Guardians of the Galaxy's Cosmic Rebirth

Imperial stands out as one of Marvel's most significant and ambitious comic launches for 2025. Helmed by Jonathan Hickman—the mastermind behind transformative story arcs like House of X and the new Ultimate Universe—this series promises to redefine Marvel’s cosmic landscape. Just as his previous work reshaped entire franchises, Imperial is poised to establish a fresh era for iconic heroes such as Nova and the Guardians of the Galaxy.

To understand how Imperial will reshape Marvel’s cosmic arena, IGN connected with Hickman over email. Explore an exclusive preview in the gallery below, then dive into our full conversation.

Marvel's Imperial #1 Preview Gallery

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We began by asking Hickman about Imperial’s beginnings. Was this a story he was eager to tell, or did Marvel approach him hoping to recreate the success of Krakoa and Ultimate Invasion? Hickman explained that 2025 felt like the perfect moment to reimagine Marvel’s cosmic roster.

“I think it was simply time to revisit this corner of the Marvel Universe,” Hickman told IGN. “The fact that I was available and interested, combined with Marvel’s ongoing focus on cosmic stories and the recent model of launching something like the Ultimate line, made Imperial a natural next step. Everything has fallen into place nicely, and I believe readers will find it an exciting series.”

The new Ultimate Universe has been a major hit for Marvel over the past two years, and there are clear parallels in how Imperial is being positioned as the cornerstone of a new cosmic line. We wondered how Hickman views the two initiatives. Are there lessons from the Ultimate launch that he’s applying here?

“In my view, you can draw a direct line between the two in terms of what we believe works in today’s market,” Hickman stated. “A focused, manageable lineup of titles helps readers engage without feeling overwhelmed, and allows creators to realize their visions without getting bogged down by excessive crossover events. That approach seems like a solid foundation for launching something like Imperial.”

He continued, “The key difference, of course, is that Imperial exists within the main Marvel Universe, so we won’t be adopting the ‘real-time’ narrative device used in the Ultimate line. That has its pros and cons, but I think most fans will appreciate the distinction.”

Imperial also calls to mind the 2006 Annihilation event, another cosmic epic that dramatically altered the status quo and power dynamics of Marvel’s spacefaring heroes. In fact, Annihilation laid the groundwork for the modern Guardians of the Galaxy. Does Hickman see any thematic similarities between the two?

“Not really, because Annihilation is fundamentally an invasion narrative, and Imperial is nothing like that,” Hickman remarked. “The end result might be similar in that readers suddenly find themselves invested in a range of Marvel cosmic titles. But in terms of plot and story structure? No, they’re quite different.”

Certain elements of Imperial build on Hickman’s earlier Marvel stories. For instance, the recent “Hunt for Xavier” X-Men crossover resolved a lingering thread from the Krakoa era, setting the stage for Imperial by reviving the former Shi’ar Empress Lilandra and reuniting her with a fugitive Charles Xavier as they seek to rescue their daughter, Xandra. Imperial also introduces the Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda, a concept first hinted at in 2015’s Secret Wars and later explored in Ta-Nehisi Coates’ Black Panther run.

Even with these connections to his past work, Hickman clarified that Imperial isn’t as tightly intertwined with his earlier projects as it may appear.

“I have a reputation for weaving my own continuity into the broader Marvel tapestry, but in this case, more than half of the story draws from extended plotlines developed by other creators over the years, rather than just my own,” Hickman explained. “Yes, there are some nods to my previous books, but not as many as people might assume.”

Imperial also marks a return to cosmic adventures for the Hulk family. Preview artwork confirms that both Hulk and She-Hulk are headed back to the war-ravaged planet Sakaar, evoking memories of the landmark 2006 Planet Hulk storyline. Hickman confirmed that this is intentional, and that the timing is no accident.

“All I’ll say is that we’re approaching the twentieth anniversary of Planet Hulk, and Marvel rarely lets such milestones pass unnoticed,” Hickman teased.

Lastly, we asked Hickman about the choice to split art duties between Federico Vicentini and Iban Coello. How does the creative team leverage having two artists depict this sprawling conflict?

“Both artists are delivering incredible work,” Hickman shared. “I’ve been thrilled and occasionally surprised by how they’ve handled key story moments, character designs, and the otherworldly settings. With the book on an accelerated schedule—we actually moved the release forward earlier this year—the only way to meet our deadlines was by having them collaborate. The challenge was ensuring their styles complement each other, and they’ve absolutely nailed it.”

Imperial #1 arrives in stores on June 4, 2025.

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