Imperial has been a game changing event for the Marvel Universe. The entire structure of the cosmic side of the Marvel Universe has been forever shaken by who turned out to be the Skrull. Its left all the cosmic powers from the Shi’ar, Wakanda, Kree, and more in a complete unknown state. With the revelations made thus far what else will we learn about Marvel’s latest big cosmic event? Let’s find out with Imperial #3.
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Jonathan Hickman
Artists: Iban Coello and Federico Vicentini
Colorist: Federico Blee
Letterers: Cory Petit and Ariana Maher
IMPERIAL #3 SOLICITATION
The conflict begins to spread out to the wider universe! We find out who’s really orchestrating the great game of cosmic houses as the last chance to stop a universal war presents itself. Will our heroes be able to stop it in time?” – Marvel Comics
HIGHLIGHTS OF IMPERIAL #3
Maximus & Grandmaster Cosmic Chess Match
Imperial #3 is dominated by the chess match Maximus and Grandmaster have. In the process we learn their chess match was really them being the mastermind behind the current cosmic war. This was Jonathan Hickman at his best when it comes to revealing why Imperial has happened as it has thus far. In the process Hickman shines a spotlight on how Grandmaster views the Marvel Universe as a giant plaything. Grandmaster has absolutely zero care for what happens as long as he can enjoy himself with how he manipulates things
Black Bolt Returning Inhumans to Prominence
The way Hickman plays into Grandmaster overconfidence worked well into the true reveal of Imperial #3. That reveal being that Black Bolt and Maximus manipulated Grandmaster to help prepare the universe for the Inhumans to return a masterclass of reveals. The Inhumans have been such a non-factor in the universe since Marvel failed to elevate them to the X-Men and Avengers level. Hickman did a great job playing into failure with the Inhumans to make Black Bolt and Maximus the true instigators an even better reveal. It immediately created a sense of importance around the Inhumans. They’ve created a situation in the Marvel Universe where the Inhumans can be a true superpower.
Richard Rider Decision Alters Nova Corp Again
The opening of Imperial #3 worked well as a teaser for the big reveal of Black Bolt. Continuing the team up of Nova, Shuri, and Star-Lord we saw how they each represented a part of where things are for all the cosmic powers. Each character was desperate for different reasons. It added even greater complexities to the decision Richard Rider had to make in activating Xandarian’s Worldmind. The way Richard was portrayed got over how activating Worldmind will change things for him and what remains of the Nova Corps forever. It makes the Nova one of the most intriguing characters with the unknown future that has been created for him.
Dynamic Artwork Lifts Dialogue Heavy Comic
Iban Coello, Federico Vicentini, and Federico Blee provided the energy that this issue certainly needed. Unlike the previous heavy action issue, this was a talking heads heavy comic book. The closest thing we get to action are Nova, Shuri, and Star-Lord riding speeder bikes and Black Bolt killing Grandmaster with one blast. Outside of that this was all about characters talking. Which put even greater weight on Coello, Vicentini, and Blee to make sure the artwork was as dynamic as possible. Each movement made, whether its facial reaction or body movement, had to emphasize what was being said. That is what they nailed as Richard Rider choice to activate Worldmind and the Black Bolt reveal were home run moments.
WHAT DIDN’T WORK IN IMPERIAL #3
Hulkling Failed Kree-Skrull Empire Reign
While they only appear for two pages it was enough to remind the reader of how Marvel dropped the ball with Hulkling. Specifically, how Marvel gave Hulkling an important role as the Emperor of the Kree-Skrull Empire for it to ultimately be a nothing reign. Hulkling, Kree, and Skrull never elevated to a position we believed they were a power post-Empyre. How quickly things got exciting when the Skrull went rogue and in it for themselves was proof of Marvel’s failure with Hulkling. It’s a failing that there isn’t much investment in thinking to much about whatever is planned with Hulkling and Wiccan.
Imperial’s Galactic War Treated to a Recap
It can be said that Imperial #3 is largely a recap of the previous two issues from Maximus and Grandmaster’s perspectives. Yes, we learn who are the true instigators of the latest Marvel cosmic event. But that only masks the fact that we don’t see any progress made with what’s going on with all the cosmic powers at war right now. They are all forgotten about. Which would be okay if this was a five issue event but that is not the case. This was the penultimate issue of the event. That leaves the fourth and final issue to deal with a lot more that things could easily be lost. Which likely means the upcoming tie-in one-shots will be something that you’ll have to spend money on to get the full story of what was initially presented in the first issue.
FINAL THOUGHTS
When it comes to major decisions and revelations, Imperial #3 more than delivers on that. Nova, Maximus, Grandmaster, and the big surprise character make game changing choices. But even for the wow moments this comic book delivers it does not mask the recap nature of this penultimate chapter. How Jonathan Hickman and company wrap things up in the fourth and final issue will be interesting to see.
Story Rating: 6 Night Girls out of 10
Art Rating: 7 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 6.5 Night Girls out of 10
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