Review by Karl Verhoven

Daken was introduced as Wolverine’s son with a relatively simple backstory. Wolverine believed he’d died as a baby along with his mother, but the orphaned Daken endured a grim upbringing, all the while resenting his father for deserting him. Also blessed or cursed with claws, he’s clashed with Wolverine several times before Empire kicks off.

Co-writers Marjorie Liu and Daniel Way open by establishing that Daken may be wandering around acting kindly, but revealing his thoughts are contemptuous as far as the bulk of humanity is concerned. “…thinking their numbers will keep them safe”, he gloats, “but the wolf is at the door and I am hungry”. It’s uncomfortable reading, and the attempt to connect him with a serial killer from days gone by is strained.

Liu and Way characterise Daken as resolutely unpleasant. Not caring for anyone empowers him to do what he likes, and being the toughest guy in the room means he fears no consequences. It’s rare for such unrestrained malevolence to be the central character, and it reverses the usual wish fulfilment of superhero comics, as instead of wanting the lead character to survive whatever’s thrown at them, the wish is for Daken and his superiority complex to get a good pasting.

Both Marco Pierfederici on the opening chapter and Giuseppe Camuncoli on the remainder embed Daken in glamorous surroundings with Camuncoli going the extra mile to establish locations. There are plenty because while we’re given many narrative boxes of Daken expounding his negative worldview, there’s not much clue as to what he’s up to for much of the volume. Years after the continuity presented, Wolverine’s strange burning presence also makes little sense, as it’s tied into what was going on in Wolverine Goes to Hell.

In terms of Daken’s character arc, a final chapter meeting with the Fantastic Four contradicts much of what’s previously been presented, where he sure doesn’t come across as someone seeking redemption. Empire ends in a suitably foreboding manner, leaving us all wondering if people have been played. It’s a stylish looking, but decompressed trade not revealing much beyond Daken’s personality. If you like your stories with a very slow build, Empire will hit the spot, and the continuity picks up in Daken vs. X-23: Collision.