Marvel Comics has revealed the next series spinning out of Jonathan Hickman et al.’s Imperial, Imperial Guardians, written by Dan Abnett with art by Marcelo Ferreira. Building on Abnett, Hickman, and Cory Smith‘s tie-in one-shot, the comic will follow the newest incarnation of the Guardians of the Galaxy — led by Maximus of the Inhumans — as they defend the newly formed Galactic Union.
The official synopsis reads, “Gamora, Captain Marvel, Amadeus Cho, Darkhawk, Cosmic Ghost Rider! Five unlikely operatives recruited by Maximus of the Inhumans. Their mission? Protect the delicate balance of new Galactic Union by ANY means necessary… and failure is NOT an option. Expendable, deniable and disavowed, they are the Imperial Guardians. But can they do Maximus’ dirty work and keep their consciences clean? Why has a Kree Grand Admiral gone rogue and attacked Hala? What’s going on with Darkhawk’s mind? What deluded fool thought Cosmic Ghost Rider was a team player? And, most importantly… what kind of game is Maximus REALLY playing?”
Abnett states the book is rooted in the post-Imperial status quo of a universe “where ‘the good guys won.’ Or did they? No victory comes without back-room compromise, and nowhere is that more apparent than in the new Guardians remit. I chose the roster to reflect that – the clashing, mismatched spirit of Star-Lord’s original team mixed with a professional hard focus. An iconic hero in Captain Marvel, an anti-hero in the troubled Darkhawk, brains and brawn in the mercurial Amadeus Cho (yes, that’s a Hulk in Hulkbuster armor!), and the downright psychopathic Cosmic Ghost Rider as enigmatic ramrod and drill sergeant. Only Gamora, the Deadliest Woman in the Galaxy, has a chance of keeping them in line as team leader.”
Ferreira adds, “Imperial Guardians is both a team AND a cosmic book, which for me is a double challenge, but also double the fun! Cosmic books carry these stories full of great energetic scenes, which I love, because they allow me to flex this other artistic muscle. Plus, Dan Abnett has put together this cool lineup, giving me the chance to draw characters such as Cosmic Ghost Rider, Darkhawk and Gamora! I truly hope that all the fun I’m having translates into the pages and to the readers!”
Issue #1 will be released on March 11 (just in time for Women’s History Month), with a main cover by Sean Izaakse, and a variant by Netho Diaz. In the meantime, the post-Imperial/Imperial War series have already begun, with Planet She-Hulk, Nova: Centurion, and Wiccan: Witches’ Road all having launched, and Black Panther: Intergalactic #1 set to release on December 17. (The Imperial War: Exiles continuation has not been unveiled at the time of writing.)
