It’s another week and that means it’s time for another edition of Marvel’s overview. But this is an incredible two-in-one where our main review covers the Imperial War: Black Panther by co-writer Victor Lovell, Cafu and the Imperial War: A rapid overview of Marvel releases by co-writer Stephanie Phillips and artist Emilio Lyso, Planet Che Hulk and the Other, consider Mortal Thor #1 and X-Men #21.
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Art by Francesco Motarino in both Imperial Wars: Black Panther and Imperial Wars: Planet She-Hulk
Imperial War: Black Panther
Authors: Victor Lovell and Jonathan Hickman
Artist: Cafu
Colorist; David Culiel
Letter: Ariana Maher
Imperial War: Planet She-Hulk
Authors: Stephanie Phillips and Jonathan Hickman
Artist: Emilio Laiso
Colorist: Matt Mira
Letter: Joe Carmanga
Back at the height of its impact on comics culture, Warren Ellis coined the single problem-minded term “floppy.” As superhero comics moved from a single problem narrative to serializing graphic novels, the phrase became a dim-rog standard. I was convinced that the single issue was clearly a direct market relic, and that one day it would be a completely graphic novel. However, Ellis tries to backtrack and rethink the word “single” as an individual problem term, equating it with the musician’s single. He wasn’t that successful considering people still refer to the issues of individual cartoons as “floppies.”
Art by Emilio Lyso
However, I feel that the idea that a single problem corresponds to a 7-inch or 12-inch record is suitable for comics. You can experiment with a single problem or come up with ideas more easily than long form stories. Alternative comics have long proven singles as a fertile basis for one person’s anthology or as a showcase of new talent. The same applies to superhero comics. Last week’s Marvel All in One is a great example of it, both in the form experiment and in the showcase of artist Ed McGuinness. Smart Superhero publishers can use a single problem as a test case for a new series or try out new talent. The first two Imperial War cases. Black Panther and Planet Shell Kwan Shot.
The two stories focus on subplots hanging in the early issues of Imperial. Wakanda returned peace to No. 1 in the aftermath of No. 2’s space attack, and after she was left to Sakar en Nebo, what is happening in the She Hulk. They will also drag the book longer than they need to. If Marvel had treated these stories as if to tie them to all other event series, then these would be an extra miniseries that would be absolutely forgotten after the event.
Art by Cuff
But as a single, one shot of these two Imperial Wars gives these stories the space for them to become their own. The Imperial story is a massive battle that transgalaxies. These stories visit various theatres of war, along with the small conflicts that exist there. As King and one of Marvel’s cleverest men, Black Panther investigates what is going on while trying to create some kind of galactic unity after the Empire. Ah, he’s also trying to fight off the seriously angry Hulk. Meanwhile, everyone’s favorite superhero lawyer finds herself trapped in a very different legal culture. Events in one book influence other books, but not in a way that confuses people who haven’t read others. As a single, it’s perfect to intrigue readers before the Imperial finale in October.
More importantly, these will serve as experiments in new directions for these characters, and may not only abandon new series about the hopes that events will be interested in the characters, but also launch new book launch pads. The ongoing announcement of the planet She-Hulk, written by Stephanie Phillips, who co-writes her one-shot of the planet, confirms that. A single problem side story testing the idea that law and order in Sakaar en nero vs Earth is experiencing different laws and order seems like a smarter plan than you think people want a new series based on her several appearances in Imperial. Sadly, artist Emilio Ryso, whose art balance, action, weird sci-fi and story comedy fails to work out here, can’t join her there. Still, the single issue shows in a sense the versatility of an artist, especially as a juggling of so many tonal changes in the story.
Art by Emilio Lyso
The post-Imperial Black Panther book has not yet been published. Whenever the still great novelist Victor Lovell visits, Marvel characters feel like rewards. Hopefully, if he writes the Black Panther title (crossing the fingers that happen), he will bring in the artist cuff. There is a grace to the drawings of his figures and the design of the pages. He named himself as one of Marvel’s best cover artists. But the showcase of singles being able to offer shows why he should definitely decorate with a famous book.
Art by Cuff
The credits are by Jonathan Hickman. He began dark reigns (does anyone remember a dark reign?) in his acclaimed Fantastic Fourlan, curating one of these shots. As Imperial takes a break until the final issue drops in October, these one shots deepen and advance the story, but don’t overwhelm the reader. This approach, using singles to tell the broader story of Imperial, allows great talent to tell these stories, feels like a fatigued Marvel step forward for the event. The format is perfect for releasing a small number of singles while still expanding the story without overwhelming the audience while still making the main series an event. If both Marvel and DC want to maintain an endless cycle of events’ books, then you should consider a new approach with the old form.
Verdict: Buy both
A quick overview
Mortal Thor #1 The Mighty Thor takes a more deadly approach to things in Mortal Thor #1 written by Pasqual Ferry’s Art With Art, with an absolutely fantastic cover by the legendary Alex Roth. As someone who hadn’t kept up to Thor, I was excited to jump into this with a fresh, open mind, and I was not disappointed. I’m not sure about the previous context, but thankfully it doesn’t seem to be a requirement. The deadly Thor gives you everything you need to know. The Nordic gods are once again mythical, with a blonde man with a hammer trying to get a job. This blonde man, Sigurd Jarlson, has amnesia and an incredibly passionate heart. This issue has a lot to do with what it relates to his readers and knocks it out of the park in Marvel’s proven ways. Sigurd is fun to follow. So far, his character cast looks just as fun, even if one of them is totally Loki in disguise. Real meat and potatoes come from the midpoint where the problem takes a serious stance on the picket line and strike breaker. Ewing does an incredible job of portraying the emotions of all characters, talking directly to the audience about how we treat others better than we are now, through Sigurd’s speeches and the art of ferry. But where ferry art really shines is in its portrayal of violence. Mortal Thor #1 is more bloody and bloody than I expected, but I didn’t disappoint. Overall, fun reads, and what I’m looking for. This is a great starting point for readers who have never connected with Thor before, and this basis for his character may give way to new fans. -LM X-Men #21 March of the Age of Revelation continues this week with X-Men #21. Following the events of the final issue, as Cyclops still sits in prison, Magick is in charge, and she aims to close up the Upstart files with Trevor Fitzroy. The execution of writer Jed Mackay on X-Men continues to shape this issue as the 3K plotline sets the stage for an era of revelation further. The startups were a strange group involved in this overall arc, as they appear to have tangents at best in the plot. The book has many teams running around over the past 20 issues. With this week’s ending, I think upstart is worth it. I won’t ruin it, but it’s a truly pee moment for X, the sword fanatic out there. Net Diaz’s art really takes off, just as Mackay is beginning to hit his path. Ryan Stegman is the book’s main artist on the surface, but Diaz has found the book’s artistic voice, with his lion share as a matter of matter. It feels like it matches Stegman, but visually it’s its own. The battle between the X-Men and the Upstart was original and well executed. I upgraded from falling into the entire X-Line to be careful and optimistic about the age of revelation. –jj
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