When it comes to Jonathan Hickman these days, everything he does is an event, including Imperial. From a miniseries like G.O.D.S. to a short story in the anthology Amazing Fantasy #1000, he gets people talking thanks to a focus on lore-building and the implications of what his ideas can bring. Now Hickman is focusing his attention on Marvel Cosmic in a kind of who-done-it meets Game of Thrones.
Imperial #1 opens with two mysterious figures playing a game. The first panel features an alien fish; we then zoom out to see the two figures speaking in what appears to be an ocean, with other creatures swimming about. It’s somewhat chaotic and confusing, much like the game they’ll play and what it’ll do to entire worlds. We learn that the game begins with a death, which serves as a nice transition to Hulk, Amadeus Cho, and She-Hulk as they head to mourn the death of Hulk’s son Hiro-Kala. The game has begun.
Hulk’s mission is to assert strength on Sakaar En Nevo and, ideally, keep the chaos of war boiling over among the people of the planet. That and investigate the death of his son, which turns out to be happening on other planets. The reader knows manipulation on a godly level is happening, but between Hulk and other kings of planets, they are simply trying to keep the peace or bring peace by any means necessary.
Another central location in this issue is the Fulcrum City-Station, which is a hub for the galaxy. Star-Lord and his dad are key figures there, and they are reeling from Star-Lord’s sister also being poisoned, like Hiro-Kala. She’s not dead, but she will die if taken out of status. This establishes the emotional stakes for Star-Lord, loops in Nova, and the location serves as a gathering point for many nations.
Hulks gonna Hulk.
Credit: Marvel
If this sounds like a lot of explanation, that’s because this issue is very much expository. Hickman is laying out all the pieces, much like the gods at the start, with key alien races all soon to play a part. If you’re new to Marvel cosmic comics, you might feel a bit lost or unsure, but there are only a couple of players to keep tabs on. That includes fan-favorite Hulkling in a leading role, and a mysterious character from Wakanda.
The comparison to Game of Thrones is apt due to the extensive dialogue and numerous characters involved in the story. Hulk does get to beat on a disrespectful alien at one point, and there’s an intense action scene that kicks off the chaos of impending war. The latter action scene wraps up too conveniently to return to exposition, but it’s at least beautifully drawn.
Something that takes a bit of the air out of the plot’s sails is knowing that gods are manipulating everyone. Since we know, but the main players don’t, it’s more of a waiting game for them to figure it out. It doesn’t help that Hulk’s son is a fairly minor character, one that readers won’t be upset over.
Art is split between Iban Coello and Federico Vicentini, who both have a kinetic art style that suits each other. It never feels jarring when the art switches hands. This book is impressively detailed from backgrounds to character designs. That includes many aliens reminding us this is a vast universe. Some scenes have strange aliens in the background that will never play a part, but their just being there is a reminder Earthlings are a rare sight.
The colors by Federico Blee are fabulous, leaning into the variety of colors in the world and characters. There’s nice lighting throughout as well. There always seems to be a glow to enhance the many lights in full effect.
Imperial #1 is a bold, visually dynamic start to Hickman’s next cosmic saga, offering a galaxy full of political players and mysterious forces. The weight of the setup and the lack of emotional urgency may leave some readers waiting for the real game to begin. This is a Marvel cosmic chess match fans have been waiting years for.
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