Every Marvel Character Teased In Jonathan Hickman’s Upcoming Imperial Event

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Known for his groundbreaking work on titles such as The Avengers and 2015’s Secret Wars, Jonathan Hickman has set his sights on the cosmic side of the Marvel Universe with the upcoming Imperial event. Coming in June 2025, Imperial seeks to reshape the Marvel cosmos and set the foundation for all future space stories at Marvel. Joined by artists Federico Vicentini and Iban Coello, the event promises a major upheaval of the Marvel Universe that will see the loss of many characters and entire empires.

While there is still some time before the event begins to unfold, the announcement of the title also included some details as to who will be involved in this cosmic epic. Along with reshaping the universe, Imperial also promises groundbreaking developments for Hulks, Black Panthers, Novas, and Guardians. While these characters are confirmed, recent developments within Marvel Comics have brought others into the fold as well.

9

Black Panther Returns to the Cosmos

Wakanda’s Space Empire may be in danger

While Black Panther is currently a member of Jed Mackay’s Avengers, he is no stranger to cosmic adventures. In the 2016 Black Panther series (by Ta-Nehisi Coates, Brian Stelfreeze, Laura Martin, and Joe Sabino), readers are introduced to the Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda, a space empire of Wakandans who were lost in a temporal anomaly while exploring the Vega System. Thrown into the past, the group established the Empire, which would be built over two thousand years and span five galaxies. Built on conquest and enslavment, once T’Challa discovered the Wakandan Empire, he joined a group of rebels named the Maroons and ended their conquest.

The Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda is currently led by M’Baku, who took over as ruler during Dormammu’s attack on the universe in The Last Annihilation: Wakanda (by Evan Narcisse, German Peralta, Jesus Aburtov, and Cory Petit). T’Challa and the Intergalactic Empire were also featured in X-Men Red #4 (by Al Ewing, Juan Cabal, Andres Genolet, Michael St. Maria, Federico Blee, and Ariana Maher), in which he and Storm learn of the death of the Shi’ar Empress, Xandra and daughter of Charles Xavier. With the Wakandan Space Empire having close ties to the Shi’ar, they will most likely have a large role to play in the upcoming event.

8

The World Breaker Hulks Return

Some of the strongest versions of Hulks will enter the war

The event will also feature three different Hulks, including Bruce Banner, She-Hulk, and Amadeus Cho. However, these Hulks are not from the main Marvel Universe but from Earth-30356, who live on planet Sakaar. In 2022, Planet Hulk: Worldbreakers (by Greg Pak, Manuel Garcia, Cam Smith, Chris Sotomayor, and Joe Caramagna), after becoming a legend on the planet similar to Earth-616 Hulk, Banner, along with Jen and Amadeus, are taken back to Sakaar one thousand years into the future to stop an evil grand priestess. The Hulks were able to stop the priestess and save Sakaar by smashing the planet’s core and restarting it.

These variants of Hulk are some of the strongest that exist, all having fought for hundreds of years on Sakaar and exhibited some of the greatest feats of strength of any Hulk during the series. It has yet to be revealed how these Hulks have arrived to fight in this cosmic battle, but they will undoubtedly be playing strong roles. Their inclusion in this event could also indicate that Imperial may not just threaten the main Marvel cosmos but the entire multiverse.

7

Doctor Strange Takes To The Stars

The former Sorcerer Supreme is on a new journey

After losing the title of Sorcerer Supreme to Doom in the events of Blood Hunt, Strange made his way to Asgard in Doctor Strange of Asgard (by Derek Landy, Carlos Magno, Espen Grundetjern, and Cory Petit), to become the Sorcerer Supreme of the Golden Realm and magic advisor to the gods. While it has yet to be seen what this new role will entail, Strange is now closer to the cosmic events unfolding in the universe than usual and has plenty of free time on his hands.

With Doom now in control of the world and its magic, Doctor Strange’s status as an Asgardian may be the universe’s secret weapon in the coming war. Readers may have already seen signs of Doctor Strange’s recruitment in the cosmic war, with Storm #5 (by Murewa Ayodele, Lucas Werneck, Alex Guimares, and Travis Lanham), showing Uatu the Watcher watching Strange on Asgard. Having lost his title to Doom, Strange is out to prove himself and regain his status as the world’s greatest Sorcerer, making it likely that he will be more than happy to join the Imperial Event.

6

The Guardian’s Return To Save The Galaxy

Star-Lord must gather his team once again

The Guardians of the Galaxy have long been the premier superhero team of the cosmic side of Marvel. Often having an interchangeable roster, the main team of Guardians that most readers know has been absent from the comics for some time. Last seen in the western-inspired 2024 Guardians of the Galaxy series (by Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly, Kev Walker, Matt Hollingsworth, and Cory Petit), the team came back together to save the Manifold territories from a cataclysmic event known as Grootfall. The series ends with the Guardians going their separate ways again and Star Lord joining his sister Victoria and the Spartax Empire.

Star-Lord’s involvement in the Imperial event seems to indicate that the Spartax Empire may be one of the kingdoms that will fall in this new event. Additionally, the Manifold territories featured in the Guardians series are still a corner of the Marvel Universe that is largely unexplored. If Hickman aims to really shake up the universe, giving this mysterious corner of space a second look could open up a lot of different avenues for this event to go.

5

Nova May Be In The Most Danger

Richard Rider may be the first to fall

Along with the Guardians, the Novas are one of the leading lines of defense in the Marvel Cosmos. Unfortunately for the Nova Corps, things often don’t turn out well for them in Marvel cosmic events, being decimated in the original Annihilation event and then later destroyed yet again in Al Ewing’s Guardians of the Galaxy series (by Al Ewing, Juan Cabal, Federico Blee, and Cory Petit),by the Universal Church of Truth and left Richard Rider as it’s sole survivor.

Nova has recently been featured in the 2024 Phoenix series (by Stephanie Phillips, Alessandro Miracolo, David Curiel, and Vc’s Cory Petit), where he has teamed up with Jean Grey to take on cosmic threats such as the Black Order, heralds of Galactus, and the Galactic Council. His current adventures with Phoenix will most likely lead Nova directly into the Imperial event, but could spell major trouble for the last remaining Nova. The first cover revealed for the Imperial event shows a damaged Nova helmet front and center, possibly indicating that this event will follow past Marvel events by taking Nova off the board.

4

Ororo Monroe Becomes The Eternal Storm

Phoenix isn’t the only one to have seen a recent power upgrade

With Hickman’s time in the X office and ushering in the Krakoa era that redefined the mutants forever, it’s no surprise that many will appear in Imperial. Coincidentally, one of the universe’s strongest mutants just got a big upgrade that brings her into cosmic-level status. In Murewa Ayodele’s Storm series, Ororo has recently become the avatar of Eternity to battle Oblivion. With Storm now being linked to Eternity, she is a crucial part in this war for the cosmos, with the price of Eternity and Oblivion’s battle being the annihilation of the other.

This battle between the cosmic entities could be one of the catalysts that sets off the entire Imperial event. In addition to Storm’s current role as a cosmic entity, she is the one who facilitated Charles and Lilandra’s escape in Storm #6 (by Murewa Ayodele, Luciano Vecchio, Alex Guimarães, Rachelle Rosenberg, and Travis Lanham), which is a story that has been confirmed to continue in Imperial. These events also coincide perfectly with the Phoenix, a cosmic entity of creation itself. With both characters now being pillars of the universe, the mutants will seemingly have massive roles to play in this cosmic war.

3

The Phoenix is The Protector of the Cosmos

If there is war in the galaxy, Phoenix will surely be involved

The Phoenix Force has long been one of the most powerful cosmic beings in the Marvel Universe, but has recently transcended into something even more powerful. In Stephanie Phillips’s 2025 Phoenix series, Jean Grey and the Phoenix have become one and set out to the stars to be the protector of the universe. In Phoenix #8 (by Stephanie Phillips, Alessandro Miracolo, Davi Curie, and Cory Petit), Jean and the Phoenix fully became one after coming to terms with their past conflicts and emerging as a cosmic entity of creation itself.

In this final form, Jean has taken her place among the other cosmic entities and exists as a part of the very fabric of the universe. Once ascending to her new form, Phoenix states that she is the guardian of the cosmic balance and the keeper of the flame that ensures the universe remains ever in motion. With Phoenix’s new role as the guardian of the cosmos, the upcoming Imperial event will surely fall under her jurisdiction and will undoubtedly have a major role to play in this cosmic upheaval that Hickman has promised.

2

The Imperial Guard Has Long Been Hickman’s Passion Project

Hickman’s love for the property gives them a guaranteed spot in Imperial

Another group that has been active recently and up to no good is the Galactic Council, led by Gladiator. In Stephanie Phillips’ Phoenix series, Gladiator and the Council have been some of the main antagonists of the series. In fear of Phoenix’s immense power, Gladiator sees her as a danger to the galaxy and has gone so far as to recruit Thanos in an attempt to stop her.

The former leader of the Imperial Guard is clearly preparing for a battle for the cosmos, with Phoenix caught right in the middle. The Imperial Guard is another of Hickman’s favorite properties, with the writer stating they have long been a dream project to include in an epic that would seed everything in the cosmic side of Marvel. While this project never came to be, Hickman’s description of it features many similarities to the upcoming Imperial event. Given Gladiator’s current status in the Phoenix series and the Sh’iar insurrection, readers can expect both to play major roles.

1

Charles Xavier Brings His Family Together

Professor X will stop at nothing to save his daughter

After the fall of Krakoa, Professor Xavier became a prisoner of Doctor Corina Ellis in the Greymalkin prison beneath his former school. After Rogue and Cyclops’ X-teams faced off in the Raid on Graymalkin, Charles chose to stay in prison as he still had to atone for his sins. However, in Uncanny X-Men #9, Charles received a telepathic message from his daughter, Xandra, and he broke out of prison to rescue her. After escaping, Charles uses a Krakoa egg to resurrect his wife Lilandra in X-Force #9 (by Geoffrey Thorne, Marcus To, Erick Arciniega, and Joe Caramagna), and they leave to go save Xandra and the Shi’ar Empire.

In the conclusion to the recent X-Manhunt event in X-Manhunt Omega #1 (by Gail Simone, Murewa Ayodele, Enid Balám, Gleb Melnikov, and Federica Mancin, Brian Reber, and Travis Lanham), Charles and Lilandra leave Earth, and their story will continue in the new Imperial event. With all the governing bodies of the galaxy in turmoil, Xavier and his family may be the ones who bring the new Galactic Order together or bring it all crashing down. With Hickman’s intimate history with the X-Men and the Imperial Guard, Xavier and the Shi’ar will likely be the driving force behind the event.

“}]] Jonathan Hickman’s new Imperial Saga will see characters from all across the cosmos join together as the universe becomes undone.  Read More