REVIEW: ‘Imperial’ Issue 2

Imperial Issue 2 is published by Marvel Comics, written by Jonathan Hickman, art by Iban Coello and Federico Vicentini, colors by Federico Blee, and letters by Cory Petit and Ariana Maher.

The empires of the Marvel Universe go to war against Wakanda, but there’s a bigger game being played.

War has come to the cosmos, and it’s already destroying alliances. The armies of the Galactic Council lay siege to Wakanda. The structure jumps around a lot in Imperial Issue 2, but it’s all within the same vicinity. Hickman explores both sides of the conflict, offering a larger picture that no one else in Imperial Issue 2 can see. There’s trickery and mystery. This issue is another enormous chapter, almost twice the size of a normal comic. And the darker side of this, being a war that spans the galaxy, is clear.

The story is always expanding, bringing in new players to a galactic game that someone is playing. There is a mixture of old storylines that are making their resurgence, using the weakness and the chaos to make a new claim to empires that are falling and restructuring. The battle unfolds tactically, with both sides attempting to outmaneuver each other. And just when you think the culprit has been revealed, it’s just one of a sea of problems. And yet, despite all the chaos, Imperial Issue 2 is digestible and manageable.

More characters enter the war in Imperial Issue 2, adding egos and leaders to the fray. Black Panther faces a huge allegiance, but is more than capable of holding his own against them. He can outthink Gladiator, strategize better than Ronan the Accuser, and even fight with the Hulk. And what becomes clear in this issue is just how bloody the battles will get. Even without all the facts, Wakandans are dying, and Black Panther is willing to kill to avenge them.

The arrogance and the defense of empires are what make any chance of negotiation impossible. There’s just a desire to win. As the battle unfolds in Imperial Issue 2, Shuri is captured and interrogated by Peter Quill and Nova. It’s much calmer, but there’s still no willingness to listen. Characters who are usually heroic often become terrifying in space. T’Challa, when he is serving as king of his empire, can be merciless and ruthless. Hulk is enraged and grieving, a combination that makes him a frightening figure.

The art is worthy of the epic that this story is becoming. There is such an incredible majesty to the characters, rulers of ancient empires. Both Vicentini and Coello show off these famous figures terrifically. They radiate power, even when they are just standing on the bridges of their flagships. Gladiator. Black Panther. Ronan. Hulk. They’re big and imposing, with furious expressions on their faces.

And then the action erupts. Imperial Issue 2 is chaotic but can be followed. The spaceships fly fast and hit hard. There is a terrific contrast in scale. There are views of the whole battlefield, a fleet of ships waiting above a giant planet. But the artists can also get closer when the characters realize the magnitude of their decisions. This issue gets bloody, from the heroes and the villains. There’s a fantastic fight scene between Black Panther, Hulk, and Brawn. It’s vicious and more evenly matched than one might expect.

The colors are vibrant and adventurous in Imperial Issue 2. As the scene changes, so does the color palette. Inside the ships, the soldiers and operators are lit by blue screens, or an intense green in the case of the Kree. But out in space, there are flashes of lasers, and on the battlefield, there are explosions of orange flames. Black Panther and the other Wakandans are largely accompanied by purple. It makes Imperial Issue 2 captivating, constantly changing, as the colors reveal something different with each new issue. The lettering is very easy to read, which is important in such an important comic.

Imperial Issue 2 gives the war more bodies to break. This is where Hickman shines, in sprawling adventures that span a whole universe. However, the plot has been kept contained. The comic starts focused, rather than moving away into tangents. History influences every decision the characters make, but it’s the new elements that are causing changes.

Having figures like the Hulk and Black Panther involved, who are not usually part of these cosmic adventures, makes Imperial refreshing. In each charity, empires are split wide open, and that causes universal ramifications.

Imperial Issue 2 is available wherever comics are sold.