The Marvel Universe is still reeling from the events of Jonathan Hickman’s Imperial, but the dust is already settling into a new shape known as the Galactic Union. With a new empire rising, there is a desperate need for a new kind of protection. Marvel has officially announced Imperial Guardians, a new ongoing series launching in March 2026.
The biggest news here for long-time readers is the creative team. Dan Abnett is returning to the helm of Marvel’s cosmic storytelling. If you aren’t familiar with his resume, Abnett is essentially the architect of the modern cosmic era. His work on the 2006 Annihilation event and the 2008 Guardians of the Galaxy run redefined these characters and directly inspired the tone of the James Gunn films. He is being joined by artist Marcelo Ferreira, who has been tearing it up recently on Predator vs. Spider-Man.
The Roster: A Dirty Dozen for the Space Age
The premise is fascinating because this isn’t a team of friends; it is a squad of expendable, deniable, and disavowed operatives assembled by the Inhuman schemer Maximus to protect the fragile new Galactic Union. The lineup is a chaotic mix of powerhouses and wildcards. Gamora has been tapped as the team leader, tasked with wrangling a roster that includes Captain Marvel, the troubled anti-hero Darkhawk, and Amadeus Cho, who is reportedly a Hulk piloting Hulkbuster armor. Rounding out the team is the chaotic Cosmic Ghost Rider.
The story picks up in the aftermath of Imperial, dealing with a rogue Kree Grand Admiral attacking Hala and the mysterious, likely manipulative motives of Maximus.
What the Creators Are Saying
Dan Abnett offered some insight into the “post-victory” tone of the book, noting that when the good guys win, it usually comes with messy compromises. He explained:
“The Marvel Cosmic landscape after IMPERIAL (2025) has got a very different feel, and it’s rewarding to play around with the aftermath of an event where ‘the good guys won.’ Or did they? No victory comes without back-room compromise, and nowhere is that more apparent than in the new Guardian’s remit.
“I chose the roster to reflect that – the clashing, mismatched spirit of Star-Lord’s original team mixed with a professional hard focus. An iconic hero in Captain Marvel, an anti-hero in the troubled Darkhawk, brains and brawn in the mercurial Amadeus Cho (yes, that’s a Hulk in Hulkbuster armor!), and the downright psychopathic Cosmic Ghost Rider as enigmatic ramrod and drill sergeant. Only Gamora, the Deadliest Woman in the Galaxy, has a chance of keeping them in line as team leader.
“It’s a whole string of dirty jobs, one after another, and these are the somebodies I picked to do it. Will there be glorious victories? No. But will they learn to bond as a team? Also no. But will they keep it together long enough to guard the Galaxy and save trillions of lives? Let’s just hope so, okay?”
Marcelo Ferreira spoke on the artistic opportunities of blending a team book with a space opera:
“IMPERIAL GUARDIANS is both a team AND a cosmic book, which for me is a double challenge, but also double the fun! Cosmic books carry these stories full of great energetic scenes, which I love, because they allow me to flex this other artistic muscle. Plus, Dan Abnett has put together this cool lineup, giving me the chance to draw characters such as Cosmic Ghost Rider, Darkhawk and Gamora! I truly hope that all the fun I’m having translates into the pages and to the readers!”
Imperial Guardians #1 hits shelves on March 11, 2026, featuring a main cover by Sean Izaakse and a variant by Netho Diaz.
