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 books 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 rather than the glossier 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.
The opening page, which presents some elements of the plot and characters, initially confused me. The opening three-parter gives some history from 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 were editor, I would have been questioning Morrison about doing something new if this was how it was done in the original issues. The surrounding subplots add more information set in the present.
‘Counting To None’ is the last three-part story here. The focus is on the Invisibles team pursuing 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 comic book storytelling mechanism. In the opening of the story, he reduces some dialogue to a few scribbles to indicate that it is 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 either.
I’ve still got enough of an 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
