The Marvel Universe just changed, as four individuals decide the fate of the galaxy – and while the group includes icons like the Hulk, some of the other names will blow your mind.

Hulk and Black Panther Among the New Rulers of Marvel’s Galaxy

The Fate of the Galaxy Comes Down to Four Heroes

In this week’s Imperial #4 – from Jonathan Hickman, Federico Vicentini, Iban Coello, Federico Blee and Cory Petit – Hulk, Black Panther, Super-Skrull and Black Bolt redefine the structure of the entire galaxy. Over the last few months, Marvel’s various spacefaring civilizations have gone to war. Now, it comes down to a knock-down, drag-out fight between four titans.

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Thanks to a series of assassinations secretly carried out by Black Bolt’s Inhumans, the galactic order has shattered. The final consequences unfold as Marvel confirms that the fate of trillions will be decided by only four beings. Each hero is a leader to their people, and their battle decides the new shape of the galaxy.

Ultimately, Hulk, Black Panther and Black Bolt defeat the Super-Skrull, and the Skrull Empire ends up framed for Black Bolt’s assassinations, falling back into religious fanatacism as the shape-changing species are ostracized from galactic life.

It’s a fight that decides the fate of pretty much every planet apart from Earth, with thousands upon thousands dying in a conflict that has reshaped the galaxy and seen the three winners of this fight ascend to an allied rulership of space. Indeed, even Super-Skrull has gained immense influence among his own people.

Star-Lord and Marvel Bot Among the Other Big Winners of Imperial

In the aftermath of the battle, a new Galactic Union is formed, giving Hulk, Black Bolt and Black Panther an immense amount of power – and they intend to use it. Black Panther even returns as the king of Wakanda, readying his intergalactic empire for a new campaign of conquest amongst the stars.

Meanwhile, Star-Lord becomes the new ruler of the Spartax Empire and the Kree are amassing new military power, with Noh-Varr’s Utopian Kree movement gaining followers. These star-spanning empires are now working in alliance, with the Skrulls as the ‘villains’ the galaxy is united against.

While the Avengers have saved Earth and its 8 billion residents before, the rulers of space just decided the fate of trillions of people. In a single fight, Hulk, Black Bolt, Black Panther and Super-Skrull just decided the fate of the entire galaxy, establishing a new status quo that will persist for years (if not decades) in Marvel Comics. ​​​​​​​

Imperial #4 is available now from Marvel Comics.

First Appearance

The Incredible Hulk (1962)

Alias

Robert Bruce Banner

Alliance

Avengers, Defenders, Horsemen of Apocalypse, Fantastic Four, Pantheon, Warbound, S.M.A.S.H., Secret Avengers

Franchise

Marvel