It’s been building for months, across a bevy of titles! But now, the moment has arrived for Steve Rogers to step into the light and declare his allegiance to Hydra! How can the heroes of the Marvel Universe cope with this shattering betrayal by the most trusted figure among them? And what will this mean for the world?

With a “zero issue” not too far behind Secret Empire #1 drops us right into the action after who knows how many months of Hydra’s take over of the United States (and sort of the world?). Writer Nick Spencer pulls no punches delivering a story that readers will love to hate in what can only be described as a car wreck of a comic. You don’t want to look but something draws you to it to see what disaster awaits inside.

Mass murder, executions, Inhuman-phobia, and Captain America worrying about… bureaucracy!?

I wish I could say the comic’s exciting but like the Star Wars prequels it seems focused on political maneuvering (seriously Steve groans about bureaucracy) within the Hydra circle. From jobs works programs to improved health plans, Spencer makes the case that fascism is good and that America would role over when faced with it. The school curricula is changed and people subjugated as if we’d roll over feels like the sugar in the gas tank that is Hydra Cap. We also see glimpses of “heroes” who have gone along with the new regime with no explanation. Apparently Thor Odinson and Scarlet Witch would be good with Nazis in charge. Little explanation and a lot of case making doesn’t make the story any less nauseating or more coherent (so, the Red Skull turned Steve so that Steve could kill him!?).

But, we know this will all change in the end as Spencer foreshadows the fact that Rogers will at the end obtain the Cosmic Cube and his good side will struggle to free itself and make the world right. Sound familiar? It’s kind of Spider-Man vs. Spider-Ock.

Steve McNiven‘s art makes the story at least pretty look at. I’m a fan of McNiven in general and his art delivers a punch. There’s some issue with Cap looking rather old and not his youthful self, but otherwise the delivery of the iconography can only deliver shivers. McNiven plays up the fascist/Nazi vibes and does it well with small details such as the Hydra logo in as many spots as possible.

The first issue of Secret Empire makes the case that we should accept our fascist overlords, they’ll make the trains run on time with job programs and efficiency, just overlook the whole extermination and death camps aspect. Just the story comics needs today….

Story: Nick Spencer Art: Steve McNiven Cover Art: Mark Brooks
Story: 5.0 Art: 8.0 Overall: 5.0 Recommendation: Pass

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review