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The X-Men and Fantastic Four join Forces to Stop the X-Virus from Mutating Mankind in DNX!

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EVOLUTION IS CONTAGIOUS! This September, the X-Men and Fantastic Four unite against a bombshell of a threat that even their combined intelligence and strength can’t overcome in DNX, a new five-issue comic book event series from writer Jed MacKay and artist Federico Vicentini. The latest in the two legendary super team’s history of iconic team-ups, DNX kicks off when the Chairman, the misguided original Hank McCoy, A.K.A. founding X-Man Beast, and his Machiavellian group of supervillains known as 3K prepare to unleash a virus that will forcibly—and horribly—transform humanity into mutants! This long-seeded plan, built up since the very beginning of MacKay’s hit run, hits the Marvel Universe with seismic repercussions that not only impact MacKay’s continuing work on the franchise, but upset the very balance between mutantkind and humanity as we know it!

Adding to the excitement of this new mutant milestone, DNX #1 will be the latest Marvel Comics launch available in True Believers Blind Bags, special sealed bags that contain exclusive variant covers not available for regular ordering, including rare, one-of-a-kind, hand-drawn sketch covers from surprise contributors.

THE X-VIRUS UNLEASHED!

The X-Men and 3K. Each steered by an original heir of Xavier, each with their own vision for the mutant people. Each at one another’s throats. Cyclops and the Chairman both experienced the future of the Age of Revelation and came home with a renewed mission: The X-Men to prevent that future. 3K to own it. While the X-Men seek out the Fantastic Four to help save one of their own, the White Beast begins his plan to unleash the X-Virus in a major population area!

DNX #1 True Believers Blind Bags will only contain exclusive variant covers not available for regular ordering. The main cover and regular open-to-order variant covers cannot be found in True Believers Blind Bags. See below for a list of the exclusive blind bag variant covers. In addition to those listed, fans can once again look forward to super rare exclusive covers by surprise contributors, including hand-drawn, one-of-a-kind sketch covers.

EACH BLIND BAG CONTAINS ONE OF THESE VARIANT COVERS TO DNX #1

  • DNX COLLECTION VARIANT COVER B BY SKOTTIE YOUNG
  • DNX COLLECTION VARIANT COVER C BY SKOTTIE YOUNG
  • DNX COLLECTION VARIANT COVER D BY SKOTTIE YOUNG
  • BLACK AND WHITE X VARIANT COVER BY LEINIL FRANCIS YU
  • VARIANT COVER BY FANYANG
  • VARIANT COVER BY ARTGERM
  • VIRGIN VARIANT COVER BY ARTGERM
  • ANIMATION VARIANT COVER
  • NEGATIVE SPACE FOIL VIRGIN VARIANT COVER BY JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
  • MARVEL RIVALS VARIANT COVER BY NETEASE GAMES
  • BLANK VARIANT COVER
  • WRAPAROUND VARIANT COVER BY CHRIS GIARRUSSO
  • VARIANT COVER BY KEN LASHLEY
  • OR ONE OF SEVERAL RARE, HAND-DRAWN SKETCH COVERS BY SURPRISE CONTRIBUTORS!

Check out Kaare Andrews’ “Hidden” main cover, with one version you see on the shelf and an alternate version hiding underneath. Open-to-order variant covers revealed today include Vicentini’s epic connecting covers for all five issues along with pieces by Chip Zdarsky, Ryan Stegman, Marco Checchetto and John Tyler Christopher’s latest Negative Space Variant Cover, which will also be available as a Blind Bag exclusive virgin variant cover.

Get your first look at DNX during Comics Giveaway Day on May 2 by picking up Armageddon/X-Men #1 CGD 2026 at your local participating comic shop and stay tuned for more news about the series in the months ahead.

May’s X-Titles Brings Storm’s Daughter, the Mystery of Inmate X Deepens, and the end to Shadows of Tomorrow!

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“Shadows of Tomorrow,” a new era of X-Men storytelling, is now officially underway with exciting new arcs of X-MEN, UNCANNY X-MEN and WOLVERINE, new ongoing launches like GENERATION X-23, INGLORIOUS X-FORCE, WADE WILSON: DEADPOOL, and X-MEN UNITED, and exciting limited series like CYCLOPS, MAGIK & COLOSSUS, MOONSTAR, ROGUE, and STORM: EARTH’S MIGHTIEST MUTANT. Fans can glimpse ahead at what comes next as the “Shadows of Tomorrow” era comes to an end and the road to the next mutant milestone begins with the reveal of issues coming in May.

Read on to learn more!

CYCLOPS #4 (OF 5)

Written by ALEX PAKNADEL
Art by ROGÊ ANTÔNIO
Cover by FEDERICO VICENTINI
On Sale 5/6

AN EYE FOR AN EYE!

When Cyclops loses Mei to Pierce, he captures one of his prized Reavers as revenge! How will Cyclops use his new hostage to his advantage? And will Mei escape the clutches of Pierce’s Reaver army?!

CYCLOPS #4 (OF 5)

GENERATION X-23 #4

Written by JODY HOUSER
Art by MARCO RENNA
Cover by PARTHA PRATIM SARKAR
On Sale 5/27

X-23 ON THE HUNT!

Laura Kinney is through playing nice. The Facility has her friends, and they have her sister. And not a damn thing on Earth will stand between her and their safety. They want “X-23, the perfect killer”? Oh, they’ve got it! SNIKT!

GENERATION X-23 #4

INGLORIOUS X-FORCE #5

Written by TIM SEELEY
Art by PHILIP TAN & MICHAEL STA. MARIA
Cover by R.B. SILVA
On Sale 5/20

THE HORSEMAN OF DEATH!

Cable has cleared one X-Force member of murder and suspects another. But when a fight against the Nasty Boys goes south, the truth stands revealed – and it may just put X-Force six feet under!

INGLORIOUS X-FORCE #5

MAGIK & COLOSSUS #4 (OF 5)

Written by ASHLEY ALLEN
Art by GERMÁN PERALTA
Cover by DAVID NAKAYAMA
On Sale 5/13

A SIBLING RIVALRY!

Magik and Colossus meet the great witch Baba Yaga, and she is not happy to see them! With their relationship out of step, will the Rasputins be able to hold her off? Or will Baba Yaga damage the siblings’ future beyond repair?

MAGIK & COLOSSUS #4 (OF 5)

MOONSTAR #3 (OF 5)

Written by ASHLEY ALLEN
Art by EDOARDO AUDINO
Cover by GERMÁN PERALTA
On Sale 5/20

TRAPPED IN MEMORIES!

The cursed sword Dáinsleif plans to take every bit of Moonstar, from heart to soul. As the sentient sword combs through Dani’s memories, what secrets will it unlock? And will Dani wake up before it’s too late?!

MOONSTAR #3 (OF 5)

ROGUE #5 (OF 5)

Written by ERICA SCHULTZ
Art by LUIGI ZAGARIA
Cover by DAVID NAKAYAMA
On Sale 5/20

FORGIVEN, BUT NEVER FORGOTTEN

Now that Rogue knows the truth about her past, will she ever be forgiven for the pain she caused? Could she ever forgive herself?

ROGUE #5 (OF 5)

STORM: EARTH’S MIGHTIEST MUTANT #4 (OF 5)

Written by MUREWA AYODELE
Art by FEDERICA MANCIN
Cover by R.B. SILVA
On Sale 5/6

FURAHA, STORM’S DAUGHTER, ARRIVES!

STORM: EARTH’S MIGHTIEST MUTANT #4 (OF 5)

UNCANNY X-MEN #28

Written by GAIL SIMONE
Art and Cover by LUCIANO VECCHIO
On Sale 5/13

INMATE X REVEALED!

Our wildest UNCANNY story yet continues! A mysterious turn of events brings the New Mutants to the Uncanny X-Men, and the Outliers are nowhere to be found! All this plus the secret of Graymalkin Prison’s INMATE X revealed at last! Who is this incredibly lethal mutant powerhouse, and what does it mean for mutantkind?

UNCANNY X-MEN #28

WADE WILSON: DEADPOOL #4

Written by BENJAMIN PERCY
Art and Cover by GEOFF SHAW
On Sale 5/6

MOB LIFE!

The gangster Hammerhead has cottoned on to Deadpool’s secret. But Wade can’t be bought… No wait, that’s not right. Wade can totally be bought. That’s his whole deal as a mercenary… OH, Hammerhead has the ’Pool by the floats, that’s what it is, and whatever choice he makes, someone close to him will wind up DEAD!

WADE WILSON: DEADPOOL #4

WOLVERINE #20

Written by SALADIN AHMED
Art by MARTÍN CÓCCOLO
Cover by DAN PANOSIAN
On Sale 5/13

SAVAGE CHAMPION!

The shocking events of last issue culminate in a showdown over a century in the making. Who or what are the SAVAGE CHAMPIONS? Sharpen your claws for the fight of WOLVERINE’s life…and a twist that’ll have ramifications for Wolverine books going forward!

WOLVERINE #20

X-MEN #29

Written by JED MACKAY
Art and Cover by NETHO DIAZ
On Sale 5/6

DANGER ROOM: PART FOUR!

Rest in peace, X-Men! The Danger Room’s victory seems all but assured with the X-Men scattered, broken and beaten. But the X-Men have been thought dead and buried before…and always have they risen from the graves their enemies put them in.

X-MEN #29

X-MEN #30

Written by JED MACKAY
Art and Cover by NETHO DIAZ
On Sale 5/27

DANGER ROOM: PART FIVE!

The X-Men have weathered everything the Danger Room has thrown at them – and now it’s time to turn the tables. To me, my X-Men.

X-MEN #30

X-MEN UNITED #3

Written by EVE L. EWING
Art by TIAGO PALMA
Cover by STEFANO CASELLI
On Sale 5/20

Since a field squad of Melee, Jitter and Laura Kinney accompanied Captain America on a covert mission to right a wrong from his past, nothing has gone as planned, and the squad meets their match with a mutant foe who might not ever let them get home. Meanwhile, a shadow descends over Graymatter Lane… And the Beast and Magneto have an explosive difference of opinion!

X-MEN UNITED #3

X-MEN OF APOCALYPSE OMEGA #1

Written by JEPH LOEB
Art and Cover by SIMONE DI MEO
On Sale 5/6

SECRETS REVEALED!  BETRAYALS. DEATHS. AND A SHOCK ENDING THAT WILL HAVE X-MEN FANS TALKING FOR YEARS!

X-MEN OF APOCALYPSE OMEGA #1

Imperial #4 Cements the Series’ Rippling Drama and Breathes Life into Marvel’s Cosmic Corner

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Imperial #4

WAR! Imperial #4 wraps up Marvel‘s cosmic event setting up the future and direction for that corner of the Marvel Universe. What writer Jonathan Hickman has done is impressive, delivering a compact story with implications that will ripple across the Marvel Universe for many years to come.

Imperial launched things with multiple assassinations from unknown assailants sending the various factions of the cosmic corner into chaos. It was a series that launched with a bang, really a poison, and immediately shook things up. Over the next three issues, Hickman balanced a small group of individuals attempting to uncover the truth behind the assassinations while war was waged in multiple fronts. There were massive surprises including returns of characters on the sidelines for years. Hickman, in other words, delivered more in four issues than some events do with double the number of issues. Including the few one-shots that were connected with the event, it was tight, compact, and focused. Each issue was used to utmost efficiency delivering a fast paced story with massive impact.

Imperial #4 continues that with war raging and a trio of heroes attempting to stop it by getting the truth out. But, chaos on a grand scale and lies are hard to get under control and Hickman delivers a final chapter that is ominous, sad, but also chilling. It sets up the status quo for years to come, a status quo that feels like it’s direct commentary on the state of today’s world.

It’s hard to state why Imperial #4 is so good but it cements the series with storytelling that’s up there with the best drama. The final moments with various characters would have a choir singing over each scene in dramatic fashion emphasizing the nature of what happened. A conspiracy that spans the galaxy is now in place and there’s now a new hierarchy in charge, delivering machinations and maneuverings that are up there with the best dramas. The lies run deep and the gamesmanship is already afoot making the Marvel Cosmic Corner one you’ll want to watch as new series spin out of this mini-event.

The comic is frenetic and Iban Coello and Federico Vicentini‘s art nails it down. The characters look amazing as they battle it out delivering visuals that match the best action out there. The color by Federico Blee pops with Cory Petit‘s lettering adding emphasis to the drama. Every issue of the comic looks amazing and this one does a great job of really delivering fights and battles that feel epic and brutal in their enclosed space. The comic doesn’t rely on giant spreads to catch the eye and amaze. It’s able to pull that off in multiple panels on a page. Moments feel epic and deliver “holy shit” responses that’ll keep reader engaged.

Imperial #4 is a fantastic end to the series setting up what’s to come and making an early case that the cosmic series to spin out of it, might be the most intriguing stuff Marvel is putting out right now. It hints at a grand, sweeping political drama with allies being made and agreements being broken. You never know who you can trust, as characters once thought of as heroes now have a much more sinister cloud hanging over them. It’s an event that shook up and breathed life into dozens of characters and did it all in just four issues.

Story: Jonathan Hickman Art: Iban Coello, Federico Vicentini
Color: Federico Blee Letterer: Cory Petit
Story: 8.0 Art: 8.4 Overall: 8.0 Recommendation: Buy

Marvel provided graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle

NYCC 2025: The X-Men Enter the Shadows of Tomorrow

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The “Marvel Comics: X-Men Panel” at New York Comic Con revealed all that awaits mutantkind this January and beyond! Marvel Comics VP Executive Editor Tom Brevoort, Editor in Chief C.B. Cebulski, and a host of X-talent including current X-Men creative team, writer Jed MacKay and artist Ryan Stegman, mutant mastermind Benjamin Percy, rising star Magik writer Ashley Allen, and acclaimed writer Eve L Ewing shed light on “Shadows of Tomorrow,” the next era of X-Men storytelling, with cover reveals for returning X-Men titles and announcements for all-new series launches.

“Age of Revelation,” the new status quo that takes the Marvel Universe 10 years into the future, kicked off last week and takes over the X-Men line through December. In its aftermath, the X-Men are now armed with knowledge to prevent one of the darkest futures in Marvel Comics history. It’s time to embrace bold action, strengthen alliances, and empower the next generation! United, the X-Men will alter mutantkind’s fate and ensure their dream isn’t darkened by the “Shadows of Tomorrow!”

Read on to learn about X-titles on sale in January and February.

Gail Simone and David Marquez’s Uncanny X-Men; Saladin Ahmed and Martín Cóccolo’s Wolverine; and Jed MacKay’s X-Men, with two issues drawn by superstar artist Tony Daniel, will continue. Two recent hit solo series, Storm and Magik, will experience exciting evolutions in Murewa Ayodele and Federica Mancin’s Storm: Earth’s Mightiest Mutant and Ashley Allen and Germán Peralta’s Magik & Colossus. Exciting new launches including Cyclops, Rogue, Generation X-23, Inglorious X-Force, and Wade Wilson: Deadpool. A new X-project from Exceptional X-Men writer Eve. L Ewing coming next year was also teased during the panel.

X-MEN #23

Written by JED MACKAY
Art and Cover by TONY DANIEL
On Sale 1/7

AGE OF REVELATION EPILOGUE!

One X-Man of the present has been stranded in the Age of Revelation, fighting against impossible odds in the world of tomorrow. But while they’ve been there, what has their future counterpart been doing in their body in the present?

X-MEN #23

X-MEN #24

Written by JED MACKAY
Art and Cover by TONY DANIEL
On Sale 1/21

BRING ON THE BAD GUYS!

In the wake of the Age of Revelation, the gene-terrorist group 3K has been revitalized. But will their internal schemes undo them?

X-MEN #24

UNCANNY X-MEN #22

Written by GAIL SIMONE
Art and Cover by DAVID MARQUEZ
On Sale 1/14

MEAN GIRL MUTINA!

A festive event is interrupted by the daughter of darkness herself, Mutina. And she has an unimaginable favor to ask the Uncanny X-Men and woe betide them all if they refuse! It’s murderous mutants and cake and blades and you will look very differently at one of the core X-Men after this bloody issue!

UNCANNY X-MEN #22

WOLVERINE #14

Written by SALADIN AHMED
Art by MARTÍN CÓCCOLO
Cover by DAN PANOSIAN
On Sale 1/7

WOLVERINE ENCOUNTERS SILVER SABLE!

The flagship series returns as Wolverine crosses paths with Silver Sable in a mission to save a cadre of Morlocks. But are they on the same side? And who’s got Logan in their sights? The all-new era starts now!

WOLVERINE #14

CYCLOPS #1 (OF 5)

Written by ALEX PAKNADEL
Art by ROGÊ ANTÔNIO
Cover by FEDERICO VICENTINI
On Sale 2/11

THE ONE-EYED X-MAN UNLEASHED!

Scott Summers is a mutant who is always in near-total control of his powers and his emotions. But what happens when he’s separated from the X-Men, lost in a mountain wilderness without the visor that keeps his devastating powers in check? And will he be able to stay alive when Donald Pierce and his cyborgs, the Reavers, are hunting him? It’s a tale of the X-Men’s leader at his most savage core!

CYCLOPS #1 (OF 5)

GENERATION X-23 #1

Written by JODY HOUSER
Art by JACOPO CAMAGNI
Cover by PARTHA PRATIM SARKAR
On Sale 2/18

HER NAME IS WOLVERINE. BUT THE LEGEND OF X-23 GROWS.

Laura Kinney was brainwashed and trained from birth to be the ultimate assassin as X-23. She’s long put that life behind her…but it seems she hasn’t quite outrun it yet! When Laura and Gabby encounter someone who seems to be their long lost friend, the harrowing plot they uncover will turn their worlds upside down. The next generation of X-subjects is here, and they follow in the deadly footsteps of X-23! Featuring a host of new heroes and villains, Generation X-23 have a surprise in store for the Wolverine! 

GENERATION X-23 #1

INGLORIOUS X-FORCE #1

Written by TIM SEELEY
Art by MICHAEL STA. MARIA
Cover by R.B. SILVA
Variant Cover by FRANCESCO MANNA
On Sale 1/21

INGLORIOUS VENGEANCE!

Cable returns from the future with a handful of clues…and gaping holes in his memory. An assassination is at hand, and it’s up to Hellverine, Archangel and his former teammate Boom-Boom to follow Cable’s lead into the fire. But who are they after, and what secret does Cable’s faulty memory hide? Be here for the ground floor of the mystery and strap in for the most extreme thrill ride in X-dom, as an all-new X-FORCE blazes into battle!

INGLORIOUS X-FORCE #1

MAGIK & COLOSSUS #1 (OF 5)

Written by ASHLEY ALLEN
Art by GERMÁN PERALTA
Cover by DAVID NAKAYAMA
#2 Cover by DAVID NAKAYAMA
On Sale 2/4

THE MUTANT SIBLINGS REUNITE!

Illyana Rasputin is a cynical sorceress with power harnessed from the dark realm of Limbo. Piotr Rasputin is made of metal, but with a heart much softer than his exterior. But despite being family, blood does not run thicker than water! When they return to their mother country, they discover ancient monsters from Russian folklore preying on the innocent! Can these two mutant siblings set aside their differences to save their country? The talented creative team behind Magik reunite for an X-Men story full of epic fights, mysticism, and family drama!

MAGIK & COLOSSUS #1 (OF 5)


ROGUE #1 (OF 5)

Written by ERICA SCHULTZ
Art by LUIGI ZAGARIA
Cover by DAVID NAKAYAMA
On Sale 1/21

YOU CAN’T OUTRUN THE PAST!

Rogue has an idyllic life with her sweet Remy LeBeau, but there are still skeletons in her closet…ones that come out when she least expects it. Rogue has worked so hard to leave her villainous past behind. Unfortunately, the past doesn’t stay in the past. What happens when it slams you right in the face? What past sin would make Rogue leave Haven House? Do Mystique and Destiny hold the answer?

ROGUE #1 (OF 5)

STORM: EARTH’S MIGHTIEST MUTANT #1

Written by MUREWA AYODELE
Art by FEDERICA MANCIN
Cover by R.B. SILVA
On Sale 2/4

THE WAR ABOVE ALL THUNDERS LOUDER AND CLOSER.

As the cosmos braces for annihilation, Storm, unaware of the coming threat, turns her gaze inward – to her home – to Earth. The Earth’s Mightiest Mutant becomes Earth’s protector once more… in a daring new chapter of her life.  In this new beginning, Storm shares a Japanese tea ceremony with an enemy and visits France for a masquerade with monsters. However, it all ends in a gut-wrenching funeral… for in this new era of Ororo Munroe, Mistress Death is never far behind.

STORM: EARTH’S MIGHTIEST MUTANT #1

WADE WILSON: DEADPOOL #1

Written by BENJAMIN PERCY
Art and Cover by GEOFF SHAW
On Sale 2/11

DANGEROUS. UNHINGED. DEADLY. 

Deadpool is a man on the brink, and that means the jobs are deadlier, the stakes are higher, and the humor is darker than ever before. But Wade Wilson isn’t laughing. A dark memory haunts Deadpool, as a mysterious client leads him down a troubling path. This way lies redemption? No, something far worse. Wade can never be forgiven for what he’s done… the new ongoing series begins! 

WADE WILSON: DEADPOOL #1

Check out the covers along with an epic promotional image by Stefano Caselli that will used as a cover on a yet-to-be-announced X-title and stay tuned for more news about the “Shadows of Tomorrow” in the weeks ahead.

T’Challa Fights His Way Back to the Wakandan Throne in Black Panther: Intergalactic!

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The cosmic side of the Marvel Universe is experiencing a radical transformation in Imperial, the four-issue event series by Jonathan Hickman,  Iban Coello, and Federico Vicentini. In its wake, a new era of space storytelling begins with series launches like Planet She-Hulk, Nova: Centurion, and Black Panther: Intergalactic, a four-issue limited series by acclaimed writer Victor LaValle and rising star artist Stefano Nesi. 

Black Panther: Intergalactic is part of the first wave of series spinning out of Imperial, an epic saga that shatters the existing status quo of the Marvel cosmos and establishes a new intergalactic order among its most powerful empires, including the Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda. In last month’s Imperial War: Black Panther one-shot, T’Challa restored his people’s honor after they were framed for the assassinations that ignited this galaxy-spanning conflict. Now, his search for the truth continues. As T’Challa dives deeper into a deadly conspiracy, trouble brews back home and forces emerge that are determined to keep T’Challa from returning to the Wakandan throne. It’s a startling chapter for Black Panther who finds himself alone in space, armed with nothing but his intellect and strength against unseen threats and the future of Wakanda depending on his survival!

THE INTERGALACTIC EMPEROR OF WAKANDA!

T’Challa, the King of Wakanda, faces the challenge of uniting all of his kingdom – on Earth and in the stars! Before he can begin, though, someone – or something – steals him away to a mysterious planet where the Black Panther must fight for his life! Shuri, his sister, works to find him – but with the king and princess distracted, will someone else seize the title of Emperor of Wakanda?!

T’Challa isn’t the only hero navigating these strange new spaceways. Planet She-Hulk by Stephanie Phillips and Aaron Kuder is a solo series unlike any other in She-Hulk’s history as she uses her brains and brawn to maintain order on the savage planet of Sakaar. Nova: Centurion by Jed MacKay and Álvaro López sees Marvel’s oldest and most iconic cosmic heroes doing whatever it takes to keep the memory of his people alive amidst the corrupt system now governing the stars. Learn about the second issues, on sale in December, of these highly anticipated series, both launching in November.

A HERO ON THE EDGE! Jennifer Walters may be a trained lawyer and professional…but how much help is that going to be in a world governed by “Might Makes Right”? Fortunately, she’s also the gamma-fueled powerhouse known as the Sensational She-Hulk! Can she really smash the planet Sakaar into peace the way her cousin once did? Find out in Planet She-Hulk #2!

RAVENOUS! Taking a job for the gangsters of the Kree/Skrull War, Nova hunts a mysterium thief in Nova: Centurion #2. But business becomes personal when the trail leads to an old nemesis, and the opportunity to settle old scores going back to the Annihilation War becomes worth more than any reward. Enter the murderer of untold Nova Corpsmen: Ravenous!

The Marvel cosmos is no more. Long live THE UNION!

Preview: Imperial #3

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Imperial #3

(W) Jonathan Hickman (A) Iban Coello, Federico Vicentini (CA) Marco Checchetto
In Shops: Aug 20, 2025
SRP: $4.99

The conflict begins to spread out to the wider universe! We find out who’s really orchestrating the great game of cosmic houses as the last chance to stop a universal war presents itself. Will our heroes be able to stop it in time?

Imperial #3

Imperial #3 Reveals the Villain Behind the Curtain

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Imperial #3

As the conflict begins to spread out to the wider universe! We find out who’s really orchestrating the great game of cosmic houses as the last chance to stop a universal war presents itself. Will our heroes be able to stop it in time? Imperial #3 pulls back the curtain of who’s behind the chaos with major implications.

Imperial #3 promised a reveal of who has been behind the cosmic chaos and it delivers with an intriguing examination of the puppet masters and then an ending that shakes up the entire Marvel Universe, not just the cosmic portion. Written by Jonathan Hickman, this series has delivered with every issue, nailing down its teases and filling them with action and surprises. Under Hickman’s guidance, Marvel’s cosmic characters didn’t just wake up, they’ve come back with a massive explosion.

It’s hard to really describe what makes Imperial #3 solid without spoilers. Part of the comic is a trio of characters attempting to stop war from spreading while the other half is who is behind it all. There’s been teases as to one based on what has been presented, a chess like game and blue hand, making it clear who one is. But, the second individual is a surprise and just the tip of the iceberg as to what’s going on. For those who have been paying attention, there’s been a major absence in Marvel comics and this issue marks a big return with a clear direction.

The art by Iban Coello and Federico Vicentini is top notch. With color by Federico Blee and lettering by Cory Petit and Ariana Maher, the visuals go from big action and borderline horror to a more quiet match of minds. The colors and visuals pop with a comic that looks great and echoes earlier cosmic events like the Annihilation saga. The comic hits every beat it needs visually with the fear and concern of our trio of heroes and the cold calculation of the revealed villains.

After years of stumbling, the “Marvel Event” is back with both Imperial and One World Under Doom delivering two epic stories that promise to shake up the Marvel Universe going forward, and delivering. Imperial #3 was full of surprises and where those might lead has us excited for what comes next in this series and when everything is settled.

(W) Jonathan Hickman (A) Iban Coello, Federico Vicentini
(C) Federico Blee (L) Cory Petit, Ariana Maher
Story: 8.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle

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