Marvel’s other big cosmic event, IMPERIAL, is going to change that universe as we know it with some earth shattering changes to a number of character foundations. Written by Jonathan Hickman, this mysterious event consists of four issues, with the second chapter planned for July 9th. The mini promises to combine all these colorful stories into one seamless cohesive epic with all of Marvel’s mightiest heroes, Hulks, Black Panthers, Novas and Guardians included.
IMPERIAL wants to build a new architectural precedent for stories occurring outside of Earth, within the Marvel Universe. Hickman, known for his ambitious storytelling, described his excitement about the project, stating, “I’m very excited about this project as I’m obviously a huge fan of all things Marvel Cosmic.” His excitement is a sign that Marvel is thoroughly dedicated to exploring the more cosmic side of the Marvel story.
Artists Iban Coello and Federico Vicentini wonderfully realize the artistic vision for IMPERIAL with their vibrant imagery. Their work is made even better by some amazing covers that leap off the shelf. At this time, we revealed the main cover by Marco Checchetto, with a smashing variant cover by Gerald Parel with a killer design. W. Scott Forbes has captured the essence of Lilandra with a stunning variant cover that showcases her significance in the event.
Hickman explained the overarching goal of IMPERIAL, saying, “The goal here is kind of do what we did with the recent Ultimate line for all of our space titles, except having the setup book be more of an event than a world-building exercise like Ultimate Invasion.” This character-driven approach is a fresh turn from Marvel’s recent cosmological tales. As I mentioned above, they are focusing on creating the most impactful stories regardless of the potential to increase their universe.
During the event, huge breakthroughs will be happening for fan-favorite characters. IMPERIAL will bring exciting new changes for the Hulks and Black Panthers, along with Novas and Guardians. With this smart, multifarious plan, Marvel hopes to bring all of these individual arcs together under one cosmic banner. This focused strategy leads to more detailed storytelling and interwoven storylines.
This event will be raising up the stories of Cosmic Kings and Queens. Most importantly, it’ll greatly widen the scope of Marvel’s cosmic mythology. By weaving all of these legendary characters into one continuous, ongoing story, Hickman hopes to excite Marvel veterans and rookie readers just the same.
“The art team is killing it and we’re all just very excited for what’s happening in this special corner of the Marvel Universe,” Hickman added, highlighting the collaborative effort behind the project. The synergy between the writer and artists is evident in the vibrant visuals and intricate narratives that will unfold throughout the series.
As anticipation builds for IMPERIAL’s second issue, readers can expect a thrilling adventure that explores the depths of Marvel’s cosmic realm. IMPERIAL features ambitious storytelling from Rickshaw and a stellar artistic team. It is poised to seize fans’ imaginations and completely reshape their perception of space in the Marvel Universe.