EMPYRE TIE-INS WEEK OF 7/29: Battles on the Ground

Empyre: Captain America #1
Phillip Kennedy Johnson – Writers
Ariel Olivetti- Artist
Rachelle Rosenberg – Colorist
VC’s Ariana Maher with Joe Caramagna– Letterer
Mike Henderson & Nolan Woodard – Cover Artists

I’ll admit I had to force myself to be open-minded going into Empyre: Captain America #1. Having a military-themed Captain America mini when more original-seeming titles got dropped post-Covid was a choice I found equal parts unsurprising and disappointing. This feeling doubled down when within the first two pages, we find the US military engaged with an opposing force conducting a ‘holy war.’ The art by Ariel Olivetti and colors by Rachelle Rosenberg are beautiful. They provide vibrancy and detail to the battles with the Crotai and emotion to the confrontation between Cap and the military higher-ups. Despite my issues with the storyline, I found that Phillip Kennedy Johnson provided enough small moments and quirks to the military characters that I may get attached – if I believed there was a chance to see them after the mini ends.

Empyre: Savage Avengers #1
Gerry Duggan – Writer
Greg Smallwood- Artist
VC’s Travis Lanham- Letters
Greg Smallwood- Cover Artist

Empire: Savage Avengers #1 is another straightforward tie in. We see Conan and Venom tangle with the Crotai in Mexico City. The art by Greg Smallwood really shines. Of note to the narrative is the look a man (or alien plant person) gets when facing certain death, an expression that Smallwood nails perfectly.  Gerry Duggan writes a quippy Venom and clueless Conan that work well together with plenty of explosions and gratuitous violence. While the issue does not seem like it would have any impact on the Empyre event as a whole, but it provides a quick, high action, fun issue to read.