Jonathan Hickman’s cosmic saga, Imperial, hits the ground running in its fourth and final issue, delivering a powerful, albeit a little cynical, conclusion. This issue is a gut-punch of high-stakes political maneuvering wrapped in incredible space-opera action. With art by Iban Coello and Federico Vicentini, and stellar colors by Federico Blee, this comic feels less like a capstone and more like the chaotic, grand finale scene from a massive sci-fi movie: think the opening of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, but with way more moral ambiguity and a much darker message about power.
The entire series has been one giant, galaxy-shattering misdirection. The devastating war (which shattered the Kree-Skrull alliance, ignited infighting among the Shi’ar, and left Hulkling and Wiccan stranded) was sparked by the assassination of Galactic Council leaders and Spartax’s ruler, J’son. Initially, all the major players, including the powerful Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda, were pointing fingers at each other.
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Issue #4 dramatically pulls back the curtain to reveal the true puppet masters: the Inhumans, led by King Black Bolt, who saw chaos as their chance to seize a new Kree throne and assert Inhuman Ascendance. This twist re-frames the massive conflict not as a simple war between empires, but as a calculated, cold-blooded maneuver. It’s a classic Hickman move: the whole universe is just a chessboard for a powerful few.
The action drops us right into the thick of it on Fulcrum Space, an area of sheer spectacle. One plot thread focuses on a desperate, explosive battle on the Fulcrum Command Deck, where two dedicated Kree Accusers literally sacrifice their lives to keep a crucial docking bay open. The payoff for this sacrifice is a jaw-dropping showdown between Ronan the Accuser and the Super-Skrull, Kl’rt. Kl’rt, now serving the Skrull Goddess, is completely awesome here, showcasing the full measure of his Fantastic Four-derived powers and two Accuser hammers.
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The second thread follows Star-Lord, Nova (Richard Rider), and Shuri as they race to broadcast the truth about the Inhumans’ deception. They make it to the Command Level, but their mission crumbles. Star-Lord, Peter Quill, is visibly defeated, realizing the war-fatigued masses would rather cling to a comfortable lie than face a destabilizing truth.
Despite their failure, the war ends, not through justice, but through pragmatism. The Galactic Council votes to create the Galactic Union, a singular vision that belonged to the recently assassinated J’son of Spartax. In a deeply cinematic, almost heartbreaking final scene, Peter Quill (J’son’s son) accepts the mantle of the Union’s first head. He gives a quiet, poignant toast to his dead father: “It cost you everything, Dad. But you finally got what you wanted… a Union of Worlds. Congratulations. You win.”
The creative team (Iban Coello and Federico Vicentini on art, Federico Blee on colors, and Cory Petit on lettering) don’t just illustrate the story; they elevate it. The book is chaotic, in the best way possible: just space battles galore, with explosions, lasers, starcrafts and great character designs in spectacular display. That final scene with Star-Lord on the throne, complete with his helmet, was an absolute masterpiece of execution. So incredibly cool!
The issue ends with a trademark Hickman moment of political setup: King Black Bolt exiles his brother, Maximus, stating he can’t be trusted with their new, great goal. Maximus, ever the spymaster, leaves with a smile, vowing his brother will need him again. Their weird, entertaining relationship is a highlight, and though it feels like a ruse for another book, it’s a great, charming scene to watch unfold.
Imperial #4 is a stellar finale that’s more a springboard than a closure. It delivers explosive action, a killer reveal, and profound philosophical questions about power. It perfectly sets the stage for future galactic conflicts in series like Imperial Guardians and Exiles, promising that the fallout from this war is far from over.
‘Imperial’ #4 Review: Super-Skrull & Star-Lord Face a Brutal, Cosmic Marvel Finale
Imperial #4 is a stellar finale that’s more a springboard than a closure. It delivers explosive action, a killer reveal, and profound philosophical questions about power. It perfectly sets the stage for future galactic conflicts in series like Imperial Guardians and Exiles, promising that the fallout from this war is far from over.
