Battle Beast will be returning in 2026 and he will be coming back with some major friends. Those friends come in the form of the Viltrumites as they are set to appear in Invincible Universe: Battle Beast on March 18, 2026. Now ahead of the series return Image Comics and Skybound have provided us with the covers for Invincible Universe: Battle Beast #7.
The first story arc of Invincible Universe: Battle Beast established how the series will not be holding back in delivering bloody, action packed stories. That action packed narrative will be continuing by Robert Kirkman, Ryan Ottley, Annalisa Leoni, and Rus Wooton in the second story arc.
The appearance of the Viltrumites in the Battle Beast series perfectly aligns with how big of a presence they will be having in season 4 of the Invincible animated series. Speaking on the how the Viltrumites will be dominant in 2026, Robert Kirkman said:
“Between season 4 of the show and the events of this Battle Beast series, 2026 is all about the Viltrumites! It’s so cool that readers are finally getting an inkling of what this series is actually about. Arc one was really just the taste of the chaos to come as we dive headfirst into how exactly Battle Beast ended up in that Viltrumite prison!”
Ryan Ottley added to Kirkman’s words by saying:
“Did Thragg say CONQUEST at the end of issue 6? Does that mean… this series will have… Battle Beast fighting Conquest?! Could it be?! Well, that’s just too much excitement to contain in one press release! All that and a Todd McFarlane cover on this issue?! Bless my biscuits!”
Invincible Universe: Battle Beast #7 will arrive in stores with its main cover by Ryan Ottley and Annalisa Leoni. Additionally, there will be several variant cover available from artists Todd McFarlane & Leoni, Chris Burnham & Brian Reber, Rossi Gifford, Edwin Galmon, and Matthew Roberts. Check out the covers below.
Invincible Universe: Battle Beast #7 is scheduled to arrive in stores on March 18, 2026. Get more information about the comic book in Image Comics and Skybound’s press release below.
The Viltrumites are Coming! Robert Kirkman & Ryan Ottley’s Invincible Universe: Battle Beast Returns
LOS ANGELES 12/09/2025 — Today Skybound and Image Comics announced the highly anticipated return of the hit series Invincible Universe: Battle Beast #7 from the longtime Invincible creative team. The kickoff to the all-new story arc of the bestselling series from co-creator/writer Robert Kirkman (Skinbreaker, Void Rivals), co-creator/artist Ryan Ottley (The Amazing Spider-Man), colorist Annalisa Leoni (Cobra Commander), and letterer Rus Wooton (The Walking Dead) will arrive in comic book shops March 18, 2026.
Perfect for longtime fans and new readers alike, Invincible Universe: Battle Beast #7 kicks off a new blood-soaked epic, as Battle Beast now faces the two most dangerous enemies of his lifetime…and did we mention that the Viltrum Empire is on the way?
Returning just in time for Skybound’s celebration of Invincible Month in March 2026, Battle Beast joins an exciting slate of comic books – including reprints of the most demanded issues and all new collections – timed to the debut of season 4 of the hit animated series on Prime Video. Fans can look forward to releases perfect for those looking to discover every corner of the Invincible Universe, which continues to shatter records worldwide in print and onscreen. Invincible has never been hotter and it’s only heating up in 2026 with the release of Skybound and Quarter Up’s brutal, tournament quality 3v3 tag fighting game Invincible VS.
“Between season 4 of the show and the events of this Battle Beast series, 2026 is all about the Viltrumites!” exclaimed Robert Kirkman. “It’s so cool that readers are finally getting an inkling of what this series is actually about. Arc one was really just the taste of the chaos to come as we dive headfirst into how exactly Battle Beast ended up in that Viltrumite prison!”
“Did Thragg say CONQUEST at the end of issue 6?” asked Ryan Ottley. “Does that mean… this series will have… Battle Beast fighting Conquest?! Could it be?! Well, that’s just too much excitement to contain in one press release! All that and a Todd McFarlane cover on this issue?! Bless my biscuits!”
Even in a universe of mighty Viltrumites like Invincible and Omni-Man, it seems that no one may be able to stop the galaxy’s deadliest warrior…unless he does the unthinkable. A new story arc begins as Battle Beast continues his quest to find the one being who can defeat him in battle and end his life.
“The blood-soaked return of Battle Beast is here!” cackled Executive Editor Ben Abernathy. “Fans and retailer patience will be rewarded with perhaps the greatest single issue of the year!”
Invincible Universe: Battle Beast #7 will feature a main cover by Ryan Ottley and Annalisa Leoni and a variant cover program including an open to order cover by Todd McFarlane (Spawn) and Annalisa Leoni, a connecting 1:10 incentive variant by Chris Burnham (Batman Incorporated) and Brian Reber (The Amazing Spider-Man), a 1:25 incentive variant by Rossi Gifford (Spirit Leaves), a 1:50 incentive by Edwin Galmon (Superman), and a 1:100 Foil incentive variant by Matthew Roberts (Universal Monsters: Creature from the Black Lagoon Lives!).
Invincible Universe: Battle Beast Vol. 1: Heart of Glory, which collects the first six issues of the hit series, is now available everywhere books are sold (Lunar Code: 0825IM0465, ISBN: ISBN: 978-1-5343-3327-7| SRP $16.99).
Invincible Universe: Battle Beast #7 (Lunar Codes Coming Soon | SRP: $3.99, unless otherwise noted) will be available at comic book shops and digital platforms including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play on Wednesday, March 18, 2026.
The full list of covers is below:
- Invincible Universe: Battle Beast #7 Cover A by Ryan Ottley & Annalisa Leoni
- Invincible Universe: Battle Beast #7 Cover B by Todd McFarlane & Annalisa Leoni
- Invincible Universe: Battle Beast #7 Cover C (1:10 Connecting) by Chris Burnham & Brian Reber
- Invincible Universe: Battle Beast #7 Cover D (1:25 Incentive) by Rossi Gifford
- Invincible Universe: Battle Beast #7 Cover E (1:50 Incentive) by Edwin Galmon
- Invincible Universe: Battle Beast #7 Cover F (1:100 FOIL Incentive) by Matthew Roberts
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