Imperium #16 Discussion

[jmatt]

Rolled along pretty well with lots of plot points developed. But the end confused me, Gravedog's dream and revelation. "The war, from the beginning, has been lost."

Did I miss something? Harada and his team seemed to have been winning the day.

[nonplayer]

Here's how I took that.
I think it's a seed of grave dawgs decent from Chaos. He dwells in it and for an instant saw the errors in his ways but when he wakes up he's forgotten but it's still a seed. If the story continues we may see grave dog turn good or to something else non chaotic and stormy.

[nonplayer]

Rolled along pretty well with lots of plot points developed. But the end confused me, Gravedog's dream and revelation. "The war, from the beginning, has been lost."

Did I miss something? Harada and his team seemed to have been winning the day.

Either way it's a very deep and a psychological cliffhanger.

[mateo107]

Is that really all? It feels like we're going to lose focus on a whole corner of the world in a story that's still unresolved. I had really hoped there would be a Unity crossover or appearance (back when Unity was still a thing), since that team formed the last time a super-powered being took over a whole country. Will Imperium even get a mention in any other books? Seems like it will be off the radar in Bloodshot, EW, or Ninjak. Maybe we'll see it revisited in Harbinger...

[QUARTZ]

I did like the ending despite a lot of balls still up in the air. It will be resolved in a future series, Harada's story isn't done, neither is Livewire's. I loved the dream, I took it as what Sunlight on the Snow was saying about a revolution that is paved in suffering is not worth the cause. The "war" was lost right from the beginning; Harada's stated goal of making the world a better place is collapsing onto itself, leading to WWIII.

[Sheikhaljabal]

This series is Valiant's biggest loss of the year. Although predictable (I knew Toyo would spare Livewire) this is a very nice ending. I took it as an Harada Triumph. The naval victory was huge and the Foundation has its roots in Africa, from Somalia to Congo, a curious parallel to the current Asian economic onslaught in that continent, where he is going to build the space elevator (and we got to see the Eggbreakers in action, besides a nice HARD Corps appearance, which was also Mucho beat up by the Japanese Jesus). I wonder what Dysart has planned and where this cast is going to be seen next. Gravedog's epiphany sounds like his going to flip-flop (as according to BOD#1) Mech Major/Sunlight On Snow (who could very well be 4001 A.D.'s Father ) is the breakout contender for best robot in comics. Toyo's crew should have a name (or has it?): they are, hands down, Valiant's scariest gestalt of MoFos.

[agent_graves]

The photoshopped art, is very distracting. Overall, the writing on this book has been top notch since day one, but for some reason, the end of every arc, fell flat to me, no real progress or conclusion.

But I absolutely adore, Darpan & Orchid, I hope those two are spotlighted, at some point in the future.

[grendeljd]

If anyone would like to hear our OTV:VCR podcast discussing/reviewing this issue (& Bloodshot Reborn #13, & Divinity II #2), please follow the link;

http://onlythevaliant.com/episodes/vcr66/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thanks to any who listen in

[Dallow Spicer1]

Shame Imperium has ended. Dysart is a great writer, hope to see him work on snother VEI book soon and I'd like that to be a non Harbinger related book just so I can flex his writing muscles on new/different characters. Cryptic end to this series, could be interpreted in different ways. Possibly Gravedog reconsidering his support for Harada?

Orchid is possibly the scariest character in VEI!! Making the pilot compete acsuicde mission whilt Ste hugs her teddy bear!!! Chilling!!

I like Khari Evans's art but if I wanted to look at photographs I'd have bought a magazine! Can only think VEI allowed this in order for the book to ship on time?

Good issue, but feels like it ended abruptly 3.75/5

[Baramos]

Rolled along pretty well with lots of plot points developed. But the end confused me, Gravedog's dream and revelation. "The war, from the beginning, has been lost."

Did I miss something? Harada and his team seemed to have been winning the day.

Despite seeming to have the upper hand, Harada's utopia will never happen. It's been a lost cause since the beginning. As the Bleeding Monk prophesied and Kozol cynically thought at the end of the first arc, all Harada will accomplish is creating a state of perpetual war if he continues.

[wwise03]

I have to agree with those who thought the art was atrocious. I read this while also reading George Perez's run on Wonder Woman. I understand Perez is a once in a generation type artist, but looking at that issue after looking at Perez's pencils and detailed backgrounds made my eyes hurt.

[Psiot X]

It was immensely sad. If I am interpreting the ending correctly through Grave Dog's dream and the final sequence, then he realized on some level that he can keep throwing himself into the service of one violent ideologue after another and never accomplish anything outside of ensuring more violence because you can't force real change through force of arms. Instead you only create an escalating cycle of bloodshed where everyone loses.

Maybe in the end, since Grave Dogs has such fight in him. Maybe he will stop following everyone else's idea of what is good and start making his own way.

I am glad Harada didn't kill Livewire.

Man, Orchid? That little girls scares the *SQUEE* out of me.