Mark is two weeks out from making the biggest decision of his life. But which big decision will it be? Taking the ring of the woman of his dreams and becoming a married man? Or taking the crown of the world’s only superhero and becoming the next Imperial?

Writer Steven T. Seagle and artist Marc Dos Santos team for a superhero buddy comic clearly is focused on Mark’s commitment issues. Imperial #1 is a good first issue. Unfortunately it comes at a time when there’s a glut of series taking on the topic of the schlep suddenly dealing with powers (either having them, or everyone else but them having them). So the question is, does the series have something new to say that’s different? And the answer is, I’m not quite sure yet.

The first issue does set up who Mark is quite well. The man is getting married, he has this superhero thing thrust at him, and he seems to have issues committing to either. So, is that the series? It’s hard to say for one issue, but it’s an interesting direction to go, and could stand out because of that focus.

Dos Santos’ art fits the series nicely. Nothing jumps out at me, but overall there characters all look unique and as individuals. Also, since there’s not a lot of superhero-dom in the first issue, the focus is on real world things like a restaurant, a forest. Dos Santos’ style pulls all them off quite well, showing his style is versatile.

Overall, the first issue is good. It doesn’t quite jump out to me, especially due to the fact there’s numerous series out there right now with a similar plot. But, there’s more than enough there to get me to come back and see where it goes from here.

Story By: Steven T. Seagle Art By: Marc Dos Santos
Story: 7.75 Art: 7.75 Overall: 7.75 Recommendation: Read

Image Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review