Let's Talk Comics Episode 14: Ryan Ottley Talks Battle Beast, Invincible, and What it Takes to Draw Beautiful Destruction in Comics
May 13, 2025
Artist Ryan Ottley breaks down the return of Battle Beast, his work on Invincible, and 20 years in the business of comics.
In this episode of Let's Talk Comics, Ryan Ottley dives into the return of Battle Beast and what makes the character tick. (Spoiler, it's mythic rage, tragic purpose, and a relentless hunger for meaning through combat.) We talk about how the project came together, how it expands the Invincible universe into bold new genres, and why this might be Ottley’s most personal work yet.
We also dig into his long-running friendship with Robert Kirkman, what it's like building a visual language for ultraviolence with emotional weight, and how deadlines, design shortcuts, and sheer storytelling instinct shaped his approach over the years. Plus: behind-the-scenes on those 1-in-2000 ratio sketches, his time doing some work for hire, and how the Invincible TV series opened the floodgates.
Whether you’re an old-school fan or new to the world of Ryan Ottley, this is a good one.
Also if you enjoyed the episode, take a screenshot and share it on Instagram - tag @letstalkcomics, @imagecomics & @jimviscardi - let us know your favorite moment! And don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share with fellow comic fans!
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To listen to the ROBERT KIRKMAN episode
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For more on Battle Beast #1 check out the announcement here: https://imagecomics.com/press-...