- Written by: Jonathan Hickman
- Art by: Iban Coello, Federico Vicenti
- Colors by: Federico Blee
- Letters by: VC’s Cory Petit
- Cover art by: Marco Checchetto (cover A)
- Cover price: $6.99
- Release date: June 4, 2025
Imperial #1, by Marvel on 6/4/25, sends Hulk and his allies on a murder investigation to find out who is assassinating leaders on the eve of a Galactic Council conference.
Is Imperial #1 Good?
Plot Synopsis
Imperial #1 begins with Bruce Banner, Amadeus Cho, and Jessica Walters taking an intergalactic flight to New Sakaar when Banner receives word that his son and the world’s leader, Hiro-Kala, has died. When Banner arrives and changes into Hulk, the group finds Sakaar in chaos. Why? Because Hiro-Kala was murdered. He did not die in battle or from natural causes, and when a leader of Sakaar dies from murder, the normal protocols for mourning and succession are nullified. Hulk straightens out that mess quickly.
However, Hiro-Kala’s murder demands a response. Medical inspectors from the Galactic Council arrive and determine the cause of death as poisoning, and unfortunately, Hiro-Kala is the fourth leader to die in the same way recently. Hulk and Cho head to the Galactic Council’s newly constructed Hub to look for answers.
Meanwhile, J’Son Quill’s daughter, Peter Quill’s half-sister, Empress Victoria, is put in stasis due to the same poisoning. J’Son cannot act as the interim emperor, so he tasks Peter with finding someone who can act in unofficial channels to find out who is responsible. Peter contacts Richard Rider, aka one of the two surviving Novas, to help, but Richard refuses because he doesn’t trust Peter or J’Son.
After a deeper investigation of the collected data about Empress Victoria, the medical inspectors learn who made the poison – the Shi’ar/Krull Empire. But wait! They made the poison as a business order through their weapons manufacturing dealings. Who ordered and paid for the poison? The entire council finds out when a sniper kills the Shi’ar representative who confirmed the order. The issue concludes when Hulk chases after the sniper and finds the masked individual wearing Wakandan armor.
First Impressions
Okay, Imperial #1 is pretty good. After a string of near- and full-on misses from Hickman over the last couple of years, Imperial begins an intergalactic political thriller that grabs you right away. All the spacefaring elements of the Marvel Universe are expertly assembled into a story that echoes, in tone and intensity, Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
How’s the Art?
The art is excellent. Iban Coello and Federico Vicenti trade pencil and ink strokes for a thorough depiction of cosmic planets, space stations, ships, and assorted aliens. The line work is sharp as a tack, and the emotional delivery of every character is on point. That said, Federico Blee’s coloring looks a little over-bright in spots, creating a mildly washed-out appearance.
What’s great about Imperial #1?
Practically everything about this story works. Jonathan Hickman creates an intergalactic conspiracy that affects multiple worlds, threatening an escalation to war. The setup, pacing, and dramatic beats are well-timed. Imperial #1 is bigger than a double-sized issue, but every scene is essential, and the journey pulls you along. Again, this is one of Hickman’s better issues in quite a while.
What’s not great about Imperial #1?
The only criticism, which is relatively minor, is the pointless presence of Amadeus Cho and She-Hulk. Despite their prominence on the cover and marketing materials, they contribute nothing to this first issue. Jessica Walters is left behind to mind Sakaar while Hulk and Cho head to the Hub. Once they get there, all the character interactions are with Hulk. Cho stands around in the scene but says little and contributes less. The non-Banner Hulks may do more in the following issues, but for now, it feels like a minor bait-and-switch.
About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.
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Final Thoughts
Imperial #1 is a surprisingly taut, engaging political thriller centered on an intergalactic murder mystery. Jonathan Hickman’s story presents the same level of mystery, intrigue, and intensity as Captains America: The Winter Soldier… in space, and the art team’s visuals capture the science fiction vibe of a galactic adventure. But for a few nitpicks, this is the best comic from Marvel this week.
9/10
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