Empress (comics)
A queen flees her tyrant husband with their children.
Empress is a limited comic book series owned by its creators, written by Mark Millar from Scotland, drawn by Canadian artist Stuart Immonen, and released in 2016 under Marvel Comics' Icon Comics label. The story takes place within the Millarworld and centers on Queen Emporia, who ruled over a royal empire on Earth 65 million years ago. She makes the choice to flee her husband, King Morax, taking their three children with her. A separate crossover event called *Big Game*, also written by Millar with art by Pepe Larraz, came out through Image Comics in 2023, featuring multiple Millarworld properties rather than serving as a direct prequel to Empress.
The project was first announced in October 2015 through *The Hollywood Reporter*, where it was described as a large, lively, and over-the-top space opera. Millar later told IGN and Vox that he intended the series to be suitable for his young daughters. In developing Queen Emporia, Millar explained that she married Morax at age twenty, finding it glamorous then, but by her mid-thirties she realizes she must escape for her own safety and her children's. He noted that the best science fiction has a human core, and a mother leaving a dangerous relationship is relatable—comparing it to *Star Wars* being about a lonely kid searching for his father.
Before publication, Millar revealed that the series is set on prehistoric Earth, where a galactic empire once had its capital, and credited a fan named Ricky from the Millarworld chat rooms for the concept. On the antagonist King Morax, Millar said he genuinely loves his wife and children and is not abusive toward them; Emporia's motivation is that she now sees his actions as unforgivable and worries her gentle son will inherit a terrible legacy. He compared her to Carmela Soprano, who once found the lifestyle appealing but eventually grows disillusioned.
Originally planned as three arcs of six issues each, only the first volume—seven issues collected as *Empress Book One*—was published by Icon Comics from April to November 2016. Further volumes then stalled. In 2017, a one-shot titled *Empress: Rulebook*, written by Will McLaren with art by Luana Vecchio, appeared in the *Millarworld New Talent Annual 2017* from Image Comics. Set before the main story, it shows Emporia's early struggles with her role and her decision to leave.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Empress
- Limited
- Yes
- Genre
- Space opera/science fiction
- Publisher
- Marvel Comics
- Startmo
- April
- Startyr
- 2016
- Endmo
- November
- Issues
- 7
- Main Char Team
- Queen Emporia · Dane Havelok · King Morax
- Writers
- Mark Millar
- Artists
- Stuart Immonen / Skottie Young (variant covers) · Sean Murphy (variant covers) · Steve McNiven (variant covers)
- Pencillers
- Stuart Immonen
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The series was announced in October 2015 via The Hollywood Reporter as 'a big, fun, bombastic space opera.' Millar described Queen Emporia as a woman who married King Morax at age twenty but, now in her mid-thirties, realizes she must leave for her own sake and that of her children. Millar noted that Morax is not abusive to his family but that Emporia fears her children will inherit his 'appalling mantle.' The story is set on prehistoric Earth 65 million years ago, where a galactic empire once considered the planet its capital.
The first volume, collected as Empress Book One, was published from April 6 to November 23, 2016. Originally intended as three six-issue arcs, only the seven-issue first volume was published before subsequent volumes entered development hell. In 2017, a one-shot titled Empress: Rulebook, written by Will McLaren and illustrated by Luana Vecchio, was published by Image Comics as part of the Millarworld New Talent Annual 2017. In 2023, Big Game, a crossover illustrated by Pepe Larraz, was published by Image Comics, serving as a direct prequel to Empress. A new volume of Empress will be published by Dark Horse Comics, which also published an omnibus edition of the first volume.
Reader's Guide
Empress is significant as a creator-owned series that blends science fiction with a human story of a mother escaping a dangerous relationship. Millar emphasized that the series was inspired by human emotions rather than high-concept ideas, comparing it to the relatable core of Star Wars. The series gained pre-publication attention for its setting on prehistoric Earth and for Millar crediting an unnamed fan from the Millarworld chat rooms with the concept. The series also generated interest for its planned film adaptation, which was in development in May 2016 with Millar producing and F. Scott Frazier writing the script, later acquired by Netflix in 2018 with Lindsey Beer attached to write, before entering development hell. The series' legacy includes expanding the Millarworld universe and spawning a prequel crossover, Big Game, which connects the story to other Millarworld properties.
Did You Know?
- The series was originally intended to consist of three six-issue arcs, but only the seven-issue first volume was published.
- Millar credited an unnamed 'pal' who ran the Millarworld chat rooms with giving him the concept for the series.
- A one-shot prequel, Empress: Rulebook, was published in 2017 as part of the Millarworld New Talent Annual 2017.
- In 2023, the crossover Big Game served as a direct prequel to Empress, featuring Hit-Girl traveling back in time to the reign of King Morax.
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