Kid Thor and the rest of the team at Capes Incorporated, and then a couple of interesting plot threads start to emerge before it wraps up a bit suddenly. What I really liked is how quickly Kirkman nails this vibe – it feels like a workplace drama mixed with a cop show, and he uses that to set up some longer-running storylines. Plus, he throws in a mystery that definitely has me hooked, and we get a little more insight into the characters too. Honestly, it’s a really fun read, but I don’t think it’s going to reinvent the superhero genre outside of Marvel and DC. It definitely fits into that tradition of indie superhero comics. It’s not as over-the-top with the violence or adult content as some others, but it’s got that mature edge that some of us are looking for in our superhero stories.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Pros Cons
Cool original characters It’s all standard non-Big Two superhero ideas
Fun workplace dynamic Action scenes aren’t as bombastic as they could be
Solid, but not exceptional, art The nostalgic feel of the book might not work for every readers

Capes #1’s Art Is Good, but It Won’t Wow You

I’ve always felt that the look of Invincible is really shaped by Ryan Ottley’s art. While Cory Walker started things off, Ottley drew so many more issues that his style became the standard. It’s interesting to me that even though the original Capes series came out before Ottley was involved, Mark Englert – who also worked on Capes – seems to have brought that Ottley feel to the newer Invincible issues, with a touch of Walker’s style mixed in. The artwork is definitely good throughout, but it didn’t quite wow me. At times, it felt a little stiff, like the lines were too rigid and square.

The book has two solid action sequences – they aren’t as over-the-top as something like a Battle Beast fight, but they’re well-executed. The characters and their designs are consistently good, even if the art style is a bit blocky. While the artwork occasionally struggles to convey the intended emotion (particularly in the scene with Clair Voyant), it generally doesn’t detract from the story. This sense of being ‘good enough’ actually suits the overall feel of the book quite well.

Capes #1 is an enjoyable comic, though it’s not groundbreaking. It doesn’t immediately feel essential like Kirkman’s Invincible, especially since he’s only writing the first six issues. However, it’s a solid read you won’t be disappointed by. While it has some flaws – and most comics do – they aren’t major. Overall, it delivers exactly what you’d expect from an independent superhero title, and that’s a positive.

Capes #1 is on sale now.

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2025-11-19 17:10