Comic Book Review: Empress #1 - Icon Comics (2016)

Written by Mark Millar
Art by Stuart Immonen

The setting is Earth, 65 million years ago and it has a much more futuristic look than you may imagine.  Queen Emporia is looking to escape Earth with her children and the help of a companion.  Emporia's husband, the king, will be none to pleased by this attempt.

Mark Millar has a knack for writing stories that seem way off the beaten path and making them enthralling.  So it's 65 million years in the past and the technology is amazing, you totally buy it.  The first issue gives you enough of a look into the lives where you see just enough of their personalities to know there are those you don't want to mess with and others that are crazy enough to know you probably should mess with them either.  I can only hope there isn't a bunch of time in between issues of this series.

As with most Mark Millar comic books, he gets some of the most talented artists to work with him.  Stuart Immonen is an incredible artist and being able to look at his artwork page after page is a true joy.

What are your thoughts on Empress?  what other comic books would you like Maskerpiece Theatre to review?  Please comment below.

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Comic Book Review: Star Wars #11 - Marvel Comics (2015)

Written by Jason Aaron

Art by Stuart Immonen

Luke Skywalker is forced to fight in a Gladiator-style event by Grakkus the Hutt on the moon Nar Shadaa, Leia and Han are in a ship with Han's "wife" on the way to attempt a rescue of Skywalker, C3-PO and Chewbacca are on the moon looking to get into the arena where Luke is about to fight for his life.

Did you get all that?  There is a ton of action in this comic book and it is non-stop!  Star Wars and Darth Vader are my clear favorites when it comes to Marvel Comics.  Taking place between episodes IV and V, we are seeing what our favorite rebels are up to and what kind of trouble they find.  

Chewbacca and C3-PO are still together and I really like that dynamic.  I truly enjoy that we have no subtitles for Chewie and everything is based on how others respond to him.  Han and Leia's relationship is being put to the test and it's been awesome to read their lines.

I'm a huge fan of Jason Aaron's writing and I'm excited every time I get to pick up a book from this series.  Stuart Immonen has been wonderful for this series, having to draw many different settings and lots of action with magnificent facial expressions.

You can read the first few issues on the Marvel Unlimited app, but you'll have to get the past six months at your local comic shop or online.  This is an extraordinary series and a great way to quell your Star Wars appetite as you wait for Star Wars: The Force Awakens in theaters later in December.

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