Posted in: Comics, Marvel Comics | Tagged: empyre, marvel

Empyre #1, With Good, Evil And Everyone On The Wrong Side [Spoilers]

Published Sun, 12 Jul 2020 11:25:43 -0500

Back when this story was originally published, it was a couple of week's before Empyre #1 was meant to be published, on April 15th. Then everything fell apart. Now Empyre #1 is meant to be published on Wednesday, July 15th, three months later. So how about a refresh? With some brand new preview pages?

So again, reigning back on the spoilers but taking a little look for flavour and an indication of where Empyre is going and why. Incoming showed us a combined Kree and Skrull empire under the command of Hulking, and an Earth in which Skrull and Kree partners had been killed by a tree.

The Road To Empyre

It played out the origins of the Kree and Skrull war, as well as their relationship with the sentient plant race the Cotati, the history of the Celestial Messiah, and the presence of Skrulls and Kree on Earth

Empyre #0: Avengers

It took us to the Blue Moon where the war first began and where the Empire, where the Celestial Messiah is now and where the combined fleet of Kree and Skrull are heading. It also got Tony Stark to issue a rallying speech to the Avengers to defend the Cotati from the incoming armada, at all costs. Bleeding Cool pointed out the danger of such speeches.

Empyre #0: Fantastic Four

It introduces the Profiteer and shows the effect on the galactic economy without a Skrull/Kree war fueling it, and sees the Fantastic Four get a lift to the big battle. While picking up Skrull and Kree kids, forced to battle for those missing the War and now mirroring the Skrull and Kree solo fights that since were used to replace a full active war – and that led to the events in Incoming. And a little Baby Yoda.

Empyre #1

It starts off right in the thick of the armada, with the Fantastic Four trying to work out a) what's going on b) what Hulking is doing there and c) discovering that the powers of the Super Skrull, tied to their own, is rather inconvenient.

While the Avengers wait on the moon alongside the Celestial Messiah and the Cotati for the Kree and Skrull to turn up and wipe them out. She-Hulk gets a bit of a mental transformation courtesy of the Cotati. Such a peaceful race, so misunderstood, so poorly treated, hang on, hang on, is everyone forgetting how Incoming #1 ended? Beware the trees, indeed.

While the diplomats go to work trying to talk fast enough, cleverly enough, to prevent a war that seems to be steaming ahead, with what it represents far more important than any gains that might be gained. Not so much boots on the ground as it is the hearts and minds of those at home. With the presumptions and assumptions of all the superheroes, fitting the good fight, on the side they know to be right. Tony Stark even talks about having the opportunity to have a simple fight at long last. The good versus the bad, defending the bullied against the bully.

All the time while the Avengers and the Fantastic Four, alongside the Swordsman, get the sudden realisation that may have been wrong all this time. While the Skrulls and the Kree battle for space and dominance, the Cotati have messiahs and religious zealots on their side. Still, at least the Ghost Rider gets a brand new vehicle out of it all, and a potential new toy for Christmas. And we do get a reason as to why Empyre is spelled with a Y, just to keep Jude happy. However, there is a battle, conflict, twists and turns, and one glorious moment with Mjolnir that Thor fans will treasure. So, who's up for the fight?

EMPYRE #1 (OF 6)
(W) Al Ewing, Dan Slott (A) Valerio Schiti (CA) Jim Cheung
• The Kree and the Skrulls have united under a new emperor – and their war fleet is on a collision course for our world.
• On the moon, the Avengers are ready to strike with the full power of Earth's Mightiest Heroes. Approaching from outer space, the Fantastic Four are seeking a diplomatic solution.
• If the two teams can't work together to save the day, things can only get worse…
Rated T+ SRP: $5.99

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