Imperial's Impact: Reshaping Marvel's Cosmic Heroes

In 2025, Marvel Comics is set to launch one of its most ambitious projects yet with the series *Imperial*, masterminded by the acclaimed writer Jonathan Hickman. Known for his transformative work on series like *House of X* and *the new Ultimate Universe*, Hickman is poised to redefine the landscape for Marvel's cosmic heroes, including Nova and the Guardians of the Galaxy. To shed light on how *Imperial* will reshape the cosmic narrative, IGN conducted an exclusive email interview with Hickman. Dive into the preview gallery below and delve deeper into what *Imperial* has in store.

Marvel's Imperial #1 Preview Gallery

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The origins of *Imperial* are rooted in Hickman's desire to explore and refresh Marvel’s cosmic corner. "I think it was simply time to revisit this corner of the Marvel Universe," Hickman shared with IGN. "That I was available and interested, and that it’s been of ongoing interest to the company, and that the model of launching something like this had just been done with the Ultimate line, all added up to it feeling like this was an opportunity to do *Imperial*. It’s come together well and I think people are going to enjoy it. It’s a fun book."

The success of the new Ultimate line over the past two years serves as a blueprint for *Imperial*. Hickman sees a direct correlation in terms of market viability, stating, "A small, tight line of books that readers can invest in and not feel overwhelmed, and where creators can execute their vision for the individual titles without drowning in external continuity seems to be a pretty solid model of how to launch something like this." However, *Imperial* differs in that it is not set in an alternate universe, allowing for a different storytelling approach.

While comparisons to the 2006 *Annihilation* crossover might come to mind due to its significant impact on Marvel's cosmic heroes, Hickman clarifies, "No. Simply because that’s an invasion story and this isn’t anything like that. The ‘what-you-get’ end results might be similar in that all of a sudden there are a bunch of Marvel cosmic books you care about. But plot/story-wise? No."

*Imperial* also builds on Hickman’s previous work, with elements like the resurrection of Shi'ar Empress Lilandra and the introduction of the Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda. Yet, Hickman emphasizes that *Imperial* is not solely a continuation of his past narratives. "Well, I’m kind of notorious for mining my own continuity inside of the greater Marvel one, but I’d say well over half of this is more like me picking up pieces from a bunch of extended stories that have been done over the years by other creators than me just picking up plot threads from my previous books," he explains.

The series also sees the Hulk family venturing back to the planet Sakaar, echoing the *Planet Hulk* storyline from 2006. Hickman hints at the significance of this return, noting, "All I’ll say there is we’re coming up on the twentieth anniversary of *Planet Hulk* and Marvel doesn’t usually let those opportunities pass by."

Collaborating with artists Federico Vicentini and Iban Coello, Hickman praises their contributions to *Imperial*. "Both of those guys are crushing it," he says. "I’ve been very pleased and surprised at how they’ve tackled some of the story beats, character designs, and wild locations this thing has. And with the book having a compressed publishing schedule (we actually moved it forward at the beginning of the year), the only way it could be done was for them to tag team it. The trick there is they have to complement each other and that’s clearly the case here."

*Imperial #1* is slated for release on June 4, 2025. For more on the world of comics, explore what you should read in this year’s FCBD lineup, and don't miss our exclusive interview with the writers of TMNT: The Last Ronin II.