Marvel's The Union #1
- WRITER
- Paul Grist
- Artist
- Drew Geraci, Le Beau Underwood, Paul Grist, Andrea Di Vito
- Letterer
- VC's Travis Lanham
- Cover Artist
- Ema Lupacchino, Morry Hollowell, Paul Grist, Carlos Pacheco, Rafael Fonteriz, Dave McCaig, Nolan Woodard, David Curiel, Mike McKone, R.B. Silva
- Publisher
- Marvel Comics
- Price
- 3.99
- Release Date
- 2020-12-02
- Colorist
- Nolan Woodard
As King in Black brings Knull, the dark god of the symbiotes, across the cosmos to Earth, the superheroes of the Marvel Universe scramble to mount their desperate last stand. Among the tie-ins launching to expand the crossover event is The Union, a five-issue miniseries that focuses on how the British heroes react to the coming of Knull as the deity's forces attack England. Originally slated to launch as part of the previous crossover event Empyre, the new title dovetails seamlessly into King in Black so far, and it's off to a quirky, impressive start as it introduces its off-beat, eclectic cast.
A British superhero initiative known as the Britannia Project undergoes televised training exercises, complete with corporate sponsors, social media audiences and glad-handing with newscasters. Led by the mythical Britannia and the working-class crimefighter Union Jack, the new team assembles heroes from all over the British Isles to defend the Commonwealth, with Kelpie, Snakes and Choir among the ensemble as they make their public debut. However, the routine training exercise and appearance with the media quickly goes off the rails as Knull approaches the Earth, with the planet poised to be plunged in darkness as the team faces a full-on baptism by fire on their inaugural mission.
Paul Grist writes, co-pencils and co-inks the book, with Britannia voicing the more vaulted, virtuous perspective of Britain juxtaposed with Union Jack's more grounded perspective as the sole member on the new team without any superpowers of his own. There's a not-so-subtle wink at the reader for much of the issue regarding shifting attitudes and values across the United Kingdom that doesn't come off as too pointed or heavy-handed, but it's usually delivered for comedic effect and often at Union Jack's expense. While the bulk of this opening issue is preoccupied with the team's public training mission and how well they play amongst themselves, there is still plenty of action even before the narrative begins to connect directly with King in Black.
Joining Grist on pencils is Andrea Di Vito, with Grist's inks joined by Drew Geraci and Le Beau Underwood and colored by Nolan Woodard. The art team does a great job of bringing the team to life, with Britannia and Union Jack really showcased in this issue -- both in regards to action and comedic effect as they react to the media and corporate sponsors -- while Kelpie, Snakes and Choir are poised to play a larger role and truly get the chance to cut loose as the story continues. And the action sequences that bookend this opening issue are rendered with kinetic aplomb, the visuals matching the sudden shift to apocalyptic escalation as it lives up to its status as a tie-in to the concurrent crossover event.
While unclear how vital The Union will eventually be to the main King in Black event, the first issue to the miniseries provides likable leads while putting several of Marvel's overlooked British superheroes in the spotlight. Anyone's overall enjoyment may vary based on readers' appreciation for characters like Union Jack, but Grist and Di Vito make the debut perfectly accessible for those unfamiliar with its cast. This isn't the MI-13 or Excalibur, but very much its own team poised to be forged by the fires of King in Black and ready to stand as the British Isles' last, great hope as the team of British misfits comes together at the end of the world.