EMPRESS #1 Review

Writer:  Mark Millar
Penciller:  Stuart Immonen
Inker:  Wade von Grawbadger
Colorist:  Ive Svorcina
Letterer:  Peter Doherty
Publisher:  Marvel Icon

Over the last few years, Mark Millar has spun what could be generic story themes into comics gold.  Starlight is Flash Gordon after years of wear and tear on his body.  Chrononauts is your standard bromance adventure mixed with time travel.  These are just a few examples.  Paired with a superstar artists, each series is a breath of fresh air in the comics industry.

Instead of launching another Image Comics title, Millar returns to Marvel’s ICON imprint for Empress with superstar artist Stuart Immonen.  Empress stars Queen Emporia who is married to a ruthless warlord.  Even with this being a first issue the introduction to the cast and setting was seamless.  We got examples of King Morax ruling with an iron fist, which gives his wife Emporia a reason for running.  We met his kids and their guardian, Captain Dane.  And bringing it all to life is the art team of Immonen, Wade von Grawbadger, and Ive Svorcina.

From the very first page Svorcina’s colors electrified my eyes.  Such sparkling, vibrant colors.  Add in Immonen and Grawbadger and each panel takes on a grand scale.  I loved reading the escape/chase scenes of canon fire and aerial maneuvering.  It’s not just the epic shots that the team excels in.  There are many contrasting personalities between mother, daughter, sons, father and guardian.  This gives a chance for impressive acting among them all.

Just because Emporia wants to flee doesn’t mean her children agree with her decision.  Which makes sense.  They all have minds of their own.  Plus it adds more drama to the story.  Mothers and daughters fight all the time and this reflects that perfectly.

The flashback to Morax and Emporia initial meeting raised some questions for me.  Morax references wanting sons — yet the Aine, the daughter came first.  Is that why she’s loyal to her father?  How did Morax treat Aine growing up?  She must have had a different experience from Adam and Puck.  All this makes me want to see a miniseries based solely in the past.

Empress_1_Cover

#ComicBookChronicles @CBChron founder. Editor-in-Chief of @thekliqnation. Comic book reviewer, podcaster #RABBLERABBLE