History Main / Empire

* ''Magazine/{{Empire}}'', a British film magazine;

* ''Series/{{Empire}}'', a tv series produced by Lee Daniels and starring Terrence Howard.

* Several television series named ''Empire'', none of which have pages yet;

* A hegemonic centralized state, but you probably knew that already.

http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/3917_400x600.jpg
[[caption-width:400:Iron Man has HAD IT with you people.]]
'''Empire''' is a comic book by Mark Waid and Barry Kitson about. . . well, ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin. A totalitarian [[TheEmpire Empire]] has conquered most of the world, led by the power-armored super-scientist [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Golgoth.]] The world's greatest superheroes are all dead, and the last bastions of freedom are cut off, outmatched, and being overrun. Nothing can stop Golgoth's drive for total world domination.

Or can it? The Empire, while mighty, is not without its own problems. The bevy of psychopaths that make up the government's elite are constantly scheming to advance their causes over their fellows', and occasionally over their leader. Golgoth himself, meanwhile, has a weakness that his enemies are trying to exploit.

Empire is one of the few comics to do DarkerAndEdgier right. The art is immersive and the story, though grim, is a very competent look into how a world ruled by super-villains would actually work. The first two issues were published in 2000 by Gorilla Comics, a flash-in-the-pan publisher whose only product of any note was Empire. After Gorilla folded, the series was picked up (in 2003) and completed by DC Comics, although the events and characters in it are distinctly separate from the main DCU.

Not to be confused with [[OrsonScottCardsEmpire Orson Scott Card's Empire]], or the 8 hour Creator/AndyWarhol film, or the British film magazine, or [[TheEmpire the trope]].

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!!This comic contains examples of:

* AddictionPowered: {{Inverted|trope}}. Golgoth keeps his minions controlled by feeding them an addictive super-powering drug called Eucharist. The inversion comes in that [[spoiler: the drug comes from the hero Endymion's blood. His superhuman biology creates other people's addictions]].
* AfterTheEnd: By the time the comics begin, Golgoth and co. have already conquered most of the world.
* AnswersToTheNameOfGod: A CrowningMomentOfAwesome after Lucullan has been chewing out Golgoth for neglecting his empire.
-->'''Golgoth:''' Is that all?
-->'''Lucullan:''' For now.
-->'''Golgoth:''' Then come along [[DaddysGirl Delfi]].
-->'''Lucullan:''' Oh dear God.
-->'''Golgoth:''' You may call me Golgoth.
* BadAss: Golgoth and most of his inner circle.
* BreakTheCutie: [[TheCape Endymion's]] treatment is a very comprehensive breaking. Ambassador Rasmussen also gets this, though a different way.
* TheCape: Endymion. And good God, does he suffer for it.
* CherryTapping: When Golgoth's forces surround the last of the Old World armies in Aswan, they have enough airpower to flatten the city in minutes. Instead, they take the time to build a gigantic bridge before sending in only ground forces to finish them off.
* TheChessmaster: Golgoth and Lucullan.
* ChronicBackstabbingDisorder: Golgoth's entire inner circle has an incredibly advanced case of it.
* ColdBloodedTorture: Loads. Xanna, Grieze, and Tumbril all do it as a recreational activity.
* CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass: Lucullan. The whole {{Malaproper}} thing is a front to make people underestimate him (and it works, too).
* DaddysGirl: Delfi is a combination of this, PsychoSupporter, and StepfordSmiler.
* DepravedBisexual: Xanna. Emphasis on "depraved."
* TheEmpire: Obviously.
* EvenBadMenLoveTheirMamas: Or in this case, their wives and daughters. Crucial to Golgoth's backstory and character arc.
* EvenEvilHasStandards: Lohkyn expresses horror when he finds out that Delfi (the underage girl he's been giving drugs to and having sex with) [[spoiler: murdered her own mother.]]
* EvilIsDumb: The entire series is a comprehensive, horrible aversion.
* TheFaceless: we never once see Golgoth's face, even in flashbacks; it's implied that he hasn't removed his mask since his wife died.
* EvilOverlord: Golgoth, obviously, though he's much more hands-on than most.
* FateWorseThanDeath: If you're ''lucky'', they'll just shoot you.
* GeniusBruiser: This trope IS Golgoth.
* GovernmentDrugEnforcement: Unusually for this trope, it's not applied to the public at large, but rather as a narcotic leash to keep Golgoth's inner circle in line.
* HarmfulToMinors: Not to mention everyone else.
* KlingonPromotion: Averted, surprisingly. Golgoth's drive still doesn't allow for this tactic and any such attempts amongst subordinates are ruthlessly stamped on.
* {{Malaproper}}: Lucullan, in an [[DelusionsOfEloquence often-hilariously failed attempt at]] SesquipedalianLoquaciousness. Best example:
-->'''Lucullan:''' I failed you, and am cognizant of the causatum. . . the res-- resid-- residuum. . .\\
''(Beat)''\\
'''Lucullan:''' I know the consequences.
* ManInTheMachine: Kafra, and [[spoiler:after his assassination, his assistant Dess.]]
* MeaningfulName: Golgoth, Tumbril, the Qaron.
* OutGambitted: Kafra has Xanna snared in one of these until Grieze [[TakeAThirdOption uses a more]] [[JustShootHim direct solution.]] [[spoiler: Also, what's going on with the [[TheRemnant resistance]] in Greenland.]]
* RedShirt: Lt. [=McOrly=], on account of being TooDumbToLive.
* TheRemnant: They're the good guys. What's left of them.
* SuperSerum: Eucharist, a highly addictive substance that supercharges the abilities of those who take it. People under it's influence can dodge bullets, and the high is described as "BetterThanSex." The secret of its production is one of the major running subplots.
* TakeOverTheWorld: In the backstory, they've already accomplished most of it. [[spoiler: They finish the job in the main plot.]]
* TakeAThirdOption: How Grieze deals with [[InsufferableGenius Kafra's]] attempt to blackmail Xanna.
* PsychoSerum: What Eucharist withdrawl does.
* WhamEpisode: About the final third of the series is ascending Wham Episodes.
* YouHaveFailedMe: The core of Golgoth's employee-relations and human resources policies.
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Unrelated to [[OrsonScottCardsEmpire Orson Scott Card's Empire]] (see Literature), or the 8 hour Creator/AndyWarhol film.

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Unrelated to [[OrsonScottCardsEmpire Orson Scott Card's Empire]] (see Literature).

Empire is one of the few comics (one of the fewer not written by AlanMoore) to do DarkerAndEdgier right. The art is immersive and the story, though grim, is a very competent look into how a world ruled by super-villains would actually work. The first two issues were published in 2000 by Gorilla Comics, a flash-in-the-pan publisher whose only product of any note was Empire. After Gorilla folded, the series was picked up (in 2003) and completed by DC Comics, although the events and characters in it are distinctly separate from the main DCU.

* SmithWillSuffice: A CrowningMomentOfAwesome after Lucullan has been chewing out Golgoth for neglecting his empire.
-->'''Golgoth:''' Is that all?
-->'''Lucullan:''' For now.
-->'''Golgoth:''' Then come along [[DaddysGirl Delfi]].
-->'''Lucullan:''' Oh dear God.
-->'''Golgoth:''' You may call me Golgoth.

* BreakTheCutie: YourMileageMayVary on the "cutie," but [[TheCape Endymion's]] treatment is a very comprehensive breaking. Ambassador Rasmussen also gets this, though a different way.

Empire is one of the few comics (one of the fewer not written by AlanMoore) to do DarkerAndEdgier right. The art is immersive and the story, though grim, is a very competent look into how a world ruled by super-villains would actually work. The first two issues were published in 2003 by Gorilla Comics, a flash-in-the-pan publisher whose only product of any note was Empire. After Gorilla folded, the series was picked up and completed by DC Comics, although the events and characters in it are distinctly separate from the main DCU.

* {{Malaproper}}: Lucullan, in an often-hilariously failed attempt at SesquipedalianLoquaciousness. Best example:

* FridgeLogic: A series of flashbacks show Golgoth began his world conquest in Australia, and then taking Japan, Russia, Europe and even the United States. Why then after all that, does the book begin with Golgoth conquering New Zealand? Why leave it for last? Shouldn't that have have been much higher on the list?

* VizziniGambit: Kafra has Xanna snared in one of these until Grieze [[TakeAThirdOption uses a more]] [[JustShootHim direct solution.]] [[spoiler: Also, what's going on with the [[TheRemnant resistance]] in Greenland.]]

[[OrIsIt Or can it?]] The Empire, while mighty, is not without its own problems. The bevy of psychopaths that make up the government's elite are constantly scheming to advance their causes over their fellows', and occasionally over their leader. Golgoth himself, meanwhile, has a weakness that his enemies are trying to exploit.

* ManInTheMachine: Kafra, and [[spoiler:after his assassination, his assistant Dess succeeds him.]]

* VizziniGambit: Kafra has Xanna snared in one of these until Grieze [[TakeAThirdOption uses a more]] [[WhyDontYaJustShootHim direct solution.]] [[spoiler: Also, what's going on with the [[TheRemnant resistance]] in Greenland.]]

* WhyDontYaJustShootHim: Averted. If you're ''[[FateWorseThanDeath lucky]]'', they'll just shoot you.

Unrelated to OrsonScottCardsEmpire (see Literature).

Unrelated to OrsonScottCard'sEmpire (see Literature).

Unrelated to Orson Scott Card's Empire (see Literature).

* SuperSerum: Eucharist, a highly addictive substance that supercharges the abilities of those who take it. People under it's influence can dodge bullets, and the high is described as "better than sex." The secret of its production is one of the major running subplots.

* TastesLikeDiabetes: Most of Delfi's dialog. {{Lampshaded}} by Lohkyn:
-->'''Lohkyn:''' God, I need insulin just to ''listen'' to you-!
* TrueNeutral: The Qaron are clearly Type 2. Despite their alliance with TheRemnant, they're acting in service of their own agenda.

* IronWoobie: In a weird way, [[spoiler: Golgoth]] becomes one of these.

This comic contains examples of: