The Inhumans debuted in The Fantastic Four No. 45 back in 1965. Since then, two things have been true. First, they’re among the most powerful beings in comics. For example, Medusa’s hair can cut and bend steel, Karnak sees the weakness in everything, and a whisper from Black Bolt’s voice can shatter mountains. The other thing, and this can be debated, is that they’ve been Marvel Comics’ punching bags for decades.
As an avid and knowledgeable comic book reader, I understand the game. No matter how powerful you are, at some point, someone weaker will beat someone stronger. It’s like wrestling. You have to make certain characters look strong by having them lose to someone less than them. It’s the only way to make heroes and villains look impressive. Maybe the most obvious example of this happened during DC Comics' Heroes in Crisis, when Wonder Woman, Batman, and Superman were defeated by Harley Quinn.
However, a species with the powerset of the Inhumans shouldn’t be looked at as weak. It’s partly why no one believed they’d make a suitable replacement for the X-Men. Well, thanks to Marvel’s newest crossover, Imperial, things could be looking up for the Inhumans.
Imperial began with key people within various galactic empires being killed, and the Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda being blamed for their deaths. Readers later find out that the Skrulls were behind this, but something still didn’t seem right. They didn’t have the numbers or the time to pull off something this drastic and life-altering. Later, in Imperial No. 3, it’s revealed that this was an orchestrated move by Maximus and Black Bolt so the Inhumans could get an empire.
Then, in Imperial War: Nova – Centurion, the Inhumans broadcast themselves defeating the Skrulls and saying they’re here to save everyone. Now, no matter what, the Inhumans come off looking like heroes while Wakanda remains the enemy.
Marvel Comics' brilliant move
Something needed to change. The Inhumans can be interesting, but nothing has been done to change the perception of them. Turning them into intergalactic villains was the right move. It shows that there is more to them than their strength and powers. The moves they made on top of the patience it took to do this are on a level that Doctor Doom hasn’t done. Victor von Doom may currently be the king of Earth, but the Inhumans could be on their way to being rulers of multiple empires.
Despite everything good this writer has mentioned, the Inhumans still need to prove themselves. Marvel Comics fans have been here before. The Inhumans started a cold war after Son of M, which continued in Silent War (thanks, Pietro). They left this moment looking strong, but it didn’t lead to much. Thankfully, things can change.
There is an amazing creative team behind Imperial. Among them are writers like Jonathan Hickman (who is writing the main Imperial storyline and some of the tie-ins), Stephanie Phillips (Imperial War: Planet She-Hulk), Jed MacKay (Imperial War: Nova – Centurion), Steve Foxe (Imperial War: Exiles), and Dan Abnett (Imperial War: Imperial Guardians). Each of them (along with the artist, colorists, letterers, etc) can help put the Inhumans at the top of the food chain where, maybe, they should’ve been for years.
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