Imperial stands out as one of Marvel's most significant and ambitious comic book launches in 2025. Crafted by Jonathan Hickman—the visionary behind groundbreaking arcs like House of X and the revamped Ultimate Universe—this series promises to redefine Marvel’s cosmic landscape, reshaping the futures of iconic characters like Nova and the Guardians of the Galaxy.
To uncover how Imperial will transform Marvel's cosmic realm, IGN connected with Hickman via email. Explore an exclusive preview in the gallery below, then dive into our full discussion.
Marvel's Imperial #1 Preview Gallery
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We began by asking Hickman about Imperial’s inception. Did this storyline emerge from his own creative drive, or did Marvel encourage him to build on successes like Krakoa and Ultimate Invasion? Hickman emphasized that 2025 felt like the ideal moment to reimagine Marvel’s cosmic heroes.
“It was simply time to revisit this corner of the Marvel Universe,” Hickman told IGN. “My availability, Marvel’s ongoing interest, and the proven model from the Ultimate line’s revival aligned perfectly. Imperial has come together organically—it’s a thrilling project readers will love.”
With Marvel’s new Ultimate line thriving, comparisons to Imperial are inevitable. Both initiatives aim to launch cohesive, reader-friendly storylines. Hickman shared insights on applying lessons from Ultimate to this cosmic venture.
“The parallels are intentional,” Hickman explained. “A focused lineup, minimal continuity clutter, and creative freedom proved successful before. Imperial follows that blueprint—though it’s set in the main Marvel Universe, so we’re skipping the ‘real-time’ element fans debated with Ultimate.”
Some fans speculate Imperial might echo 2006’s Annihilation, a crossover that revolutionized Marvel’s cosmic hierarchy. But Hickman dismisses direct comparisons.
“Annihilation was an invasion epic; Imperial isn’t. While both may spark new interest in cosmic titles, their narratives share no DNA.”
Imperial subtly ties to Hickman’s past work, such as Krakoa-era X-Men threads and the Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda from Secret Wars. Yet he clarifies that these connections are lighter than speculated.
“I do revisit my own work occasionally, but here, I’m mostly weaving others’ unfinished ideas into something fresh,” Hickman noted. “Only a fraction directly links to my earlier stories.”
The series also marks a cosmic resurgence for the Hulk family, revisiting Sakaar—a nod to 2006’s Planet Hulk. Hickman hints this timing isn’t accidental.
“Let’s just say Planet Hulk’s 20th anniversary deserved acknowledgment,” he teased.
Lastly, with artists Federico Vicentini and Iban Coello sharing duties, Hickman praised their synergy.
“Their dynamic styles elevate Imperial’s scope. Tackling this accelerated schedule required seamless collaboration—and they’ve nailed it.”
Imperial #1 arrives June 4, 2025.
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