Imperial's Impact: Reshaping Marvel's Cosmic Heroes

In 2025, Marvel Comics will launch one of its most ambitious and expansive projects yet with "Imperial," spearheaded by the renowned Jonathan Hickman. Known for revolutionizing Marvel's universe with projects like House of X and the new Ultimate Universe, Hickman is set to redefine the cosmic landscape of Marvel, focusing on characters like Nova and the Guardians of the Galaxy. In an exclusive interview with IGN, Hickman provided insights into the origins and ambitions of "Imperial," promising a thrilling new status quo for Marvel's cosmic heroes.

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Hickman shared that the timing felt right to revisit and refresh Marvel's cosmic universe. "I think it was simply time to revisit this corner of the Marvel Universe," he stated. With his availability and Marvel's ongoing interest in the cosmic lineup, coupled with the successful model of launching the Ultimate line, "Imperial" emerged as a perfect opportunity. Hickman's enthusiasm is palpable as he described the project: "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 provided a blueprint for "Imperial." Hickman noted, "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." He emphasized the importance of a concise series of books that allow for deep investment from readers and creative freedom for writers, without being bogged down by external continuity. Unlike the Ultimate Universe, "Imperial" will not use a 'real time' approach, which Hickman believes will be a welcome change for many fans.

When comparing "Imperial" to the 2006 "Annihilation" crossover, Hickman was clear about their differences. "No. Simply because that’s an invasion story and this isn’t anything like that," he said. Although both may result in a renewed interest in Marvel's cosmic books, their narratives diverge significantly.

"Imperial" builds upon some elements from Hickman's previous works, such as the "Hunt for Xavier" crossover in the X-Men line, which ties into the resurrection of the former Shi'ar Empress Lilandra and her reunion with Charles Xavier. The series also introduces the Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda, an idea first hinted at in 2015's "Secret Wars" and further explored in Ta-Nehisi Coates' "Black Panther" series. However, Hickman clarified that "Imperial" is not heavily reliant on his past narratives, saying, "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."

The series also sees the Hulk family venturing back into the cosmic realm, revisiting the wartorn world of Sakaar from the 2006 "Planet Hulk" storyline. Hickman teased this return, noting, "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."

"Imperial" is also unique in its artistic approach, with Federico Vicentini and Iban Coello sharing the creative duties. Hickman praised their work, saying, "Both of those guys are crushing it... And with the book having a compressed publishing schedule, 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.