Comic of the Week: “Imperial” #1

While the Earth of the Marvel Universe deals with the events of One World Under Doom, the cosmic side continues unabated. So now’s a good time for a new story encompassing the heroes and civilizations up in space, bringing us to our Comic of the Week: “Imperial” #1, written by Jonathan Hickman, illustrated by Iban Coello and Federico Vicentini, and colored by Federico Blee.

“Imperial” #1 serves as the introduction to the event, but the issue still hits us with multiple events that will have a significant impact on Marvel’s cosmic heroes (and also the Hulks). Like many comics of great importance, we begin with powerful cosmic forces playing a game, the sheer scope and consequences of which we’ll see play out as the event unfolds.

The comic is split into several parts, carrying on the story while moving the focus between a few key characters. While most of them are familiar to anyone who enjoys following spacefaring heroes, like Nova or the Guardians of the Galaxy, we still start with three Hulks (Bruce Banner, Jennifer Walters, and Amadeus Cho), providing a more familiar point of entry for readers who might not be up to date with the latest cosmic events.

Of course, this is tied up in Hulk history and lore, as they travel to Sakaar En Nevo for the funeral of Hulk’s son, Hiro-Kala. If none of those names sound familiar to you, that’s okay — it serves its purpose of bringing the Hulk into events and introducing readers to the ongoing events. From there, writer Jonathan Hickman takes us deep into galactic politics, where we’re shown the greater mystery and conspiracy in progress as well as bringing Star-Lord and Nova into the mix.

This issue takes its time setting the pace and introducing all the plot elements that need to come together while building the mystery and the political tension before upping the stakes and kicking off the first major conflict of “Imperial.” In doing so, it allows us to get reintroduced to the characters and the fragile political state of the cosmos, including key elements like Hulkling’s role as the king of the Kree-Skrull Empire, the spacefaring Wakandans, and Star Lord’s family. There’s a lot to take in, but Hickman introduces them all at a measured pace so readers who might not have learned about, for instance, Hulk’s kids or the Wakanda in space can absorb it all.

“Imperial” #1 boasts two artists: Iban Coello and Federico Vicentini. While the two have noticeably different styles, they each bring their unique strengths to the comic.

Iban Coello’s artwork features detailed designs with strong definitions and clear volume. Each character, whether human, Hulk, or alien, has a unique and consistent silhouette, complete with eye-catching outfits. For instance, the Hulk in his Worldbreaker armor strikes an imposing form, with shading that highlights each of his many muscles and rippling veins, whereas Brawn (Amadeus Cho) strikes a leaner but no less intimidating form, with an equally impressive but distinct armor set.

Other aliens are given impressively inhuman designs that remain expressive and detailed, such as how a nine-eyed alien’s brows furrow as it speaks, or how Hiro-Kala’s former wives each have distinct features they share with their children.

The same praise can be said for the rest of Coello’s art. The backgrounds in Sakaar En Nevo immediately set the tone for the planet, and are overflowing with details and touches that make the world feel alive. Meanwhile, the action pieces are filled with dynamic motion and huge impacts, and the crowd scenes feature a wide array of alien designs.

Federico Vicentini’s style is different, with more rough and jagged character designs that rely on sharp lines. The character designs aren’t quite as distinct (I’ll be honest, the only real difference between Nova and Star-Lord is their hair colors), and the proportions and expressions can feel a bit off.

However, Vicentini is also a master of composition. The way the characters and action are placed in each panel provides excellent visual storytelling, including excellent uses of reflections, framing, and body language.

Vicentini’s panels are also filled with motion and detail, making the crowded set pieces feel all the more active. One of the best panels in the comic is a two-page splash featuring J’Son (King of Spartax and Star Lord’s father) addressing a crowded meeting of alien diplomats and rulers, filled with distinct shapes, sizes, armor, and colors. The action scenes are packed with movement and characters, made all the more hectic by the size and spacing of the panels.

So while I have some critiques about Vicentini’s style when it comes to characters, his skill and talent cannot be denied.

The different art styles are brought together by Federico Blee’s color work, which brings out the strengths of each artist. The colors are more subdued, often with yellow or blue-tinted backgrounds casting a pale light across the page, but it still helps the characters pop and makes the worlds feel alive. The lighting and shading add volume to each image, enhancing every moment.

“Imperial” #1 kicks off the next big cosmic event in the Marvel universe, filled with tension, intrigue, and action. Whenever a comic has Jonathan Hickman’s name on the cover, you know it’s going to reshape the Marvel universe, and “Imperial” promises to do the same for the cosmic side. Add in two talented artists and a skilled colorist, and you have a recipe for a great comic.