I'm a fan of fun, and this book has it in droves. While it took a while to get to the motivations and stakes, I have to respect how well the creators have built up the architecture of such a massive event. So often comic book events have one or two key players, but astoundingly, here there are many Marvel superheroes a part of the bigger story in some way. Empyre is big, loud, and brimming with characters to root for. Read Full Review

You can purchase this issue via comiXology Read Full Review

Empyre still hasn't quite lived up to the hype, but a strong script from Slott and impressive art makes the latest issue a success. Read Full Review

Empyre #3 is an issue that adds the much-needed depth to the series. It has gone from just a summer popcorn event to one with some brains behind it. There's some philosophical debates within and political machinations throughout. It also delivers twists and turns because by the end of the issue, it's clear there's a lot more to come. Read Full Review

Watching Teddy lead with good intentions is definitely the highlight of this series, especially as it goes against the ways of both sides of his heritage. Carol is certainly no help in her new role as Accuser but at least Johnny is there to be the voice of reason, encouraging Teddy to do what's right. As the event continues, there are some interesting teases as to how things will unfold. The Cotati won't be the only enemy in this war. Read Full Review

Empyre #3 is the best issue of the Event so far and sets up the second half to kick into high gear. Political intrigue meets family matters (sorry, no Urkel) with great art to boot. I still wonder if this story needed so may tie-ins, but at least I'm starting to enjoy the main title. Fingers crossed that continues! Read Full Review

While surprises in comics can certainly be a good thing, there are so many moving pieces in this crossover, that its becoming hard to keep track of them all. Read Full Review

But here's the thing — events are hard, and yet they're often considered necessary to a company's bottomline. With the spiraling catastrophes our world is caught in today, the idea of some good, old-fashioned Kree/Skrull politics can sound downright comforting, if not charming. But as a high concept meant to tie together everyone in the Marvel Universe, it can't help but feel a little bit clinical and distant — something I'd never say about Ewing or Slott's other work. Some of that might be the pressures of spinning all the various plates of a summer event, which is a whole different animal than other comics — but despite its strong art and ambitious aims, the insular high concept of Empyre makes it hard to fully engage with the work. Read Full Review

I hope you like event framework, because that's all you're getting with the main Empyre series. Read Full Review

Can this issue and its focus on Black Panther fighting to save the world... in turn save Marvel's worst event ever? Read Full Review

A solid story, decent words, and excellent art. Somehow the spark needed to take it from "good" to "great" is missing, though.

Fantastic art and overall good issue. But like others are pointing out, there are some holes in the story caused by shelved tie-ins.

Better than issue 2. Now we are going somewhere and the ending made me interested in the next event. I like Teddy here again he is the best part of this issue aside from his Grandmother, someone with actual goals and aspirations in this muddy story. Art again was great, The Empress Skrull scene was good stuff.

I didn’t love all the dialogue or the pace, but I’m still interested in the story!

Another fine issue, but there is something awkward that came up in this issue, and i dont know whether to blame the editor or just Marvel in general. Thor is said to be on a mythical quest to see out new powers, which I can only assume would have been the Thor tie-in that Ram V was going to write. However, that has been removed from all solicitations, so that was a little weird to read. It kind of put a thought into me that thinks whether this event will continue to reference tie ins that are now cancelled. So that part made me feel like I missed an issue or two. And then the rest of the Fantastic Four are just in Wakanda, while Reed is with Tony. It was a small little jump in logic/time that made me feel jarred. Just a weird negative that I would probably blame the editor for, or just this pandemic I guess since it messed up the release schedule. Other than that, this issue was better than the last, it felt like stuff happened at a faster pace. more

Art 3.5/5
Story 3.5/5

Ooh. While it wasn't bouncing back the way I expected or wanted, I actually got a kick out of this book. Empyre #3 was a good comeback from Issue #2. Things are starting to become more clear of whats exactly going to happen. While its not really moving anywhere, lots of revelations are opened up that might be key to the conflict at hand moving forward, especially at the end and throughout this book. We play with the idea of Hulking as a king, and what exactly he has to sacrifice and make decisions on for his alliance. We get some great character moments with various members of the FF and Avengers, and peeling back an even more complex situation between humans, the Cocati, and the Kree-Skrull Alliance. Seems everybody has a knife behind their backs while shaking hands. And I like backstabs. This issue still is setting things up, but it holds much more interest. more

It’s a much better issue overall, but the last two issues have set the bar so low I can’t give it huge kudos. The closing revelation is cute but so many of the villainous motivations here are, well, villainous rather than strategic. With stakes this big you’d expect less Dr Evil style mwahaha-ing and more manipulation. The threat to Teddy feels only marginal, give a) Billy would intervene in a heartbeat and b) there’s barely any time left for any threat to cause changes worth paying attention to. Reed Richards and Stark just generally whine while the attack on Wakanda irritatingly mirrors Thanos’ attack in the MCU’s Infinity War. There’s less action and more plot but what there is is thin and there’s little to get invested in with anyone. Mantis? Meh. Cap? Off panel. Thor? Off panel. Sue Richards? Just stands around. Teddy has some good dialogue but Ewing doesn’t have his voice quite right.

Valerio Schiti’s art feels a bit more appropriate than usual but it still doesn’t feel epic enough for the scale of the story (I don’t think it’s unfair to compare directly with Neal Adams) and only gets some of the emotional moments. It’s all near-missing again, which feels unnecessary given how long Marvel had to tweak this event during the worldwide lockdown. more