The Young Avenger known as Hulkling makes his influence felt in a new propaganda-themed teaser image released by Marvel Comics for first issue of its fast-approaching event series Empyre, which arrives April 15.
Illustrated by John Tyler Christopher in the style of a military recruitment poster, the promotional image sees deified Hulkling looming large over both the Kree and the Skrulls. The green-skinned goliath is depicted draped in purple garb with a golden sword in his right hand. "Hail the Emperor," the poster reads. "Hail the Empire. Victory through unity."
Spinning out of the events of Marvel's Incoming one-shot, Empyre follows the Hulkling -- the Kree-Skrull hybrid who has become the new leader of the alliance between the two alien races and taken the mantle of Emperor Dorrek VIII. No longer fighting each other, the combined forces of the Kree and the Skrulls have a new target in mind their "final war": Earth.
The main protagonists of Empyre are none other than the Avengers and the Fantastic Four. Before the event series launches proper in April, however, Marvel will release Road to Empyre: The Kree/Skrull War -- a tie-in one-shot -- on March 25. According to the comic's synopsis, Road to Empyre will explore the origin of the perpetual conflict between the Kree and the Skrulls.
Per Empyre's official synopsis,
The return of the Celestial Messiah to the Blue Area of the Moon sets off a new chapter in the Kree/Skrull War—only this time, it’s a Kree/Skrull Alliance aimed directly at Earth, and only the Avengers, the Fantastic Four and more of Earth’s heroes stand in their way…
Written by Al Ewing and Dan Slott and illustrated by Valerio Schiti with a cover by Jim Cheung, Empyre #1 goes on sale April 15 from Marvel Comics.