Imperial Reshapes Marvel's Cosmic Heroes

Imperial stands out as one of Marvel's most exciting and high-profile comic book launches slated for 2025. Masterminded by Jonathan Hickman—the visionary behind groundbreaking arcs like House of X and the new Ultimate Universe—this series promises to redefine Marvel's cosmic landscape, much like its predecessors reshaped their respective franchises. Fans can expect sweeping changes for iconic heroes like Nova and the Guardians of the Galaxy.

To uncover how Imperial will revolutionize Marvel's cosmic arena, IGN spoke exclusively with Hickman via email. Browse our exclusive preview gallery below, then dive deeper into the interview.

Marvel's Imperial #1 Preview Gallery

View 8 Images

First, we explored Imperial's genesis—was this Hickman's passion project, or did Marvel recruit him hoping to recapture the magic of Krakoa and Ultimate Invasion? Hickman revealed that 2025 simply felt right for revitalizing Marvel's cosmic roster.

"The timing aligned perfectly," Hickman told IGN. "With my availability, Marvel's ongoing interest in this corner of their universe, and the successful Ultimate line relaunch as a blueprint, everything converged to make Imperial inevitable. It's shaping up wonderfully—readers are in for a thrilling ride."

Drawing parallels to the acclaimed Ultimate relaunch, we asked Hickman whether Imperial follows a similar strategy for Marvel's cosmic titles.

"The core principles translate well," Hickman explained. "A focused, manageable line where creators maintain creative freedom unburdened by excessive continuity has proven effective. Though unlike Ultimate, Imperial exists within the main Marvel Universe—we're skipping the 'real-time' approach, which has its tradeoffs but should satisfy fans."

While comparisons to 2006's universe-shaking Annihilation event seem natural, Hickman dismissed direct similarities:

"Annexation narratives couldn't be more different structurally. The endpoint—readers suddenly caring deeply about Marvel's cosmic titles—might echo Annihilation, but plot-wise? No connection."

Imperial subtly builds upon Hickman's earlier Marvel work, weaving in threads like Lilandra's resurrection from the "Hunt for Xavier" storyline and the Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda from Secret Wars. However, Hickman clarified:

"While I've been guilty of revisiting my own continuity, most elements here actually stem from other creators' past stories rather than my signature plot threads—though discerning readers will spot some familiar touches."

The series notably returns the Hulk family to cosmic prominence, revisiting Planet Hulk's wartorn Sakaar—a deliberate choice Hickman attributes to timing:

"Let's just say Marvel rarely ignores major anniversaries," he teased regarding Planet Hulk's upcoming 20th year.

Regarding the dual-artist approach featuring Federico Vicentini and Iban Coello, Hickman praised their collaboration:

"Their synergy elevates every aspect—from character designs to alien landscapes. With our accelerated schedule, their alternating workflow became essential while maintaining remarkable stylistic cohesion."

Imperial #1 arrives June 4, 2025.

For more comic news, explore must-read picks from this year's FCBD selection and our exclusive TMNT: The Last Ronin II creator interview.