In 2025, Marvel Comics is set to launch one of its most ambitious projects yet with Imperial, a groundbreaking series helmed by the visionary writer Jonathan Hickman. Known for his transformative work on 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 delve deeper into what Imperial promises to bring to the Marvel Universe, IGN had the opportunity to discuss the project with Hickman via email. Below, you can find an exclusive preview in our slideshow gallery, followed by further insights from the man himself.
Marvel's Imperial #1 Preview Gallery
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The genesis of Imperial stems from a timely opportunity to revisit Marvel's cosmic realm. Hickman shared with IGN, "I think it was simply time to revisit this corner of the Marvel Universe. 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."
Drawing parallels with the successful launch of the new Ultimate line, Hickman sees Imperial as a similar venture but with distinct differences. He explained, "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 further noted that unlike the Ultimate line, Imperial is not set in an alternative universe, which offers both advantages and challenges.
While some might compare Imperial to the 2006 Annihilation crossover, Hickman dismisses any direct similarities, stating, "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."
Despite incorporating elements from his previous works, such as the "Hunt for Xavier" crossover and the Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda, Hickman clarifies that Imperial is not heavily reliant on his past narratives. He remarked, "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. Sure, there’s some of that in there, but not as much as some people might expect."
The series also marks a significant shift for the Hulk family, returning 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."
The creative team behind Imperial includes artists Federico Vicentini and Iban Coello, whose collaboration Hickman praised, "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 slated for release 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.
