Warning: spoilers ahead for Empyre: Avengers Aftermath!
In the aftermath of the war against Quoi and the Cotati, The Avengers and their allies are finally able to celebrate. And what better way to celebrate saving animal-kind than a wedding? As Hulkling takes his rightful place as the emperor of the Kree-Skrull Empire, he is finally able to have the lavish space wedding he and Wiccan deserve. Everything seems to be looking up as those who betrayed the empire are sentenced, everyone is able to relax and celebrate at a huge wedding, and Wiccan is made Prince Consort and Court Wizard. All in all, it seems like the Marvel cosmos may be shifting back into a long-interrupted balance. Unfortunately, it may not be long until chaos returns…
The day after the wedding, and also the moment Empyre: Avengers Aftermath #1 opens on, Hulkling has a less than happy reunion conversation with his Skrull grandmother, Empress R’klll. She tells him of the feats she’s achieved, the heinous acts she has committed, in order to get to where she is now and “save” her empire. She also warns him against his kind nature, the same kind nature he takes so much pride in. Through a screen of malice and condescension, she warns him that his future will end in betrayal. Of course, right now, surrounded by a huge web of support and a new empire, there is no way Hulkling could ever imagine such an end.
On the other hand, Commander Abigail Brand seems to know exactly what it feels like to be betrayed. On the day of the wedding, she shows up and makes it known that she is angry at this team of heroes, or what she calls the “celebrity in-group,” for not keeping Alpha Flight in the loop during the war. Her appearance, her outburst, and her quitting Alpha Flight is not the kind of interruption that is befitting of a wedding celebration, but it may be appropriate considering the way the main team neglected her. It’s hard not to imagine that her situation may foreshadow what’s to come in view of the foreboding warning from Empress R’klll.
Regardless of Brand’s outburst at the wedding, Hulkling moved on. He continued the celebration, ending the big, happy scene by saying their story hasn’t ended and “never will.” Of course, nothing good ever seems to last for heroes, especially when they make statements like that. Using his new position of power, Emperor Dorrek VIII condemned Skrull traitor Kl’rt for his crimes, sentencing him to work that will only help people, not hurt them. It was a symbolic act of mercy, but one Kl’rt met with the claim that one day he would be called upon again, and that at that time, he would be the only thing keeping Hulkling alive.
Having included grim portents from these formerly powerful figures, the end of this issue shared a grim future; one where Hulkling is alone, surrounded by dead bodies in what seems to be an apocalyptic setting. There, he admits that R’klll was right: about Alpha Flight, Earth, The Avengers, “all of it.” Fortunately for him, Abagail Brand appears, revealing just how busy she’s been since storming out of his wedding. What this means for his empire, his marriage, his friendships, and the future is yet to be determined. One thing is for sure though; the peace and mercy of Hulkling’s reign can’t last for long.
Empyre: Avengers Aftermath #1, from writers Al Ewing and Dan Slott, with interior art by Valerio Schiti and cover art by Jim Cheung is available now.
