Marvel’s new cosmic event, IMPERIAL, launched last week and is set to reshape the Marvel Universe’s galactic landscape. Spinning out of this four-issue series by Jonathan Hickman, Iban Coello, and Federico Vicentini, are five IMPERIAL WAR one-shots, each co-written by Hickman, that will delve into the stories of individual characters and groups amidst the unfolding conflicts.
While IMPERIAL WAR: SHE-HULK and IMPERIAL WAR: BLACK PANTHER were announced last month for an August release, Marvel has now revealed details for two more one-shots arriving in September: IMPERIAL WAR: EXILES and IMPERIAL WAR: NOVA – CENTURION.
IMPERIAL WAR: EXILES #1, co-written by Steve Foxe (DARK X-MEN) and Jonathan Hickman, with art by Francesco Manna (GIANT SIZE HOUSE OF M), arrives on September 3rd. This issue picks up after Professor X departs from Earth as he gathers a new team to protect his daughter, Empress Xandra, who has been ousted from her Shi’ar throne.
The story sees Xandra, “tearing her from the throne in IMPERIAL WAR: EXILES,” and her only hope for survival rests with “a mismatched group of renegades led by her father, Professor Charles Xavier, and her resurrected mother, Lilandra!” Faced with the might of the Shi’ar Imperial Guard, their only option is to flee.
Steve Foxe commented on the integration of the X-Men into this cosmic narrative, stating, “Mutantkind has looked to the stars since the 1970s, so there was no way we could leave the X-crew out of the Imperial master plan.” He also praised Hickman’s world-building, adding, “Watching Jonathan build this intergalactic conspiracy was its own storytelling masterclass, and he built launch pads for all of us to tell some of the biggest stories possible on this new cosmic stage.”
Regarding the diverse lineup of heroes, Foxe explained, “This is a crew of Exiles in the truest sense of the word—a ragtag band of royals, aliens, scoundrels, robots, and furballs thrust together under dire circumstances.” He emphasized the family dynamic at the core of the story, noting, “And at the heart of it all is a family we’ve never really seen together in one place: Charles Xavier, Lilandra Neramani, and their daughter, Xandra.” Foxe also highlighted the action-packed nature of the one-shot, saying, “But make no mistake—this is a breakneck space-chase story first and foremost, and Francesco Manna is knocking it out of the galaxy. Which is good, because if these Exiles slow down for too long… they’ll be exterminated!”
IMPERIAL WAR: NOVA – CENTURION #1, co-written by Jed MacKay (X-MEN, AVENGERS) and Jonathan Hickman, with art by Matteo Della Fonte (BRING ON THE BAD GUYS: GREEN GOBLIN) and cover by Francesco Mortarino, will be available on September 10th. This issue puts the spotlight on Rich Rider, also known as Nova.
In this story, “The Xandarian Worldmind will be lost forever…unless Rich Rider can earn the credits needed to keep it alive in IMPERIAL WAR: NOVA – CENTURION! So Nova must offer his services to the highest bidder – Have Helmet, Will Travel!”
Jed MacKay expressed his excitement for the project, stating, “I’m very excited to take on the Human Rocket and explore the new cosmic stage defined by Imperial!” He added, “The great galactic civilizations are moving into an all-new alignment, and I’m really looking forward to seeing where the last Nova Corpsman fits in when the pieces are put together.”
MacKay also delved into Nova’s evolving role, noting, “Rich is really interesting to me. For a lot of his history, he’s been defined as being a ‘new kid,’ from his Spider-Man-esque origin to his time with the New Warriors, even up to the opening of Annihilation. Now, he’s the last standard bearer of the old order, a veteran of a war that already seems so long ago, and the question is being asked…is a Nova still relevant in the wake of IMPERIAL?”
You can pre-order IMPERIAL WAR: EXILES #1 and IMPERIAL WAR: NOVA – CENTURION #1 at your local comic shop. Stay tuned for more announcements regarding the IMPERIAL event.
