IMPERIUM #1 is smart and entertaining, gorgeous yet gruesome, and character-driven yet large in scope. Thanks to a strong creative team, it's an issue that'll appeal to you on many levels and leaves you wondering when you'll be able to read the next issue. Toyo Harada's a compelling character and this is proof of that. New readers may still be asking a lot of questions about the supporting cast, but I'm sure they'll be addressed in due time. For now, this was a phenomenal opening that told us everything we need to know about Harada while also getting a better understanding of just how far he'll go to get what he wants. I know many of you already go beyond your budget with weekly comics, but this is more than worthy of your $3.99, people. Read Full Review

This is the best premier issue I've read in quite some time, and I expect that Imperium will be racking up a few awards in the near future. If you haven't already figured it out, you should definitely be reading this book, it has everything a comic book lover could want; Compelling story, interesting characters and, of course, Doug Braithwaite's amazing art. You won't find a better single issue in the opening quarter of 2015. Read Full Review

Imperium #1 is a great start to the series and captures everything about Toyo Harada's megalomaniac nature to create an interesting situation for the psiots following him and the world opposing him. The opening sequence apparently showing Harada's vision of his utopia was a great touch in showing the influence of his vision while segwaying into the current battle. And as a result all their actions, especially his, will be viewed in light of that. I don't know why the world is only using small groups to oppose Harada instead of one of the many superteams but I only expect things to be more intense going forward. Read Full Review

Writer Joshua Dysart steers the role of a psiot in a new direction, giving any human the choice to activate their psiot powers in exchange for global humanitarian service. I have to say, I was never a big fan of Toyo Harada, but Dysart is taking his role to a whole other level, and it's a pretty damn good start. Read Full Review

That's the best thing about Valiant; complex stories with deep characters populate this universe more than any other. There aren't so much good and evil sides here but instead simply separate factions with their own goals. This allows you to read the series you enjoy and root for the characters you like. If you read the original Harbinger series you'll be more than happy with this debut. 2015 seems like it is starting off on the right foot for Valiant and I'm definitely going to be picking this series up each month. Read Full Review

A first issue needs to hook you in and intrigue enough to get you invested, and this issue certainly did that, but more than that, it also managed to take an interesting approach to the somewhat tired utopian vs dystopian trope that we've seen all too often in super-hero comics. Read Full Review

Imperium#1 brings along some familiar characters like Stronghold but Dysart has brought in characters like robot Mech Major who despite the dark undertone throughout brings some levity and fun into the mix Truth be told a robot may be the most human of Harada's team. Valiant's book, Unity, has been a great team hero book and Imperium is the villainous equivalent. Harbinger fans all know that Harada, deep down, really wants what's best for people with psiot powers it's just his methods are dark and violent. Imperium #1 is a great start to this series and leaves enough to the imagination to anticipate great things to come. Imperium is a must for any Valiant fan and for those who are new to the Valiant Universe this is a perfect reason on why they are so good. Read Full Review

Overall, this was one of the series that I was looking forward to as part of Valiant Next and it delivers. Its perfect for long time fans as well as those who are new and just want to check out a quality comics. Read Full Review

Labels can be stifling at times. Hero. Villain. Maniac. Messiah. Psycho. Savior. History ultimately decides who is what. Having all these powerful individuals in one series certainly looks enthralling. Rooting for the bad guys looks like a trend on the rise for 2015 thanks to a book like this. Definitely another feath Read Full Review

Imperium #1 is the start to something big that has the potential to rock the Valiant Universe to its core. It's not enough for someone to tell you the world needs help. It's something on a different level when that help is forced upon you. What will keep us anticipating the issues to come will be the delivery on those dark things Harada and the other psiots will have to do for what they believe to be the greater good. Read Full Review

We explore the world through Harada's eyes in this intriguing comic! Read Full Review

At the end, whilst not Valiants most accessible title, its certainly up there amongstits most absorbing, presenting what promises to bea complex and engaging narrative thats already had its first major twist, and escalates the pre-existing status quoto a thrilling new level. It succeeds on multiple levels – as an action series, as an existential examination of the nature of villianyand necessary evils, as an espionage thriller, and even has time to address philosophical implications of artificial intelligence. Simply put, its great, and well worth your time. Read Full Review

If you're a fan of super powered beings, villainous brotherhoods, and stories of world domination, then Imperium is for you. Jump on this starting point now. Read Full Review

The first half of Imperium #1 is beautiful to look at. The architecture is futuristic and the green and blue colors give the world a sense of peace and prosperity. Dysart and Braithwaite even seem to adapt Ludwig von Mises human action, giving Darpan Sama uneasiness as he remembers the place of his birth, a vision for a better state, and the belief one's actions can lead to a better future. The book systematically adopts this theory. There are some drawbacks with the lighting of bullets. The book definitely grabs your interest providing political intrigue, dynamic characters, and questioning how far one will go to achieve utopia and in doing so can you really achieve utopia? Read Full Review

I'll be honest - I'm not sure where Imperium is heading, particularly since Dysart took such a gamble by having such a long prologue to Harada's saga. But first issues aren't just a place to tell your premise, but also a place to show readers the strengths of the creative team, and I think Dysart, Braithwaite and company have absolutely accomplished that. There's a sense of mystery to Imperium that's admirable and gutsy, and they've earned at least one more issue to see if this gamble will pay off. Read Full Review

Imperium is off to a solid, if murky, start, but we want to know more. Read Full Review

Valiant Entertainment once again delivers an incredibly strong first issue of a new series, as it almost always does. "Imperium" #1 will give existing readers everything that they enjoyed in "Harbinger," and new readers will find themselves wanting to stick around. Read Full Review

With some very interesting characters at his disposal, Dysart and Braithwaite have a fantastic set of possibilities set out in front of them. These Harbingers and their powers, unleashed against the world as Harada looks to mold it into his vision is something that should intrigue anybody, but its particularly intriguing to fans of the VU. How is this book going to clash with the rest of them and how is it going to affect them and the rest of the VU? Theres so much potential here and Imperium really could be one of those titles that helps shape and move the VU in big, big ways and all you can do is strap in for the ride. Imperium, easily, is another win for Valiant and comic fans everywhere. Read Full Review

From the first page, you know the utopian vision being presented in this book is off. But when it goes on and on, becoming so hopeful and touching, you almost want it to be true. Read Full Review

While thematically on-point and brilliantly crafted from an artistic perspective, Imperium isn't new-reader friendly. It's beautifully constructed but has zero in the way of character accessibility. Read Full Review

The book is building to something " I just hope we get that something sooner than later. Read Full Review

The concept and visual quality are there, but the execution of it all falls a little short. There is potential in the series, mind you, in the way that general plot points would be better explained if SyFy picked it up for a movie-of-the-week. Read Full Review

Powerful guy wants to create a better world and is willing to make the hard choices to achieve his vision. Nothing here that hasn't already been thoroughly established in Harada's appearances in Harbinger, but a nice entry point for new readers and a refresher for the old ones. I am excited to see what happens next.

Awful. I've been trying to approach the Valiant Universe with "The Valiant", which is letting me down, and this other new series is definitely not intriguing me to continue this discovery. First of all, for a guy like me, who doesn't know this universe, it's hard to really understand what's going on and what does it mean to have their powers, whose effects we see in a rushed battle against some random Arabs who apparently are taking over the world (?). Then, the realization isn't between the best, regarding both art and writing. Joshua Dysart writes a dreary and boring script, where the only interesting idea (the vision) is too filled with complicate relations to a world that doesn't even exist. Also, the characters who show up aren't the least memorable or well characterized. The artist is average and not adding a lot to the experience. more