*Imperial* stands as one of Marvel’s most ambitious and expansive comic book projects set to launch in 2025. Spearheaded by the visionary Jonathan Hickman, the mastermind behind groundbreaking narratives like *House of X* and the reimagined *Ultimate Universe*, *Imperial* promises to redefine the landscape for Marvel's cosmic heroes, including Nova and the Guardians of the Galaxy.
To delve deeper into how *Imperial* will revolutionize the cosmic realm, IGN had the opportunity to discuss the project with Hickman via email. Below, you can explore an exclusive preview through our slideshow gallery, followed by more insightful details from the interview.
Marvel's Imperial #1 Preview Gallery
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When asked about the origins of *Imperial*, Hickman shared that the timing felt perfect to revisit Marvel’s cosmic universe. "I think it was simply time to revisit this corner of the Marvel Universe," he told 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 has paved the way for *Imperial*, which serves as the cornerstone for a new series of cosmic books. Hickman sees a clear connection between the two initiatives, noting, "You can, in my opinion, draw a direct line between the two in terms of what we think can succeed with in the current market. 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."
He added that while *Imperial* won't follow the 'real time' aspect of the Ultimate line, being set in the main Marvel Universe, this decision has its own advantages and will likely be well-received by fans.
When drawing comparisons to the 2006 *Annihilation* crossover, which also shifted the status quo for Marvel’s cosmic heroes, Hickman was quick to differentiate *Imperial*. "No. Simply because that’s an invasion story and this isn’t anything like that," he explained. "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* builds upon Hickman’s previous Marvel works, such as the "Hunt for Xavier" crossover in the X-Men line, which set the stage for *Imperial* by resurrecting the former Shi’ar Empress Lilandra and reuniting her with Charles Xavier to rescue their daughter Xandra. Additionally, *Imperial* features the Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda, an element teased in 2015’s *Secret Wars* and later explored in Ta-Nehisi Coates’ *Black Panther* series. Despite these connections, Hickman clarified that *Imperial* isn’t as tied to his previous works as it might appear. "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 said. "Sure, there’s some of that in there, but not as much as some people might expect."
*Imperial* also marks a significant shift for the Hulk family, bringing them back to the war-torn world of Sakaar, reminiscent of the 2006 *Planet Hulk* storyline. Hickman hinted at the timing, saying, "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."
Regarding the artistic direction, *Imperial* is split between artists Federico Vicentini and Iban Coello. Hickman praised their contributions, stating, "Both of those guys are crushing it. 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 set to hit the shelves on June 4, 2025.
For more on the world of comics, find out what you should read in this year’s FCBD lineup, and check out our exclusive interview with the writers of TMNT: The Last Ronin II.
