The Invisibles: Counting To None book 5 by Grant Morrison, Phil Jimenez and John Stokes (graphic novel review)
There isn’t always a choice when it comes to buying book or even graphic novel series volumes over the Net. Here, ‘The Invisibles: Counting To None book 5’ by Grant Morrison, Phil Jimenez and John Stokes is reprinted using the older stock paper than the more glossy stock that we have today. I tend to think it reminds me of what was probably used at the time but check before you buy in case it bothers you.
I was thrown a bit by the opening page giving some elements of the plot and characters The opening three-parter gives some history from for the future for Ragged Robin but then literally goes through King Mob going into the past and a repeat of the Hand of Glory story again. I think if I was editor I would have been questioning Morrison about doing something new if this was how it was done in the original issues. The surrounding sub-plots add more information set in the present.
‘Counting To None’ is the last three-part story here. The focus is on the Invisibles team pursing fellow member Boy, the female ex-cop who has adopted several different identities after she steals the Hand of Glory. At the start of this story there is also reference to twenty-three concentration camps in the USA but Morrison doesn’t appear to develop it much further here. If anything, he moves more towards talking heads to propel the story and minimal action. By that, I don’t mean fighting but plot movements beyond King Mob rescuing Boy.
I get the impression Morrison wanted to push the comicbook storytelling mechanism. In the opening of the story here, he has some dialogue down to a few scribbles to signify it was too far away to hear which makes sense. However, too much dialogue crowding out the panels to give philosophical points doesn’t serve the story much neither.
I’ve still got enough open mind to read the last two volumes, even if this one does jump around too much.
GF Willmetts
October 2025
(pub: DC Comics./Vertigo, 1999. 239 page graphic novel. Price: varies, ISBN: 978-1-56389-489-3)
check out website: www.dc.comics
