Where Everyone Ended Up After Marvel’s Imperial Cosmic Shakeup

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The Marvel Comics series Imperial aimed to dramatically change the direction of the Marvel Cosmic Universe and lay the groundwork for future stories, and it largely succeeded – though readers have differing opinions on whether the characters’ choices made sense. The series features established heroes making some morally gray decisions, and even acting somewhat selfishly to achieve their own goals. These actions were all motivated by a desire to finally establish lasting peace. Imperial also explores political maneuvering, blurring the lines between heroes and villains as everyone prioritizes their own interests – except for one hero who recognizes the flawed logic behind these choices.

The Marvel Cosmic Universe is heading towards a complex, power-struggle-filled future, much like the show Game of Thrones set in space. Here’s a rundown of where all the key players stand at the end of the recent storyline.

10) The Galactic Union

After a long conflict in the Imperial series, many of the warring factions decided to create a new galactic government called the Galactic Union. This came about when the Galactic Council collapsed, and it was intended to bring peace among most alien species. However, not everyone was on board, as many recognized the Union’s true motives and the manipulative tactics of the man behind it, with others becoming involved later on. Specifically, two races were notably absent: the Shi’ar, who chose not to participate, and the Skrulls, who were explicitly excluded from joining.

9) The Shi’ar

The Shi’ar chose not to participate due to internal conflict. As revealed by Peter Quill, they’ve become isolationists, preferring to fight their own battles. The main issue began with a coup and the capture of Xandra. Her parents, Professor X and Lilandra, intervened to rescue her, but this shifted their focus. Now, rebuilding their kingdom after the coup takes priority, making the Galactic Union less important. Lilandra is reforming her Exiles to continue this effort, as seen after the events of Imperial.

8) The Kree

The Kree are currently facing a very difficult situation. They were previously part of an alliance with the Skrulls, led by Hulkling, whose parents were Captain Mar-Vell and a Skrull princess. But that alliance has fallen apart because the Kree and Skrulls let Black Bolt and Maximus manipulate them. Furthermore, the Kree don’t agree with the Galactic Union, as they won’t let Black Bolt become their leader. Instead, they’re looking to a potential savior from another universe – possibly Marvel Boy – and the future of the Kree may depend on two mysterious twins who could oppose Black Bolt’s plans.

7) The Skrulls

Besides the Shi’ar, the Skrulls are the only other major galactic power not included in the Galactic Union. They were particularly devastated when the Kree-Skrull Empire fell apart, and the Union refused to let them join, turning them into a formidable enemy. Super Skrull has been secretly exploiting the belief that Veranke is still alive, reviving old Skrull religious practices that once made them incredibly dangerous. He’s using this deception to inspire unwavering loyalty, even to the point of sacrifice. He even made a chilling threat in the final issue of Imperial, stating that Hulkling would be killed if he ever returned to the Skrull homeworld.

6) Hulkling & Wiccan

This backstory introduces Hulkling and Wiccan, who were abandoned and left for dead by the Skrulls and Kree despite their loyal service as emperor and consort. Wiccan nearly sacrificed himself to keep them alive in space, and Hulkling realized his alliance was broken. Fortunately, an old friend appeared to help them escape, coinciding with America Chavez’s arrival to rescue them. A key benefit of the Imperial storyline is that it brings Hulkling and Wiccan back to Earth, allowing them to play a more significant part in the wider Marvel universe. They’ll next be featured in Wiccan: Witches’ Road, a five-issue series.

5) The Hulks

The story brought Hulk, She-Hulk, and Amadeus Cho together after Hulk’s son was killed while ruling the planet Sakaar. Hulk and Cho left She-Hulk behind to maintain peace, but then didn’t return as promised, leaving her to deal with a difficult situation and an unhappy population. By the end of the ‘Imperial’ storyline, Hulk and Cho were prepared to leave when they received a message from She-Hulk, echoing one of Hulk’s famous phrases. She-Hulk’s story on Sakaar will continue in the upcoming series, Planet She-Hulk.

4) Star-Lord

At the end of the Imperial conflict, Star-Lord faced a difficult choice that tragically led to the loss of a close friend. He, Nova, and Shuri investigated and uncovered a shocking truth: Black Bolt and Maximus had been masterminds behind the entire war, manipulating alien races to form the Galactic Union as a step towards Black Bolt’s rule. While Nova wanted to reveal this deception, Peter chose to keep it hidden and focus on leading the newly formed union after his father’s passing. Determined to make the Galactic Union succeed, Star-Lord continued on his path, with Nova choosing to leave and pursue his own course.

3) Nova

At the end of Imperial, Nova was the only one who prioritized revealing the truth. When Shuri and Star-Lord both decided to protect a secret and keep it hidden from everyone, Nova reacted strongly. He attacked Peter Quill, ending their friendship, because he believed the truth mattered more than maintaining peace within the Galactic Union—even if that peace was built on deception. Nova’s journey continues in Nova: Centurian, where he operates as a mercenary, burdened by the knowledge of a massive universal lie.

2) Intergalactic Black Panther

From the beginning, Black Panther’s choices felt out of character. He’s always been known as a noble hero, but he seemed focused on trickery and control instead. Ultimately, he acted more like a politician than a protector. Shuri summed it up perfectly: Wakanda once experimented with democracy, but it seems the country truly functions best under a single, powerful ruler – Black Panther – even if it means sacrificing freedom. Fortunately, Black Panther will have to answer for his actions in Black Panther: Intergalactic. In this story, he attempts to prove his innocence after being falsely accused of murder by Black Bolt and Maximus, only to uncover a much bigger plot that leaves him stranded in space.

1) The Inhumans

At the heart of the conflict lies the Inhuman Royal Family, responsible for starting everything. They orchestrated the assassinations, falsely accused Black Panther, and destroyed the Kree-Skrull Alliance. Black Bolt and his brother, Maximus, were the main antagonists of this story, and they succeeded in their plans. Black Bolt aimed to seize control of the Kree Alliance, and he’s now closer to achieving that goal. The Inhumans even exiled Maximus after he aided Black Bolt, highlighting the family’s deep-seated deceit. Their interaction – Maximus expressing pride and Black Bolt’s responding smile – spoke volumes. In the revamped Marvel Cosmic Universe, following the events of Imperial, the Inhumans have firmly established themselves as villains.

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2025-11-04 19:16