Imperial #1 Review- A Long Awaited Return to Cosmic Comics
From Marvel Comics
Written by Jonathon Hickman
Art by Federico Vicentini & Iban Coello
Just like that, we are back into the summer season of big comic book events, and with it, the highly anticipated release of legendary, genre defining writer, Jonathan Hickman’s new cosmic series, Imperial with two of Marvel Comics most talented modern artists joining him. It should be no surprise that I have been eagerly awaiting this title as a vocal champion of both “More Cosmic Content” from Marvel and The Incredible Hulk.
If you haven’t heard about this new series, then essentially all you need to know is… “SPACE WAR! COSMIC CHAOS! HULK & FRIENDS VS. THE UNIVERSE!” More specifically, this series has promised a reunion of major Hulk cast members such as Jen Walters, She-Hulk, and Amadeus Cho, as well as a further exploration of the Galactic Empire of Wakanda, and the burgeoning Kree/Skrull alliance that we have only seen scant glimpses of since the events of Empyre from 2020.
If you are a fan of the grand, unfolding canon of the Marvel Comics Universe, then this is the kind of event you don’t want to miss for a number of reasons. First of all, this is a Jonathon Hickman story, which has come to be synonymous with great narrative upheavals, character changes, and calamitous finales. Hickman is an intelligent, boundless writer who has a keen sense of drama and narrative development, so if any “event series” is going to lead to something memorable, it will be penned by him. Second of all, the very nature of this event series involves some of the most foundational, important characters in the ensemble of Marvel, most of which have not seen the spotlight in a few years.
Let’s talk about this exhilarating, epic, first issue of Imperial, which means,
WARNING! SPOILERS AHEAD!
Our issue opens with a scene out of context, where two unnamed individuals on a futuristic underwater ship play a complex, alien game of control with various pieces laid out on a board. One of the figures remarks that the game is fitting, as it reflects the larger game that they are about to play out in reality. The counterpart then goes on to remark that the game begins as most games do, “someone has to die,” as we cut to our first of 3 whole chapters packed into this first issue.
From here we discover Jennifer Walters, Amadeus Cho, and Bruce Banner on board a space vessel as they venture towards “Sakkar En Nevo” the newest home of the Sakkarian Empire where we learn in one fell swoop that the Hulk’s often forgotten second son, Hiro-Kala, is the King of this fledgling new world and he has been murdered.
Soon after landing, our recently transformed crew of the “Worldbreaker” Hulk, She-Hulk, and Brawn all recognize that something is wrong- rather than being met by a somber funeral procession befitting a fallen King of the warrior world, they find the world of Sakkar En Nevo beset by chaos and division. After Hulk quickly re-establishes his authority by absolutely murdering the fuck out of a guy, the group soon uncovers the truth, that Hiro-Kala was declared unfit to rule Sakkar En Nevo because he was killed by poison.
In the throne room, Hulk & friends meet with a Galactic Council scientist who reveals that Hiro-Kala was killed by the same poison that has taken the lives of our other Union World Leaders in the last two weeks, making him the latest of a string of assassinations with no suspects. As Hiro-Kala is finally laid to rest with a fitting funeral pyre, the Hulk discreetly convenes with She-Hulk, asking his cousin to stay and rule Sakaar En Nevo in his absence so that the world does not once again fall to in-fighting and turmoil, before we cut to the dramatic title page that heralds this epic event series.
The art on display in this first chapter is truly impeccable, with layered, realistic figures, and particularly evocative coloring from Federico Blee. No to mention the fluid, graphic, panel shattering action sequences that Iban Coello has always managed to pull off in expert fashion. This is the kind of superhero comic that would be a visual delight to read with just black and white sketches, but the combined talents of everyone involved just make it even more elegant, entertaining, and badass.
However, the ending half of this first chapter does highlight one of the only glaring issues I have with this first offering from Hickman, which may not be the case for many readers, but as someone who is deeply invested in the ongoing continuity of the current era of Marvel Comics, I can’t help but express my unease.
It has long been the practice for comic book writers at “the big two” U.S. comic book publishers, to pull any and all characters from the vast ensemble cast collected over the decades to utilize for a given storyline. However, the quality of the character selection is the key factor, and in the case of Imperial #1, some of these elements feel more forced than they do organic, which is a distracting disservice to the title.
Specifically I am referring to Hickman’s inclusion of both Amadeus Cho and Jennifer Walters in his storyline on “new Sakaar,” which feel much more like aesthetic stand-ins rather than effective, meaningful character choices. Especially in the ending of chapter 1, where we find She-Hulk uncharacteristically placed in charge of a gladiatorial fantasy kingdom. Do I think that She-Hulk in “space gladiator” garb is objectively cool? Yes, of course, I’m a nerd not an idiot. Do I think it makes sense for wise-cracking, fourth wall breaking, New York based, level headed lawyer Jennifer Walters to be the Queen of the “kill or be killed,” warrior kingdom of Sakkar? Not for one second.
Moving on to chapter 2, we find ourselves flung across the galaxy to “Fulcrum City Station,” where Starlord stand over the bedside of his sister Empress Victoria alongside his father, J’Son, as they learn that she has been poisoned in the same manner as the other Unon world leaders and is being placed in suspended animation until a cure is found.
Starlord bawks at the idea of J’Son being Emperor of the Spartoi once more, but J’Son explains that the political situation is growing tenser by the second and that the poisoning of Union world leaders could easily lead to war. In which case, J’Son explains that he needs an outsider to influence events from the shadows, which Peter assumes is referring to his infamous position as “Star-Lord” however J’Son clarifies that he really means- Nova.
Peter finds Nova drinking alone at what essentially amounts to a “veterans” bar and the two catch back up by taking in a cage match between decommissioned Imperial Guard “Warstars.” Once more, the dialogue between the two feels oddly disconnected from the recent history of the Marvel Universe, and particularly structured, with no mention of their time spent as the new and improved Guardians of the Galaxy under Al Ewing with a wide and diverse team protecting the united worlds after Empyre. This scene instead functions as Peter recruiting a capable, reluctant hero in Nova who feels like his time fighting for justice has come and gone along with his people. Which is ultimately a powerful call to action that strips both of these complex, but ultimately valiant heroes, down to their core principles. As I have said many a time before, Marvel Comics is sorely lacking a cosmic perspective, and Richard Rider and Peter Quill are two character constantly on the front lines of universal, cosmic spectacle driven conflicts that make for some of the most memorable moments in the Marvel canon, so perhaps their mere inclusion in this title is enough to sate the “Marvel Cosmic” fans like myself.
Meanwhile, we see J’Son meet with Hulk and Brawn as they arrive at Fulcrum City, and invite them to the council meeting. Hulk commiserates with J’Son revealing that he wants revenge for Hiro-Kala above all else. Additionally, we see J’Son meet with the Galactic Council scientists who reveal that the poison must have been manufactured by the Kree/Skrull alliance under Hulkling.
Cutting to the Galactic Council meeting, we see some of the most impressive, awe-inspiring art of the issue yet, with all of the relevant ruling forces of the Marvel Comics Universe on display in one page. Made even more narratively impactful with J’Son’s public disparagement of the Kree/Skrull alliance. As Hulkling professes his innocence to J’Son’s accusations, ultimately a Kree science officer steps forward and announces that they did in fact create the toxin, but delivered it to an outside party. Before the identity of the buyer is revealed however, the science officer is struck by a sniper’s bullet. Brawn begins quickly accessing the bullet’s trajectory but not before another bullet strikes J’son. Hulk leaps onto the roof of the council chamber and discovers what appears to be a Wakandan agent, who triggers an explosion that sends all of the members of the council flying into space.
This section effectively illustrates the layered, espionage laden, political thriller tone that Hickman is obviously attempting to construct with this series, and it is done to stunning effect with brutal, haunting, and poignant artwork to drive it home emotionally.
In our final pages, we watch as Starlord wrestles with the death of his father and the weight of the responsibility now passed to him as Emperor, as he is greeted by Richard Ryder who agrees to help him discover the identity of this mass murderer. Meanwhile, we see the combined forces of the Kree, Skrull, other surviving members of the galactic council, and the Hulk uncover the evidence that the bullets fired were of Wakandan Empire origin. As the members of the council reason what their next logical course of action should be, Hulk utters a word nobody seems courageous enough to say… War.
By the end of Imperial #1, the concept of an intergalactic war within the Marvel Comics Universe turns from an intriguing notion to a devastating reality, and makes this series feel like the cosmic epic fans have been waiting for since Annihilation. Though there are some pushy, perhaps inelegant elements to the narrative, the overall imaginative scope and dramatic intent of the narrative cannot be denied. Furthermore, the innovative creative vision of every artist involved has been put to the test time and time again so I have no doubt as to the quality of this series moving forward, I just hope that the overall message and character evolutions within can stick the landing.
Please support your local comic book stores and delve into the monumental superhero saga in the pages of Imperial #1, on shelves now!
-Nicholas Aaron Hodge
