Marvel's Cosmic Heroes Revamped in New Imperial Series

Imperial stands out as one of Marvel’s most expansive and bold comic book ventures for 2025. Crafted by Jonathan Hickman, known for reshaping Marvel narratives with House of X and the new Ultimate Universe, this series promises to redefine the landscape for cosmic heroes like Nova and the Guardians of the Galaxy.

To explore how Imperial will transform Marvel’s cosmic realm, IGN spoke with Hickman via email. View an exclusive preview in the slideshow gallery below, then read on for more details.

Marvel's Imperial #1 Preview Gallery

We began by asking about Imperial’s origins. Was this a story Hickman was eager to tell, or did Marvel approach him to mirror the success of Krakoa and Ultimate Invasion? Hickman shared that 2025 was the perfect moment to reexamine Marvel’s cosmic roster.

“The timing felt right to dive back into this part of the Marvel Universe,” Hickman told IGN. “My availability, the company’s interest, and the proven success of launching a focused line like Ultimate made Imperial a natural fit. It’s shaping up to be an exciting book that readers will love.”

The Ultimate line’s success over the past two years draws parallels with Imperial’s role as the cornerstone for a new cosmic book lineup. We asked Hickman how closely these initiatives align and whether lessons from the Ultimate Universe influenced Imperial.

“There’s a clear connection in terms of what thrives in today’s market,” Hickman explained. “A concise, reader-friendly line where creators can execute their vision without being bogged down by complex continuity is a strong approach for launches like this.”

He added, “The key difference is that Imperial isn’t set in an alternate Marvel Universe, so we won’t follow the ‘real-time’ storytelling of the Ultimate line. This has its pros and cons, but I think fans will appreciate the approach.”

Imperial evokes memories of 2006’s Annihilation crossover, which reshaped Marvel’s cosmic hierarchy and birthed the modern Guardians of the Galaxy. Does Hickman see parallels between Annihilation and Imperial?

“Not really, as Annihilation was an invasion tale, and this is entirely different,” Hickman clarified. “The outcome might feel similar, with a surge of compelling cosmic titles, but the story and plot are distinct.”

Imperial builds on elements from Hickman’s past Marvel work. For instance, the recent “Hunt for Xavier” X-Men crossover resolved a Krakoan-era thread, reviving Shi’ar Empress Lilandra and reuniting her with Charles Xavier to rescue their daughter Xandra. The series also spotlights the Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda, introduced in 2015’s Secret Wars and later expanded in Ta-Nehisi Coates’ Black Panther run.

Despite these ties, Hickman noted that Imperial isn’t as heavily linked to his prior work as some might assume.

“I’m known for weaving my own continuity within Marvel’s broader tapestry, but much of Imperial draws from stories by other creators over the years, not just my own plot threads,” Hickman said. “There’s some of that, but it’s less than people might think.”

Imperial also shifts the Hulk family back toward a cosmic focus. Preview art reveals Hulk and She-Hulk returning to the war-torn Sakaar, echoing 2006’s iconic Planet Hulk storyline. Hickman confirmed this nod is intentional.

“We’re nearing the twentieth anniversary of Planet Hulk, and Marvel rarely misses a chance to celebrate such milestones,” Hickman teased.

We also inquired about the choice to split art duties between Federico Vicentini and Iban Coello. How does the team leverage two artists to bring this epic to life?

“Both artists are delivering phenomenal work,” Hickman said. “Their handling of story moments, character designs, and unique settings has been impressive. With the book’s tight schedule—we moved it up earlier this year—having them collaborate was essential. Their styles complement each other perfectly.”

Imperial #1 hits shelves on June 4, 2025.

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