guuuuuys! I’m really doing it here. I loved the idea of “Marvel Star Wars.” This is essentially the way Jonathan Hickman’s Imperial Event was first announced. And the initial problem was very promising! But now, problem #3 – there’s only one problem – I’m wondering where this “war on the worlds” is heading, and what its purpose is in the first place. Imperial #3 struggles with taking nearly 20 pages to rehash the first two issues, relying on shocking unnecessary expositions as the issues were far better in more action and character exploration.
*Warning: Major spoilers arrive! *
Empire #3 from writer Jonathan Hickman and artist Ivan Koero have not suffered from bad art. Don’t get in the way right away. The interiors of Iban Coello, Federico Vicentini and Federico Blee are sublime. In fact, I think the only reason I didn’t get this issue is that Koel has managed to promote the rather boring interactions between the World War Manipulators with exciting and intense artwork. I also think Hickman is a great writer (which is honestly not worth debate at this point), but I feel that this issue really lacks the “Oomph” needed midway through this short event.
Some of the things I enjoyed: I like the interaction between Nova, Shri and Star Lord, and I think Rich, who revitalizes Xandar Worldmind, was a great addition to the story Nova primes to make a real comeback to the manga. I’m also a non-human sucker…sue me! Blackbolt and Medusa are bad, and Rockjaws are free of flaws. I thought the Grandmaster (the obvious choice) had revealed that he had worked with Maximus.
Amazing
Sadly, it’s really where my fun with this issue ended. To be honest, I find it absolutely terrifying for Wiccan and Hulkling fans. Looking at comments about Comic League nerds, we’re looking for key features in this issue, as all comments are from Billy and Teddystan. Unfortunately, the iconic queer couple is literally 2 out of 38 pages, with little impression. However, there is a bullying that a young Avengers team might come to save them. Why don’t these two have a spin-off mini of this series? Teddy is the literal king of the universe.
Mainly, my criticism is that this story doesn’t actually expand the scope of the story or war, plus nonhuman involvement, and does not live up to the hype. Not only does this “world-changing event” have one problem, but there are also a few one-shots left. I feel this is a very isolated event comic and does not have widespread results. Reading the round-trip between the Grandmasters was honestly exhausting. Yes, I think we now see exactly how the two rogue villains organized the conflict, but did that really add anything to the story? That wasn’t for me, instead ran out of nearly 20 pages and talked about the first two issues.
Amazing
Like the gods of Hickman’s final project, there’s a lot to be built up in this. I was looking forward to more about Imperial. Sadly, as AIPT’s own Dave Brooke told me, “No… this is not an event. It’s just a means of end.” I feel that these four issues exist just to set up a future series, not a strong independent story. I am extremely pleased that Inhumans has returned in their first major role since Inhumans’ death in 2018, but at the end of Imperial #3 I felt that the only goal was to introduce Black Bolt into the contest.
The first 17 pages and the last 4 pages of Imperial #3 were excellent and would have made a great 21 pages of comics. However, there was another 20 pages tucked in, and could have been dedicated to something more interesting. In particular, this event would have been a great addition to this issue, with a deeper dig into two heroes Billy and Teddy who deserve more page time in this event, which directly involves major betrayals related to the Empire. Part of this issue I really enjoyed was mainly the characterization of Coero’s art and both the Maximus and Black Bolt of Hickman (the page of Black Gull blowing up the Grandmaster is really iconic). Unfortunately, this issue didn’t live up to the hype overall, so I’m worried about how this event concludes normally leaving only one issue behind.
PS I can’t believe I forgot to say this before, but I think it’s pretty awful that Aracoco hasn’t been represented by any of these Galactic Congress meetings or plots, especially since Jonathan Hickman, the creator of the House of X/Powers of X, wrote Imperial. Storm was Sol’s literal regent for years, but Aracoco was at the center stage of the galaxy story, but now… no longer mentioned! ? Make sense.
“Imperial” #3 finally brings the beloved marvelous empire to the conflict of space
Imperial #3
The first 17 and last 4 pages of Imperial #3 were excellent and would have been made into a lovely 21-page comic. However, there was another 20 pages tucked in, and could have been dedicated to something more interesting. Part of this issue I really enjoyed was mainly the characterization of Coero’s art and both the Maximus and Black Bolt of Hickman (the page of Black Gull blowing up the Grandmaster is really iconic). Unfortunately, this issue doesn’t live up to the hype overall and makes me worry about how this event will succeed when there is only one problem left.
I loved Nova and World Mind
Yeee Inhuman!
A much more unnecessary rehash of the story
There is not enough action with long shots
Hulkling and Wiccan were not featured on Allllll
