Imperial #2: A Roundabout Review

Imperial #2

By Image

Written by Steven T. Seagle

Art by Mark Dos Santos 

This will be the first time I reviewed back to back issues of the same title, whether that is a good or bad thing remains to be seen. Imperial #2 wasn't the first comic book I read out of my weekly haul, but it was the most anticipated. 

At the end of issue #1, a meteor fell from the sky. Certainly our future hero would be crushed if not for Imperial, but who is he? He wears tights, a cape, and a sentient crown. Unfortunately, Imperial doesn't like Mark very much and we only find out that Imperial didn't pick Mark to be his successor in between talking about the rings of Saturn and S'mores.

The issue starts right out of the gate on the interior cover. Imperial is on top of Mark, saving them from a meteorite, or is it meteor? By page four, we are introduced to Imperial's first major villain, Meterax. Four pages later, we realize he's not so major. The story continues with the same formula as issue one, much like Lethal Weapon II is to Lethal Weapon I, it's good but is it as good? 

In issue two, we learn a bit more about Imperial including that he is old.  He's been doing the superhero gig as Imperial for a long time, way longer than his comic book title from the thirties. And after the lesson in making s'mores, as a reader, we start to question Mark's sanity.

By the time I'm finished reading the book, I'm left with a feeling of satisfaction. The entire comic is advertisement free. The characters continue to develop and I wonder what will fall from the sky in issue three. This is also the first comicbook I have read that could also be a recipe book for s'mores. 

Four out of four S'mores

East of West #15: A Roundabout Review

East of West #15

By Image Comics

Written by Jonathan Hickman

Art by Nick Dragotta

Over 115 issues ago, the Walking Dead was published by Image Comics. This came out at the end of my non-collecting years, although if I were collecting, I would have passed. I am not a zombie fan. Years later, East of West arrived, and after trying Morning Glories, I figured I would give another Image title a shot. I picked up issue #1 of their news apocalyptical tale. 

The beginning of the story was very enjoyable. It was paced well, while introducing the characters of the story. It drove along between 40 to 60 mph, occasionally reaching 75-80 mph, that is if East of West could be compared to a car driving on the highway. Keeping with this theme, in the beginning of issue #15, it would be doing 80 and exceeding 100 MPH by the end.

Death has been looking for his son, the nations are at war, and the three remaining horsemen of the apocalypse plan on destroying the beast, who also happens to be Death's child. It's the three horsemen that catch up to the beast first. Conquest, or War, challenges him first and a fight ensues, one that could answer what is more powerful, the conflict that it creates, or the death that follows. Panel after panel of pure accelerated enjoyment has Conquest and Beast doing battle. It just so happens one has to lose.

If Jonathan Hickman can throttle a bit more, this series will only get better. The war between nations has only just begun, the four horsemen of the apocalypse roam the land, and the beast, Babylon is loose. May god help any in their way. 

4.5 out of 5 stars

Imperial #1: A Roundabout Review

Published by Image Comics 

Written by Steven T. Seagle

Art by Mark Dos Santos 

Is this the best comic I've read all year?

The cover drew me in. I felt like a fish on a hook. The detailed simplicity reminded me of a Norman Rockwell painting. And after skimming through it, I placed it back on the shelf, picked up the rest of my weekly haul, and after realizing it was a light week, I went back and picked the best copy my LCS had off the shelf. 

When I finally picked up Imperial to read, I was only paying a portion of my attention to it. After I was done, I was in awe. The book was nothing short of phenomenal. I reviewed another Marvel title for The Next Issue Outpost and even though I felt that was a 4 out of 5, I was disappointed I didn't review this comic, because not only would I have graded it a 5 out of 5, I now feel it would be a grave disservice to pass on this title. 

In the nineties, I collected Image because I was afraid I might miss the next best thing. Now I collect Image because of the diversity. East of West, Black Science, Alex + Ada, along with Morning Glories and Ten Grand continue to entertain me month after month. My boxes are beginning to fill with great title after great title, alternating from the usual. And after deciding to not get caught up in a new series, I failed. Imperial #1 is the best new book out there. 

Thanks for Reading.