In 2025, Marvel is set to launch one of its most ambitious and expansive comic book projects yet with *Imperial*, spearheaded by the visionary writer Jonathan Hickman. Known for his transformative work on *House of X* and the reinvention of the Ultimate Universe, Hickman is poised to redefine the cosmic landscape of Marvel once again. *Imperial* promises to reshape the status quo for iconic cosmic heroes such as Nova and the Guardians of the Galaxy, offering fans an exciting new chapter in Marvel's vast universe.
To gain insight into how *Imperial* will revolutionize the cosmic arena, IGN conducted an exclusive email interview with Hickman. Before diving into the details, take a moment to explore the preview gallery below for a sneak peek at what's to come.
Marvel's Imperial #1 Preview Gallery
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The origins of *Imperial* stem from a timely opportunity to re-examine Marvel's cosmic lineup. 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."
Following the successful relaunch of the Ultimate Universe, *Imperial* aims to follow a similar model but with a distinct approach. Hickman explains, "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 clarifies the differences, stating, "The big difference, obviously, is that this isn't set in an alternative Marvel Universe, so we won't be doing the 'real time' aspect of the Ultimate line. Which has its pluses and minuses, but I think most people will be pleased about."
Comparisons have been drawn between *Imperial* and the 2006 *Annihilation* crossover, which significantly altered the cosmic landscape for Marvel heroes. However, Hickman dismisses these parallels, saying, "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."
*Imperial* builds on elements from Hickman's previous Marvel work, including the "Hunt for Xavier" crossover and the Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda. However, Hickman emphasizes that the connections to his past projects are not as deep as one might assume. "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 explains. "Sure, there's some of that in there, but not as much as some people might expect."
The series also marks a return to cosmic storytelling for the Hulk family, revisiting the world of Sakaar from the acclaimed *Planet Hulk* storyline. Hickman teases, "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 artistic direction of *Imperial* is shared between Federico Vicentini and Iban Coello. Hickman praises their contributions, noting, "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 shelves on June 4, 2025. For more on the world of comics, explore what you should read in this year's Free Comic Book Day lineup, and check out our exclusive interview with the writers of *TMNT: The Last Ronin II*.
