Comics
Published July 18, 2025

'Imperial' #3 Preview Sees Nova Return to the Xandarian Worldmind

Get your first look at the upcoming issue by Jonathan Hickman, Iban Coello, and Federico Vicentini. Plus, the cover for 'Imperial' #4!

After a series of political assassinations kicked off an all-out war between intergalactic empires, the cosmic map of the Marvel Universe will be redrawn in the pages of IMPERIAL by Jonathan Hickman, Iban Coello, and Federico Vicentini . The engines of war roared to life in IMPERIAL #2, with the Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda, Spartax, the Kree/Skrull Alliance, and the Shi'ar Empire all on a collision course to interplanetary conflict. However, everything is not what it seems and unseen hands play these galactic leaders like chess pieces.

The preview for IMPERIAL #3 opens with Wiccan and Hulkling adrift in space. Last seen in IMPERIAL #1 after the attack on the Galactic Council, the leaders of the Kree/Skrull Alliance attempt to survive while stranded in the cosmos. Meanwhile, Nova, Star-Lord, and Shuri traverse Fulcrum space to return to Xandar, the former homeworld of the Nova Corps destroyed in 2006's ANNIHILATION. On the ruins of this former empire, Richard Rider leads his allies to the Xandarian Worldmind. What secrets does it hold and what questions will it answer?

Witness Nova's return to Xandar in the IMPERIAL #3 preview below!

IMPERIAL #3 by Jonathan Hickman, Iban Coello, and Federico Vicentini

IMPERIAL #3
Written by JONATHAN HICKMAN
Art by IBAN COELLO & FEDERICO VICENTINI
Cover by MARCO CHECCHETTO
On Sale 8/20

After IMPERIAL #3, new theaters of war open throughout the galaxy in a series of IMPERIAL WAR one-shots. IMPERIAL WAR: BLACK PANTHER, IMPERIAL WAR: SHE-HULK, IMPERIAL WAR: EXILES, IMPERIAL WAR: NOVA CENTURION, and IMPERIAL WAR: IMPERIAL GUARDIANS pave the road for the universe-shattering finale, IMPERIAL #4. Check out Marco Checchetto's cover for the final issue in the IMPERIAL saga below!

IMPERIAL #4 Cover by MARCO CHECCHETTO

IMPERIAL #4
Written by JONATHAN HICKMAN
Art by IBAN COELLO & FEDERICO VICENTINI
Cover by MARCO CHECCHETTO
On Sale 10/29

Check out the preview for IMPERIAL #3 below and be sure to pick it up in stores on August 20.

Grab these comics and more at your local comic book shop! Or redeem and then read your digital copy on the Marvel Unlimited app by using the code found in your print comic. Find and support your local comic book shop at ComicShopLocator.com.

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IMPERIAL #3 Preview

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