Imperial (2025) #4

by Jonathan Hickman, Iban Coello (Artist), Federico Vicentini (Artist)

Part FOUR of a four-part Marvel cosmic event! WAR!

Genres: Marvel, Comics

Kindle Edition

Published October 29, 2025

About the author

Jonathan Hickman is an American comic book writer and artist. He is known for creating the Image Comics series The Nightly News, The Manhattan Projects and East of West, as well as working on Marvel Comics' Fantastic Four, FF, and S.H.I.E.L.D. titles. In 2012, Hickman ended his run on the Fantastic Four titles to write The Avengers and The New Avengers, as part the "Marvel NOW!" relaunch. In 2013, Hickman wrote a six-part miniseries, Infinity, plus Avengers tie-ins for Marvel Comics. In 2015, he wrote the crossover event Secret Wars. - Wikipedia

Reviews

[James DeSantis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really solid foundation to new series coming. SOme great moments and excellent art.

[vk chompooming · Rating 4 out of 5]

This deserves 5 stars, but the artwork left something to b desired. This storyline came to an explosive, satisfying end, except for the fight scenes. The action was very heavy and could have been a glorious splash to a great plot, except the art was jumbled and rushed. The Super-Skrull vs. Black Bolt, Hulk, and Black Panther fight had a salivating effect for the promise of unmitigated destruction and violence, yet like my high school prom date, did not deliver. The panels were too zoomed in to fit the page and glorious action was obscured. A marvelous gun fight with Peter Quill and a host of Skrulls was brushed aside and done off panel.

This comic deserved 5 stars, but Marvel fumbled at the goal line. It would only have behooved them to add more pages, to show the fandom the action and acclaimed ferocity that Imperial title subtly promised and should have delivered.

[Anna Quilter · Rating 4 out of 5]

FOUR
October 2025

"The future of all these World's would be determined by only four beings - a King, a Warlord , a prophet and the last of them- the hidden hand of change"

Conclusion to the four issue Limited Series.

Well..not really...after we've seen the surprise instigators of this Galactic war/ mess it launched new titles to deal with that..including Planet She Hulk, Nova Centurion, Black Panther- Intergalactic,Wiccan- Witches Road and Imperial Guardians- Exiles.

[Raymond Paquette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unlike the heavy handed crossovers coming from both Marvel and DC, this one solved nothing and set up a bigger reshuffling of the status que. I’ve never really understood the Inhumans, but this story put them back in the forefront. It was fun to read about characters not completely covered in plot armor. I hope they continue to grow.

[Craig Schorling · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was great! I did not know much about the cast in this mini series but I am now left wanting more. The action was top notch and I cannot wait to see what Nova does next. Hickman made me care about this side of the Marvel universe with a combination of good story with twists and turns and high stakes action.

[Nicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting finale and mostly reset to the space side of Marvel. I'm quite intrigued about where the different parts of it will go but will Marvel actually keep their nerve and do something with them, unlike what happened after Empyre.

I wonder if will see more earth bound Wiccan and Hulking series now.

[Joshua Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know what to say... this isn't it. Hickman is my favorite comic writer and the series started very strong. Issues one and two were bangers. Issue 3 was weaker but made up for it with an inhuman twist. But the series hasn't stuck the landing for me. The spin-offs were interesting but didn't work all-in-all.

[luciddreamer99 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this comic book is simply excellent, but I am a huge Hickman fan. Intergalactic political intrigue abounding, this story also has dynamic art. Good lead-in to future stories, something the best monthly comic books do. I would recommend this entire series to Hickman fans, Black Panther fans, and fans of cosmic Marvel.

[Sam Ramirez · Rating 4 out of 5]

It all wraps up with a nice big messy bow. I like this ending, but I don’t love it. Feels more like setup to a real ending later that involves everybody fighting the Inhumans again. That’ll be good. I like this new status quo so I’m really not complaining, definitely going to be reading all of the followup series advertised on the last page.

[Powerman61 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific ending to a great series.
The artwork and storyline was awesome.
Character interaction incredible.
The writer did a fantastic job of
laying the foundation for future
issues of Marvel cosmic adventures.

[Richard A · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing, powerful and stunning ending, I loved it! Especially that ending, well that and the rift between the new "king" of the galaxy and his former best friend. All I can say is WoW!!
I am looking forward to the spinoff comic books.

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25
A mess. It was hard to tell what was even happening.

The art seems to be the biggest culprit, imo. Perhaps not a good match for the broad and often abstract strokes Hickman likes to paint in his stories.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

okay yeah i'm in hook line and sinker i'm officially keeping up with space marvel now I GUESS ?????

[Andy Waldron · Rating 3 out of 5]

confusing but nice to look at

[Rockito · Rating 1 out of 5]

The conclusion is somewhat interesting but this is so "by the numbers" while being confusing that it is no fun at all.
Sorry Jonathan, but you'lll never be Jim Starlin.