Imperial stands out as one of Marvel's most ambitious comic book ventures in 2025. Helmed 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 his earlier work transformed the X-Men and Ultimate lines. Characters like Nova and the Guardians of the Galaxy are poised for a dramatic new era.
To uncover how Imperial will reshape Marvel's cosmos, IGN spoke with Hickman via email. Dive into our exclusive preview gallery below, then explore his insights.
Exclusive Preview: Marvel's Imperial #1
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We began by asking Hickman about Imperial's inception. Was this his passion project, or did Marvel seek to replicate the success of Krakoa and Ultimate Invasion? Hickman revealed that 2025 felt like the perfect moment to reimagine Marvel's cosmic roster.
“It was time to revisit this corner of the Marvel Universe,” Hickman told IGN. “My availability, Marvel’s interest, and the proven model of the Ultimate relaunch aligned perfectly. Imperial clicked into place organically—it’s a thrilling story fans will love.”
With the new Ultimate line’s success, parallels naturally arise. Could Imperial spark a similar resurgence for cosmic titles? Hickman acknowledges shared strategies but highlights key differences.
“Like Ultimate, Imperial is designed for today’s market: a lean, cohesive line where creators thrive without continuity overload,” he explained. “But unlike Ultimate, this isn’t an alternate universe—no ‘real-time’ narrative, which has its pros and cons.”
The cosmic upheaval recalls 2006’s Annihilation, which revolutionized Marvel’s space saga and birthed the modern Guardians. Does Hickman see parallels?
“Not structurally. Annihilation was an invasion; Imperial isn’t,” he clarified. “The outcome—readers embracing cosmic books—might echo, but the stories diverge completely.”
Imperial weaves threads from Hickman’s past work, like Lilandra’s return in “Hunt for Xavier” and the Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda from Secret Wars. Yet he emphasizes originality.
“I do tap into my own continuity, but here I’m largely expanding others’ ideas,” Hickman noted. “Only a fraction ties directly to my earlier projects—less than fans might assume.”
The series also reignites the Hulk family’s cosmic role, revisiting Sakaar—Planet Hulk’s infamous battleground—ahead of its 20th anniversary. “Marvel loves milestone moments,” Hickman teased.
With artists Federico Vicentini and Iban Coello sharing duties, Hickman praised their synergy: “Their styles elevate the story’s scale and urgency. Tag-teaming was essential to meet our accelerated schedule.”
Imperial #1 arrives June 4, 2025.
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